The Broncos formally notified the Baltimore Ravens on Wednesday night of their desire to interview offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak, according to an NFL source.
Just because the Broncos want to interview Kubiak, though, doesn’t mean it will happen. Kubiak put out a statement last week saying he wanted to stay with the Ravens as offensive coordinator rather than pursue head coaching opportunities he received from multiple teams.
Kubiak has deep roots with the Broncos, though, and Denver general manager John Elway is a close friend. Kubiak, 53, was Elway’s backup quarterback in Denver from 1983-91. Kubiak got into coaching after his backup days were finished and was the Broncos’ quarterbacks coach or offensive coordinator from 1995-2005.
That’s 20 years with the Broncos and living in the Denver area.
However, Kubiak was head coach of the Houston Texans last season when he collapsed while trying to walk off the field at halftime after suffering from symptoms common with the early signs of a stroke. Although Kubiak was successful as Baltimore’s offensive coordinator in 2014 while transforming the Ravens’ running game by installing the old Broncos’ famed zone-blocking system, the head coach position adds several more layers of stress.
As they wait to see if Kubiak will accept the opportunity to interview, the Broncos will formally sit down with Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Teryl Austin on Friday. Austin, 49, has extensive coaching experience both with some major college programs (Penn State, Wake Forest, Syracuse, Michigan, Florida) and the NFL (Seattle, Arizona, Detroit).
In his first season as defensive coordinator, the Lions ranked No. 2 to Seattle in total defense, No. 1 against the rush and No. 3 in points allowed.
Elway also discussed the Broncos’ head coaching opening with the team’s offensive coordinator Adam Gase on Wednesday, although no formal interview has been set up at this time. Gase is also a candidate to become an offensive coordinator for several other teams, including the St. Louis Rams and Jacksonville Jaguars.
The Broncos’ head coaching candidates also includes Ravens’ quarterback coach Rick Dennison, Seattle defensive coordinator Dan Quinn and San Francisco defensive coordinator Vic Fangio.
Quinn and Austin are also considered finalists for the head coaching position with the Atlanta Falcons.
