Gary Kubiak has constructed a talent-laden roster and installed an offensive system that has ranked among the league’s best since taking the reins as head coach of the Houston Texans in 2006. Kubiak has produced a franchise-record 37 wins since being named the second head coach of the Houston Texans on January 26, 2006.
Kubiak has led the Texans to the three best seasons in franchise history, going 8-8 in 2007 and 2008 before producing the first winning season in team history in 2009, narrowly missing the playoffs at 9-7. His tenure has been marked by continued offensive improvement, including team records for total offense per game in each of the last four seasons and the four highest-scoring seasons in team history. Three of the Texans top five defensive seasons have come under Kubiak as well.
Strong team performances on offense and defense have been sparked by some outstanding individual efforts under Kubiak. Thirteen of the 17 Pro Bowl elections in team history have come during Kubiak’s tenure and the Texans are the only team in the NFL to produce a rushing, receiving and passing yardage champion since Kubiak became head coach.
One of Kubiak’s primary goals upon arriving in Houston was to create a home field advantage at Reliant Stadium, and he has made significant strides in that direction. The Texans have posted a 24-16 (.600) home record since 2006 and have had at least a .500 record at home in each of Kubiak’s five seasons. The team was 10-22 (.315) at home prior to Kubiak’s arrival.
The Texans did not reach the playoffs in 2010, experiencing key injuries on defense and a number of last-minute losses to finish the season 6-10. While the 2010 season fell short of expectations, it was not without its successes. The Texans set a team record for total offense for the fourth-straight season and ranked third in the NFL, averaging 386.6 yards per game. Houston was the only team to rank in the top 10 in both rushing (seventh with a team-record 127.6 yards per game) and passing (fourth with 259.0 yards per game).
The offense also produced three Pro Bowl selections, with the backfield combination of second-year running back Arian Foster and fullback Vonta Leach making their first trips to Hawaii, while wide receiver Andre Johnson fought through injury to make his fifth Pro Bowl. Foster essentially re-wrote the team single-game and season rushing record books on the way to becoming the Texans first-ever rushing champion. The former practice squad player set an NFL record for an undrafted back with 1,616 yards rushing and also led the league with 2,220 yards from scrimmage and 18 total touchdowns.
Foster’s breakout year was complemented by quarterback Matt Schaub becoming the 12th player in NFL history to throw for 4,000-plus yards in back-to-back seasons; and the duo became just the second pair of teammates in NFL history to lead the league in passing yards one year and rushing yards the next year.
Kubiak guided the Texans to a 9-7 record in 2009, highlighted by a season-ending four-game win streak to capture the franchise’s first winning season. Houston narrowly missed its first-ever playoff berth, losing a tie-breaker for the final spot on the last day of the season. The 2009 Texans set franchise records for total offense, scoring offense, total defense and scoring defense. A franchise-record five players earned trips to the Pro Bowl, led by Pro Bowl MVP Schaub.
The 2008 Texans matched their record from the year before, going 8-8 for a second straight year despite a 0-4 start in the aftermath of Hurricane Ike, which devastated much of Houston and southeast Texas. Houston became just the 10th team in NFL history to start a year 0-4 and finish at or above .500. Houston was one of 11 teams to go 8-4 or better over the last 12 games; and nine of those teams were in the playoffs. The offense enjoyed its most productive season, ranking third in the NFL and setting a franchise record with 6,113 total yards.
Year two for Kubiak saw the team achieve the best record in franchise history, finishing 8-8. The Texans won three of their last four and five of their last seven to finish the season at .500. Kubiak’s team also set a franchise mark with a 6-2 record at Reliant Stadium after going 4-4 at Reliant Stadium in 2006, which was the best home mark at the time.
In his rookie season, Kubiak tripled the team’s win total of the previous year, guiding the club to a 6-10 record. The six victories included wins in three of the last five games of the season and the franchise’s first ever win over Indianapolis. Six wins were the second-most in franchise history. All six wins came versus AFC opponents, giving the Texans their most wins against conference foes in team annals.
Kubiak came to Houston with the reputation of being an offensive mastermind and has lived up to that billing. In 80 games under Kubiak, Houston has averaged 352.9 yards per game, which ranks fourth in the AFC and eighth in the NFL, compared to an average of 266.5 yards per game from 2002-05, which was last among AFC teams and 31st in the NFL. The scoring average under Kubiak has also risen more than six points per game versus prior to his arrival.
The most dramatic improvement has been made by the offensive line. After giving up a league-worst 68 sacks in 2005, the line has allowed an average of 30.1 per season under Kubiak. This has allowed the passing game to flourish, averaging 83 yards per game better than in the franchise’s first four years. The line also allowed the Texans rushing attack to average 108.0 yards per game over the last five years, also an improvement over the first four years.
