Vikings OC Kubiak retires after 36-year NFL career

Minnesota Vikings offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak has retired after a 36-year career as a player, coach and adviser in NFL, team anunced Thursday.

decision, though widely expected, will force head coach Mike Zimmer to hire a sixth offensive coordinator in six seasons.

Kubiak, who took over role in 2020 and followed Kevin Stefanski, John DeFilippo, Pat Shurmur and rv Turner under Zimmer, steered Minnesota's most productive offense in more than a decade. Vikings ranked fourth in league in total yards and tied for sixth in offensive touchdowns.

“I’ll miss competition, planning, game days and being part of a team. But, more than anything, I’ll cherish friendships I’ve made along way with players, coaches and staff," Kubiak said in a statement distributed by Vikings. "I love game of football and will forever be its biggest fan.”

59-year-old Kubiak joined Vikings in 2018 as an offensive adviser. Zimmer asked him to become primary play-caller when Stefanski was hired as Cleveland's head coach.

Kubiak participated in seven Super Bowls as a player or coach, winning four titles. His most recent ring came after 2015 season as head coach for Denver, team he played nine years for as a backup quarterback. He stepped down from that post after two seasons for health reasons, which also ended an eight-year run as head coach in his native Houston.

Texans defensive end J.J. Watt tweeted his admiration and congratulations , calling Kubiak quintessential players' coach “who knew how to grind when it was time to grind and when to have a beer with you when it was time for a beer.”

Kubiak spent a total of 24 seasons with Broncos.

“Few people have impacted one team in more ways than Gary," team president and CEO Joe Ellis said in a statement. “Gary will always have a special place in our championship history."

NFL rules require Vikings to interview at least one external mirity candidate for vacancy. Kubiak's son, Klint Kubiak, is currently quarterbacks coach and expected to receive strong consideration for job to satisfy Zimmer's desire to maintain continuity on that side of ball.

“Gary did a tremendous job with us at Vikings over past two seasons. I have a great deal of respect for him as a coach and as a person, and I’m glad I was able to coach with him. He has had one heck of an NFL career as a player, assistant coach and head coach, and I am really happy for Gary and his wife Rhonda as y head off to ir ranch,” Zimmer said in a statement. “We will all miss Gary at Vikings organization and wish him very best.”

Im credits: AP