Ravens Watch

Gary Kubiak Hired as Broncos Head Coach

Ravens offensive coordinator takes job with Denver; team hires former Bears head coach.

[Update: January 20, 3:30 p.m.: The Ravens announced that they hired former Chicago Bears head coach Marc Trestman as the team’s offensive coordinator. Trestman is most well-known for his work with quarterbacks, bringing out the best career performances from Jay Cutler, Josh McCown, and Jimmy Clausen. Let’s hope he can maintain it with Joe, who just had the best year of his career.]

According to the Denver Broncos Twitter page, the football team has hired Gary Kubiak as their head coach. The Ravens offensive coordinator will also be bringing Rick Dennison and Brian Pariani from the Ravens coaching staff with him.

Though Kubiak recently made a statement that he was staying in Baltimore, this was before his “dream job” opened up. Kubiak spent 20 years in Denver and has been friends with Broncos GM John Elway for more than 30 years. The two have worked together as teammates and colleagues.

Even Kubiak’s youngest son, Klein, is working as an intern in the Broncos’ personnel department. He tweeted out a message saying, “Welcome home, Dad!”

There are also rumors that Adam Gase, the current Broncos offensive coordinator has met with Jacksonville and the Ravens plan to interview him soon.

This potential “switcheroo” move has interesting implications as the play-calling systems for Joe Flacco and Peyton Manning are strikingly different, with Kubiak focusing more on a play-action attack. And, of course, there are questions about Manning himself who could retire due to his declining health.

Kubiak and Flacco did make a good team, but let’s hope the new offensive coordinator—which has not been a stable position for the Ravens—sticks around for longer than a year.