Gary Kubiak agrees to become Denver Broncos head coach

The Denver Broncos have hired former Broncos quarterback and offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak as head coach, according to multiple reports, with final negotiations on a four-year deal to conclude soon. The team's announcement is expected Tuesday.

The hiring ends a brief coaching search that only saw two other candidates interviewed, confirming that Kubiak was always the favorite.

Kubiak's history with the Broncos

Kubiak was drafted in the same year as the man who hired him - John Elway - in 1983. It seems the two's fates have been tied together ever since. Kubiak and Elway were reportedly roommates and became fast friends, and Kubiak served as backup quarterback to Elway from 1983 to 1991. He enjoyed a starting record of 3-2, and he and Elway advanced to the Super Bowl three times.

After the 1991 season, Kubiak moved into coaching, spending three years between Texas A&M and the San Francisco 49ers. When Mike Shanahan became Broncos head coach in 1995, Kubiak accepted an offer to become offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach.

With Elway at quarterback, Kubiak and Shanahan put together the most dangerous offense of the NFL. Kubiak coached League and Super Bowl MVP Terrell Davis, and the group won two Super Bowls. Kubiak continued to serve as offensive coordinator through most of Shanahan's campaign as Denver head coach.

After the 2005-2006 season that saw the Broncos advanced to the AFC Championship Game, Kubiak accepted an offer from Houston to become their next head coach. The move ended his ongoing with relationship with the club that had lasted for 20 of the previous 23 years.

I can remember thinking at the time, as Kubiak left for Houston, "There goes the next head coach of the Denver Broncos." It wasn't perfectly correct at the time, but after brief stints from Josh McDaniels and John Fox, Gary Kubiak is coming home.

Kubiak's record as head coach

Kubiak spent eight years as head coach of the Houston Texans, 2006-2013. There, he achieved many of the young franchise's firsts - their first playoff appearance, first division title, and first playoff win (all in 2011). He followed that landmark campaign with a strong 12-4 record in 12-4, another division title, and another playoff win.

In 2013, Kubiak's Texans fell apart as Matt Schaub struggled immensely. They went 2-11 before Kubiak was fired late in the season.

Kubiak finished with a 61-64 (.488) regular season record as head coach to go with a 2-2 postseason record.