In 2015, Gary Kubiak came back to his NFL home. Broncos general manager John Elway hand-selected his former teammate and good friend to take over an underperforming team with championship talent.
Kubiak did just what Elway wanted, leading the Broncos out of the massive disappointment of a home divisional playoff loss to the jubilation of becoming Super Bowl 50 champion in his first season as head coach. The 2016 season? Kubiak and the Broncos couldn’t rekindle the magic.
As Kubiak’s short tenure as Broncos head coach likely comes to an end, he will be remembered for the highest of highs a year ago, guiding the franchise to its third Super Bowl title much more than the letdown this season.