Gary Kubiak has 'chance of a lifetime'

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- Former Denver Broncos quarterback and assistant coach Gary Kubiak vowed to help return the Broncos to championship prominence as he was formally introduced Tuesday as the team's new coach.

"I understand the expectations of this organization," Kubiak said. " ... Each and every year, this team is built for one reason and one reason only and that's to win a championship."

Kubiak spoke for 45 minutes on a wide range of topics, including the potential of Peyton Manning returning at quarterback. Kubiak becomes the franchise's 15th head coach and replaces John Fox, who was 46-18 in four seasons with the Broncos and 3-3 in the playoffs including the team's Jan. 11 loss to the Indianapolis Colts in the AFC's divisional round.

"He knows the culture of this building," said John Elway, the Broncos' executive vice president of football operations/general manager. " ... He's a perfect fit."

Fox and the Broncos "parted ways" the day after the Colts game and the team's search quickly zeroed in on Kubiak, a long-time friend, former teammate and former roommate of Elway.

In discussing Fox's departure last week, Elway said he was looking for a coach to lift the team from playoff team to championship team who was "like-minded" in the approach to do that. In Kubiak there may be no more like-minded individual Elway could have hired for the job.

Elway, team CEO Joe Ellis and several others with the team interviewed Kubiak in Houston on Sunday. Elway, Ellis and the Broncos' contingent returned to Denver on Sunday night while Kubiak, after agreeing to a four-year deal, arrived Monday to take his first tour of the team's suburban complex since he left his position as offensive coordinator to be Houston Texanscoach following the 2005 season.

Kubiak just finished his first season as Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator, and had said his plan was to stay in Baltimore and not pursue a head-coaching job. But Tuesday he said Elway's call and the Broncos' opening was "a chance of a lifetime, a game-changer."

The biggest question on Kubiak's plate is now whether or not Manning chooses to return to play in the 2015 season, what would be his 18th in the league overall and fourth with the Broncos. Elway met with Manning the day after the Broncos' playoff loss and told Manning to take at least four weeks to decide his future.

"I'm not talking to Peyton about what his plans are because I don't think he's ready to talk about it,'' Elway said. " ... I just think the more time he can get away and come away with a decision that's the best decision, [the better]. I will say this: I talked to Peyton Saturday and said we were going down to talk to Gary on Sunday and it's been a whirlwind since then.

"I also want to emphasize there's 52 other guys we've got to worry about here. And I think we build this thing as a team ... sure we do want Peyton's input, I do want to understand Peyton's side of it, what he wants to do, but really there are 52 other guys on this roster, 10 guys on the practice squad and now guys we've signed to future contracts. And those guys are really, really important too. This organization is important.''

Manning has two years remaining on the contract he signed in 2012, but his $19 million salary for the upcoming season becomes guaranteed on March 9, the day before the new league year begins.

Manning had some dips in his play down the stretch, having thrown 12 interceptions in the team's last nine games of the regular season as defenses repeatedly crowded the middle of the field to take away the Broncos' bread-and-butter crossing routes and pass plays down the hashmarks.

Defenses worked, largely from the Broncos' Nov. 2 loss in New England on, to force Manning to push the ball up the sidelines. It was a tactic the Colts also employed in the playoff game earlier this month.

Manning also dealt with a right thigh injury over the final month of the season.

A Manning return would require some work on the offense given Kubiak has always coached a version of the West Coast offense in his time as a play-caller. That offense, with a heavy dose of rollouts and throws on the move, is not one in which Manning has played.

However, Kubiak said he would construct an offense to fit the players -- "we're going to do what they do best" -- and that included Manning. If Manning returns and the Broncos elected to keep Manning in the shotgun, running similar plays, Kubiak said, "we'll do that if that's what we do best ... I look forward to having a chance to work with him if we have that opportunity and learn what he does."

Kubiak was the Broncos' offensive coordinator and/or quarterbacks coach for the team's Super Bowl wins in 1997 and 1998. Former Broncos coach Mike Shanahan has repeatedly said Kubiak had taken over most of the play-calling duties by 2005, when the Broncos advanced to the AFC Championship Game and the Broncos were second in the league in rushing (158.7 yards per game).

Kubiak was the Texans' coach for eight seasons, going 61-64 in regular-season games. Houston went to the playoffs following the 2011 and 2012 seasons. Kubiak was fired after the team went 2-11 in the first 13 games of 2013.

In the coming season, both Kubiak and Elway will begin their 21st seasons with the team. Elway played for 16 years with the Broncos and has been the top football executive the last four years, while Kubiak played nine seasons for the Broncos and spent 11 years with the team as an assistant coach.

Kubiak has already begun to round out the rest of his coaching staff with Joe DeCamillis headed to Denver as special teams coach. DeCamillis has coached special teams for the past 22 years and most recently worked in that capacity for the Bears from 2013-14.