Klint Kubiak Lands on His Feet

Klint Kubiak wasn’t expected to be back with the Minnesota Vikings in 2022 in any way, shape, or form as head coach Mike Zimmer was terminated on January 10th. Kubiak’s offense frequently stalled, delivering conservatism at inopportune times while Minnesota’s defense collapsed at crucial spots in games. The combination was not fruitful.

But Kubiak will get another shot at a prominent coaching gig – the quarterbacks coaching job with the Denver Broncos.

Amid the NFL’s coaching carousel, this transaction is wildly unsurprising. Foremost, the words Kubiak and Denver are nearly interchangeable, solidified when Klint’s father, Gary – also a man with Vikings ties – won a Super Bowl for the franchise in 2015. Now, Gary’s kid will take over the quarterback room for the Broncos, presumably coaching a new QB1 in 2022 as Denver is likely to move on from the Teddy Bridgewater-Drew Lock twosome this offseason. Or, at the very least, neither man is expected to be the bonafide QB1 in September.

A Kubiak back in Denver? Check. What about the Vikings coaching situation? No checkmarks yet.

Minnesota is reportedly down to the four coaching finalists: Patrick Graham (Giants), Jim Harbaugh (University of Michigan), Raheem Morris (Rams), and Kevin O’Connell (Rams). And the Harbaugh chatter barnstormed the team’s orbit last Saturday. Based on fans’ sentiment, Harbaugh is the sexiest target.

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On Kubiak, his addition to Denver’s coaching staff can be classified as an interesting potential segue to a Kirk Cousins trade. New general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah must decide to trade Cousins and his villainous $45 million cap hit or extend him, spreading the money over the next two or three years.

Kubiak has worked with Cousins for three consecutive years, so if Denver doesn’t land an Aaron Rodgers, Russell Wilson, or Deshaun Watson this offseason, coaching continuity from Kubiak to Cousins could be advantageous for all parties. Cousins to Denver is a relative longshot right now – it is unclear if Adofo-Mensah wants to trade Cousins – but such relationships matter in the NFL. For example, Denver’s general manager is George Paton, who worked in the Vikings front office. He knows Cousins – and he knows Kubiak.

Regardless, Kubiak gets another immediate job after floundering with Zimmer’s Vikings. Not bad for a man who will be 35 in a couple of weeks.

Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sally from Minneapolis. His Viking fandom dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ and The Doors (the band).