Gary Kubiak

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Kubiak was named the second head coach in Houston Texans history on January 26, 2006, replacing the fired Dom Capers. Under Kubiak, the Texans achieved their first winning season in franchise history in 2009, finishing 9–7. In 2011, he led the Texans to their first AFC South Championship, first playoff appearance, and first playoff win. He was fired on December 6, 2013.

In Their Own Story

The air inside Reliant Stadium was electric on January 7, 2012, as the Texans faced the Cincinnati Bengals in their first-ever playoff game. On the sideline, Gary Kubiak watched as rookie quarterback T. J. Yates, a fifth-round draft pick, led the offense. The team had lost star quarterback Matt Schaub for the season on November 13, 2011, but Kubiak's system, built around a strong running game and a defense transformed by Wade Phillips from 30th overall in 2010 to second overall in 2011, held firm. The Texans won 31-10 in front of a record crowd of 71,725. It was a quiet moment of validation for a coach who had spent years building the franchise into a contender, overcoming a 6-10 season in 2010 by making key changes, including hiring Phillips and signing free agent defensive backs Johnathan Joseph and Danieal Manning.

Reader's Guide

Kubiak's Texans teams were known for offensive production, but the 2010 defense was one of the worst in the league. After hiring Wade Phillips as defensive coordinator in 2011, the defense improved from 30th overall to second overall. Key players included wide receiver Andre Johnson, running back Arian Foster, and quarterback Matt Schaub.

Did You Know?

• Kubiak played quarterback for the Denver Broncos from 1983 to 1991 as a backup to John Elway.
• He won Super Bowl 50 as head coach of the Denver Broncos.
• Kubiak collapsed at halftime of a game against the Indianapolis Colts on November 3, 2013, due to a transient ischemic attack (TIA).
• He was a ball boy for Houston Oilers head coach O.A. 'Bum' Phillips in the 1970s.