John Elway and Gary Kubiak are together again, this time as team president and head coach of the Denver Broncos.
Kubiak, who met with the Broncos in Houston on Sunday, finalized a four-year contract to again be Elway’s right-hand man. Kubiak was calling the plays for the Broncos the last time the team hoisted the Lombardi Trophy.
The Broncos will introduce Kubiak at a Tuesday news conference.
“Gary Kubiak has established a track record of leadership, success and high character during his 30 seasons in the NFL,” Broncos general manager John Elway said in a statement Monday. “While there is no question he is a Bronco, what Gary has learned from his other opportunities around the league — especially in his eight seasons as a head coach — will tremendously benefit our organization.
“Having coached on three Super Bowl champions and 11 playoff teams, Gary knows what it will take to deliver another world championship to Broncos fans. Coach Kubiak is all about winning and doing things the right way, which are values that have always been most important to the Broncos and owner Pat Bowlen.”
The Broncos parted ways with John Fox after 48 wins and four AFC West championships in four seasons following a loss in the divisional playoffs to the Indianapolis Colts.
Seven days later, Kubiak was back in the saddle with the Broncos.
Kubiak, 53, is a 23-year coaching veteran who spent the 2014 season as offensive coordinator for the Baltimore Ravens after eight years as head coach of the Houston Texans (2006-13). He has 20 years of experience with the Broncos, beginning with his nine years as a quarterback for the team from 1983-91 followed by 11 years as offensive coordinator with the club from 1995-05.
Elway and Kubiak are longtime friends. Kubiak spent nine years as Elway’s backup and they were roommates for road games.
Under Kubiak, the Ravens’ offense finished the regular season ranked 12th in total yardage (364.9 per game) and eighth in points (25.6 per game).
Meanwhile, Fox is beginning his job as new head coach of the Chicago Bears, who hired Fox as their coach on Friday, just days after he parted ways with the Denver Broncos.
The Bears reached an agreement on a four-year deal with Fox to become the 15th coach in franchise history.
Fox went 46-18 and won four straight AFC West titles with the Broncos but was unable to win a Super Bowl with Peyton Manning and a record-setting offense.
Before Denver, Fox was coach of the Carolina Panthers for nine years from 2002 to 2010. He went 78-74 with the Panthers, including a Super Bowl runner-up appearance.
The Bears fired coach Marc Trestman and general manager Phil Emery after a 5-11 season. The team hired 37-year-old Ryan Pace, the New Orleans Saints’ director of pro personnel, to replace Emery last week.