Kubiak has made a habit of surrounding himself with great coaches throughout his tenure in Houston. One of his first hires in 2006 was former Green Bay head coach Mike Sherman, who served as the assistant head coach/offense and then offensive coordinator in Kubiak’s first two seasons. In 2008, Kubiak bolstered his staff with two of the brightest minds in football, hiring venerable offensive line guru Alex Gibbs as the assistant head coach/offense and 1995 NFL Coach of the Year Ray Rhodes as the assistant defensive backs coach. In 2010, he hired former Denver Bronco teammate and colleague, Rick Dennison, as offensive coordinator. The Texans set offensive records for total yards and rushing as a result.
Most recently, Kubiak added one of the most respected defensive minds in the game, Wade Phillips, as defensive coordinator. Phillips has implemented a 3-4 defensive scheme and has helped lead teams to the playoffs in his first year coaching at each of his last seven stops.
As head coach, Kubiak has also been responsible for the performance of the defense. Stocked with young talent such as the All-Pro combo of linebackers DeMeco Ryans and Mario Williams plus 2009 AP Defensive Rookie of the Year Brian Cushing, the defense is equipped for success under Phillips.
Williams and Ryans were the first two draft picks of the Kubiak era, and they set the tone for what is quickly becoming an excellent track record on draft day. Following the lead of Ryans and Williams, tight end Owen Daniels gave the Texans a league-best three Pro Bowlers from the 2006 draft class. Right tackle Eric Winston has also emerged as a starter from that class. The 2006 class has started a total of 192 combined games for the Texans in their first three seasons.
The Texans’ 2007 draft class was led by defensive tackle Amobi Okoye, the youngest first-round draft pick in NFL history, and the most productive player at that position in his draft class. In 2008, first-round pick Duane Brown started all 16 games at left tackle, while running back Steve Slaton won the rookie rushing title with a franchise-record 1,282 yards. The 2009 class was highlighted by Cushing and cornerback Glover Quin, a fourth-round pick who went on to start 12 games as a rookie.
Kubiak spent 20 of the previous 23 years in the Denver area, where he earned a reputation as a brilliant offensive mastermind. He played for the Broncos from 1983-91 as the backup for Hall of Fame quarterback John Elway. Kubiak played in 119 games during his career and tossed 14 touchdowns in that span. During his time as a player in the Mile High City, he was a part of three teams that reached the Super Bowl.
Kubiak began his coaching career in 1992-93 as the running backs coach at his alma mater Texas A&M. Under Kubiak’s watchful eye, running back Greg Hill was named second team All-America his junior year. Hill was selected by the Kansas City Chiefs in the first round of the 1994 draft.
Kubiak started his NFL coaching career with the San Francisco 49ers in 1994. As quarterbacks coach, he guided Hall of Famer Steve Young to his best season as a pro. Young was named the NFL MVP for the second time in his career.
Under Kubiak’s tutelage, Young had a career high 70.3 completion percentage. He threw 35 touchdowns, passed for 3,969 yards and set an NFL record with a 112.8 passer rating, a mark that would stand for 10 seasons. Young captured Super Bowl XXIX MVP honors by tossing a record six touchdowns in San Francisco’s 49-26 win over the San Diego Chargers.
In the spring of 1995, Kubiak returned to the Broncos as offensive coordinator, where he would steer Denver to the organization’s best numbers in team history and help lead the team to seven postseason trips and two Super Bowl titles in 11 seasons.
Kubiak began his tenure in Denver as the offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach to his former teammate, Elway. Kubiak made an immediate impact as Elway threw for 3,970 yards, the second-best mark of his Hall of Fame career. Elway increased his touchdown passes from 16 in 1994 to 26 in 1995. During the final four years of his career (1995-98), Elway tossed 101 touchdown passes, second only to Brett Favre in that span.
Kubiak’s offense featured one of the best tight ends in NFL history. Shannon Sharpe, the NFL’s leader among tight ends in receptions, receiving yards, and touchdowns, spent seven years under Kubiak. Sharpe averaged 61 receptions and had the most yards receiving with 1,107 yards in 1997.
Kubiak’s offenses always have been based on balance. The Broncos’ running game has focused around a strong system instead of an individual. A Broncos runner eclipsed the 1,000-yard rushing mark in 10 of Kubiak’s 11 seasons. Denver saw five different runners rush for more than 1,000 yards, more than any team in the NFL, in that span.
