Klint

Kubiak

Kubiak has been linked to the Saints for nearly two weeks. A formal announcement of his hiring was largely dependent on the 49ers’ postseason run coming to an end. Kubiak is the son of long-time offensive coordinator/head coach Gary Kubiak, who won a Super Bowl 50 with the Broncos during the 2015 season. Kubiak, 36, spent one season as the Vikings offensive coordinator in 2021 and spent the last two seasons with the Broncos and 49ers as their passing game coordinator and quarterbacks coach. The Saints finished ninth in points per game last season and have a stud receiver in Chris Olave. However, they’re also a cap-strapped team that’s in need of several playmakers on the offensive side of the ball. Alvin Kamara will be 29 at the start of next season and looked a step slower than what we’ve seen in recent years, and the Saints’ tight ends offer little to no upside. With Derek Carr expected to be on the roster each of the next two seasons, finding ways to bolster the talent around him will be critical for Kubiak in 2024.

Kubiak can’t put pen to paper until after the Super Bowl, but the Saints appear ready to welcome him in the coming weeks. Kubiak last served as offensive coordinator for the Vikings in 2021 under head coach Mike Zimmer. The Vikings ranked 14th in points per game that season and 17th in EPA per play. Despite having Kirk Cousins and Justin Jefferson on the roster, the Vikings ranked in the lower half of the league in early-down pass rate and pass rate over expected, but some of that can likely be blamed on Zimmer, who has long been a fan of establishing the run. Kubiak was interviewed for the Bears offensive coordinator role earlier this offseason and was also rumored to be on the Commanders’ radar, but he appears to be off the market. He’ll have his work cut out for him with the cap-strapped Saints, who will be running it back with Derek Carr in 2024 and perhaps 2025.

The son of longtime offensive coordinator and head coach Gary Kubiak, Klint could get his shot at the Saints OC gig after Shane Waldron turned down New Orleans in favor of the Bears. Kubiak has worked closely with Brock Purdy this season. Purdy led the NFL in EPA per drop back in the QB-friendly Shanahan offense. The Saints are also interviewing Niners QB coach Brian Griese, who has been with San Francisco for two seasons. The Saints OC job isn’t the most attractive with head coach Dennis Allen’s future uncertain beyond the 2024 season.

Kubiak is the son of long-time offensive coordinator/head coach Gary Kubiak, who led the Broncos to a championship in Super Bowl 50. Klint Kubiak was an offensive assistant on the Broncos staff that season and has since spent time with the Vikings and San Francisco 49ers as a quarterbacks coach, offensive coordinator, and passing game coordinator. His knowledge of Kyle Shanahan’s offensive schemes and knack for creating space for his wide receivers to roam and create after the catch could make him an enticing coordinator for the Bears. Whether they commit to Justin Fields for next season or opt to select a quarterback with the No. 1 overall pick in next year’s draft, the Bears and head coach, Matt Eberflus will be in desperate need of an offensive spark in 2024.

Whether that “top role” is offensive coordinator or passing-game coordinator is unclear. Shanny went without an OC in 2022 after Mike McDaniel departed for the Dolphins. Bobby Slowik was the passing-game coordinator but has since accepted Houston’s coordinator gig. Gary’s son, Klint served as the Vikings’ OC in 2021 and is obviously well-versed in the Shanahan/Kubiak system. It should be a seamless transition for both parties, but Shanahan will obviously remain the 49ers’ play-caller.

The Texans have been on the ball today before the Super Bowl, trying to get together an offensive brain trust under DeMeco Ryans. Kubiak got interviews for the offensive coordinator position in New York and Tampa Bay this offseason, previously was OC for the Vikings, and called plays at points last season for Denver as they struggled under Nathaniel Hackett. He’d be another voice helping Bobby Slowik shape the Texans offense in 2023.

Kubiak is already scheduled to interview with the Jets for their offensive coordinator position, and will now do the same with the Bucs. After serving as the Vikings’ offensive coordinator in 2021, Kubiak went on to work as the Broncos’ quarterbacks coach and pass-game coordinator last season. The 2022 season will go down as an unexpectedly awful season for the Broncos after the team went out and acquired Russell Wilson last offseason. After entering the year with Super Bowl aspirations, the Broncos finished the season ranked dead last in points per game, as Wilson and the passing game struggled to get anything going all year long. Denver’s failures likely have more to do with former head coach Nathaniel Hackett than Kubiak, but there’s no ignoring his ties to the team and its down season. Nevertheless, Kubiak has been a popular name over the last week and could draw more interest in the coming days.

Kubiak served as Minnesota’s offensive coordinator in 2021 before landing in Denver as a quarterbacks coach and pass-game coordinator. He would go on to take over play-calling duties mid-season as well, though interim head coach Jerry Rosburg shifted that responsibility to Justin Outten in the final weeks of the season. Denver’s passing attack was among the worst in the league, but it’s fair to wonder how much of that falls on Kubiak’s shoulders. First-year head coach Nathaniel Hackett appeared out of his depth in Denver and the offense showed some signs of life after Kubiak took over the play-calling role.

The Broncos’ offense has been a complete disaster with Hackett calling plays. They rank dead last in points per game and 28th in EPA per play. Russell Wilson carries at least as much blame as Hackett, but there are a few spots that better play-calling could help. Denver currently ranks dead last in third-down conversion rate and red zone touchdown rate. Kubiak previously called plays during his lone season as the Vikings’ offensive coordinator in 2021. Minnesota ranked 13th in points per game last year.

Head coach Nathaniel Hackett plans to call plays for the Broncos, so Kubiak could have nearly as much impact on the offense as passing game coordinator as the Broncos’ eventual offensive coordinator. It is unclear who Kubiak will be working with as quarterbacks coach, but he displayed an ability to generate efficient offense with Kirk Cousins at the helm in Minnesota. If the Broncos can land a capable starter, they have a strong chance of substantially improving on their 2021 passing game.