I’m into it.
Coach Gary Kubiak of the Denver Broncos.
Is Peyton Manning into it?
He should be.
For a moment, let’s take all the gushy, nostalgic aspects out of the hire and just look at the coach himself.
We have a two-time Super Bowl-winning offensive coordinator. We have a man who took over an expansion disaster and had eight or more wins in five of eight seasons. We have a coach who made Baltimore’s offense a formidable power this season while combining old-school running philosophies with new-school quarterback strategies.
WATCH:
So, yeah, even if this guy weren’t John Elway’s BFF, and hadn’t played a big role in those two Super Bowls, the résumé alone makes him enticing enough to coach Elway’s Broncos.
The things fans wondered about most — Kubiak’s health, his personal motivation, the flexibility of his offense to fit Manning — must have been put to rest by Kubiak in Sunday’s interview in Houston. Elway cares too much about winning a Super Bowl not to choose the man he believes gives the Broncos their best shot.
So Manning should give Koobs a shot, too. And let’s be honest: Elway said he met with Manning last week, and surely he mentioned to Manning that Kubiak was his desired coach. And surely if Manning had said he couldn’t play for Kubiak, Elway would have at least taken that into consideration.
And here’s something else to consider: When Manning was a free agent in March 2012, he wanted to play for Kubiak.
Kubiak’s Texans were coming off a 10-6 season and had the great Andre Johnson at receiver. But the Texans went all in with quarterback Matt Schaub, and their owner, Bob McNair, told SportsRadio 610 in Houston that Schaub “can take us to a championship.”
Thus, the Texans never asked to interview Peyton. So Manning came to Denver, and Schaub soon after flamed out in Houston. Now, Schaub’s coach could coach Manning. Should coach Manning. But the good news is, even if Peyton decides to call it a career, Kubiak seems to be the best guy to help keep the Broncos relevant.
“Great hire, from what I’ve heard about him,” Broncos Pro Bowl cornerback Chris Harris texted me Sunday night. “Excited to meet him and get to work.”
PHOTOS:
John Fox was Bobby Cox, the talented Atlanta Braves manager who always seemed to win the division and seldom won the World Series. Elway talked passionately last week about earning a championship — having that “it factor,” if you will, that coaches and quarterbacks share. The Duke used his hand when at the podium to show the disparity in steps from division winner to conference winner to Super Bowl winner.
I loved hearing him say he’s “aching” to win a championship. Aching.
Kubiak wouldn’t have taken this job if he didn’t feel the way Elway did. He wouldn’t have taken it because it wouldn’t have been fair to his friend, the guy he broke into the league with.
Elway knew last week that Koobs was his target and fittingly, the absurdly orange Friday sunrise was like the Vatican smoke, announcing there’s a new pope. The formalities of the interview took place Sunday and again fittingly, it was during the AFC championship game that Fox couldn’t lead the Broncos to. The Post’s Mike Klis broke the news that Kubiak had agreed to be the Broncos’ new coach.
Shortly after, Kubiak’s son Klein tweeted: “Welcome home dad!” apountry tweeted old 1980s photos of No. 7 and No. 8, and fan Phill Kaplan channeled his inner Billy Joel by tweeting: “Kuuuuuubbbbbbiak ak ak ak ak ak!”
Koobs is moving in.
Benjamin Hochman: bhochman@denverpost.com or