Kubiak turned to Terrell Davis to tote the ball as the Broncos won back-to-back Super Bowls in the late ‘90s. In 1997, Davis became only the fourth running back in NFL history to rush for more than 2,000 yards. During the 1997-98 seasons, he rushed for 3,758 yards, most of any running back in back-to-back campaigns between 1995-2005. Davis’ 2,008 rushing yards are the fourth most in NFL history. He won AP Offensive Player of the Year honors in 1996 and 1998.
Following Elway’s retirement, Kubiak turned his offense over to second-year quarterback Brian Griese, who threw for 3,032 yards in his first season as the Broncos’ starter. In the 2000 season, Griese guided the Broncos’ offense to rank second in the NFL in points scored and total offense. He was named to the Pro Bowl that season.
That same season Mike Anderson rushed for 1,487 yards, a Bronco record for a rookie. Anderson set the NFL single-game rookie rushing record with 251 yards against the New Orleans Saints. That year, Kubiak’s receivers, Ed McCaffrey (101) and Rod Smith (100), became just the second pair of teammates in NFL history to grab at least 100 receptions.
In 2002, the Broncos drafted running back Clinton Portis in the second round. In his rookie season, Portis rushed for 1,508 yards, breaking Anderson’s rookie mark, and was named the AP Offensive Rookie of the Year. The Broncos’ rushing attack averaged 141.6 yards per game, which ranked second in the AFC. The offense totaled 380.6 yards per game, which was third in the NFL.
Kubiak relinquished his quarterbacks coach title in 2003, turning the duties over to Pat McPherson. That offseason, Denver signed quarterback Jake Plummer from the Arizona Cardinals and Plummer was immediately transformed. Despite missing five games his first season in Denver, Plummer threw for more touchdowns (15) than interceptions (seven) for the second time in his career. The 2004 season saw Plummer throw for 4,089 yards, most in Broncos history. He also tossed 27 touchdown passes, tying Elway’s 1997 club record.
Plummer stayed on his feet in Kubiak’s offense. After being sacked an average of 36 times per season in Arizona, Plummer was sacked an average of 17 times per year in Denver. Every season in Kubiak’s system, Plummer threw more touchdowns than interceptions and led the Broncos to the playoffs from 2003-05.
In 2005, Kubiak’s offense ranked fifth in the NFL with 5,766 total yards and his rushing attack was second in the league, averaging 158.7 yards per game. The Broncos were led by Anderson’s 1,014 yards on the ground and Tatum Bell’s 921 yards. Denver finished 2005 with a 13-3 record, winning their division for the first time since 1998, the last time they appeared in the Super Bowl.
In his 11 years as offensive coordinator, Kubiak’s Broncos amassed 66,501 total yards and 465 touchdowns, most in the NFL in that span. He coached 14 different Broncos who made the Pro Bowl and Denver’s rushing attack totaled 25,022 yards, most in the NFL, during his tenure.
Off the field, Kubiak has been active in his support of U.S. military services for a number of years. For the past six years, Kubiak has served as the celebrity spokesperson for Impact A Hero, a non-profit organization that provides a means to provide emotional and financial support for severely wounded and disabled War on Terror veterans and their families. He participated in the Seventh Annual Impact A Hero 5k Run, Walk and Wheel on June 4, 2011 and embarked on his first USO Tour to the Middle East later in the month.
In addition to his individual efforts, Kubiak has also supported U.S. military services with the Texans. For the last two years, the Texans have honored the armed forces with Salute To The Military Week. In 2010, the Texans hosted 150 guests from all five branches of the military and signed autographs at a practice during Salute To The Military Week, which culminated with 350 servicemen and women watching the Texans defeat the Kansas City Chiefs, 35-31.
Kubiak returned to his roots when he took the reins as head coach of the Texans. He starred at Houston’s St. Pius High School, where he was an all-state selection, passing for 6,190 yards during his high school career. He was inducted into the Texas High School Hall of Fame in 1999.
Kubiak attended Texas A&M, where he was selected All-Southwest Conference in 1982. He led the conference in attempts (324), completions (181), percentage (55.9) yardage (1,948), touchdowns (19), and total offense (1,885) as a senior. He set the SWC touchdown record with six against Rice during his junior season. He earned his degree in physical education before being drafted by the Broncos in the eighth round (197th overall) in the 1983 draft.
Kubiak, born in Houston, is married to Rhonda. The couple has three sons: Klint, Klay, and Klein. Klint is in his second season as a graduate assistant at Texas A&M, while Klay played quarterback at Colorado State and is now a graduate student at Texas Christian University and Klein is a sophomore wide receiver at Rice.
KUBIAK’S COACHING LEDGER
2006-11: Head Coach, Houston Texans
2003-05: Offensive Coordinator, Denver Broncos
1995-02: Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks, Denver Broncos
1994: Quarterbacks, San Francisco 49ers
1992-93: Running Backs, Texas A&M
