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Published on 12/29/2010 at Wed Dec 29 15:22.
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Kubiak appears safe in Houston, Wade Phillips could join him

Posted Wed Dec 29th by

Head coach Gary Kubiak of the Houston Texas looks on as he faces the Denver Broncos at INVESCO Field at Mile High on December 26, 2010 in Denver, Colorado. The Broncos defeated the Texans 24-23. (Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)

Head coach Gary Kubiak of the Houston Texas looks on as he faces the Denver Broncos at INVESCO Field at Mile High on December 26, 2010 in Denver, Colorado. The Broncos defeated the Texans 24-23. (Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)

We’re a mere matter of days before the Denver Broncos enter a full-fledged institutional rebuild. John Elway will be hired in some executive facet or another, the team will consider their options at GM (including possibly retaining Brian Xanders), and then the head coaching search will begin.

One name repeatedly tied to the gig is current Houston Texans coach Gary Kubiak. A longtime Denver player and assistant coach, Kubiak is a popular candidate among many fans, and his Texans’ recent 23-24 loss to the Broncos was rumored to have sealed his fate in Houston.

Those rumors have changed. Reports Tuesday and Wednesday suggest Kubiak will be retained in Houston.

“After the Texans lost at Denver, I thought (Texans owner) Bob McNair would fire Gary Kubiak. Now I don’t. I believe Kubiak will be back,” Houston Chronicle columnist John McClain wrote on Twitter.

McClain isn’t alone. Sports Illustrated‘s Peter King and the NFL Network’s Jason LaCanfora have mirrored McClain’s sentiments.

LaCanfora takes it a step further, suggesting that Wade Phillips could join Kubiak next year in Houston as defensive coordinator.

In other words, Kubiak would be Texans head coach. Phillips would be Texans defensive coordinator. It’s the exact setup some Broncos fans have been pining for in Denver, only 1,032 miles south.

  • flbronc

    i dont know how many people are pining for wade phillips back… i am certainly not….

  • anthony33

    I don't think Phillips is the answer either.

    However, I would be curious to know WTF Bowlen and Ellis are planning since there really never seems to be one.

  • http://broncotalk.net Kyle

    There are certainly some who have that sentiment, and the DPO columnists (Paige etc.) have been throwing it out there.

  • http://broncotalk.net Kyle

    The plan at this point is John Elway. As it should be. If Elway's going to be given executive power, he needs to have major input in the hiring of GM and coach. It makes no sense to pick the coach before getting Elway's two cents, then hiring Elway after the fact.

  • anthony33

    I don't disagree that GM comes first, though we have heard that before.
    I just don't see what Elway has to with it since he is not on board yet and if he does come on board, what capacity will he have. I keep hearing the marketing side, which makes sense. Elway has zero experience in managing anything inside of an NFL organization.

    I would hope Bowlen and Ellis are working 24/7 in building out a list of GM candidates (which will be Xanders), and hopefully he is already doing work on a coach.

  • marvens

    i want to see josh McDaniel offense coordinator nd mike singletary defense coordinator

  • BOLTBUSTER

    I got this feeling Brian Billick is going to come up as a serious HC contender. I dont know if i like him or not, he seems to be able to pick D coordinators and defenses but i dont know about his ideas about what is good offense.

  • 5280

    No worries. Theres plenty of good coaches out there and we got all the time in the world. I would love to see Kubiak back in Denver but theres a lot of other choices too.

  • mikebirty

    Its not that I wanted Kubiak to come in and be HC, its just that I am so underwhelmed by the other candidates – there seem to be too many candidates who have failed at coaching the Bills – and because of that Kubiak is the only one who made me think, yeah he could be the one.

  • anthony33

    Up until his little tid bit came out I would have bet the house on Kubiak being the choice. I too, do not necessarily think he is the best choice, but the safe choice. Most fans would welcome him back.

    Bowlen is clearly in appease the fans mode right now and that's fine for the short term. However, to truly appease the fans lond term you have to win. I hope they don't lose focus on that and just do the popular thing. This McD thing had to rock his confidence in stepping outside the box.

  • The Mascot Army

    This is a good idea.

  • Stav

    Never wanted Kubiak as HC, OC yes. McD as OC, that would never happen. Wade Phillips as DC, that could definitely happen, he knows his s**t and would fill the spot nicely, but he is definitely NOT HC material. Neither is Mike Nolan. Let's all keep in mind that Bowlen is not going to go out and hire a $5mill+ HC, we may interview Fisher (if he's let go) but we're not going to pay him. Some guys are down on Fox, but I say he's a good candidate for HC, we need a defensive focus. Just no college coaches, no oc's bumping up to HC.

    Let's all be honest about this situation though, they could hire whoever the hell they wanted to fill these positions, it all means nothing if you don't have the players to perform, WHICH WE DON'T ON DEFENSE. DE, DE or LB, DE or LB, CB/S – that should be our first four picks. Whoever comes in as HC has to focus on that glaring weakness we call our defense. And as they won't and shouldn't have the final decision on personnel moves, they should have enough sway to push for defense loaded drafting.

    Personally, I'd like to see Fox as HC, but that's just me. Give Leslie Frazier an interview if he's available as we did last year. Forget about Cowher, that's $7mill+ and he'll want complete control. At the same time, if he somehow ends up as HC, we'll all be smiling, but its highly, HIGHLY, doubtful. He'll probably go to Carolina.

  • http://manchester-architects.com T-Money

    I don't… That man was a cancer that ruined an already broken franchise.

  • Fan From Spain

    from what I've read Brian Billick has no intention of coming back next year as a HC.

  • anthony33

    All good points Stav. I don't see eye to eye with you on Fox, but you never know.

    Let's just hope they are working 24/7 to get the right folks in place.

  • cj

    John Fox is a tool.

  • http://nation.theorangepage.com/blog Ian Henson

    I like Wade Phillips' defenses… Even in Denver: #7 – 1987, #1 – 1989, #3 – 1991. I don't have a problem with him as a defensive coordinator.

    I even wrote the article after he'd been fired. I'd love to have him as a defensive coordinator. Are there better DC's? Sure, are they available? No.

  • http://nation.theorangepage.com/blog Ian Henson

    I like Wade Phillips' defenses… Even in Denver: #7 – 1987, #1 – 1989, #3 – 1991. I don't have a problem with him as a defensive coordinator.

    I even wrote the article after he'd been fired. I'd love to have him as a defensive coordinator. Are there better DC's? Sure, are they available? No.