Vikings and Other Players, Journalists React to Gary Kubiak's Retirement

Vikings offensive coordinator and football lifer Gary Kubiak announced his retirement from the NFL on Thursday. After nearly four decades in the league as a player, coach, and executive, the 59-year-old is stepping down in order to spend more time with his family.

Kubiak previously retired following the 2016 season, his second as head coach of the Broncos, citing health concerns. But he returned to Denver's front office as a personnel advisor the following season, and eventually got back into coaching over the past two years in Minnesota. This time, he's almost certainly retiring for good.

A big part of Kubiak's legacy will be his contributions to the game of football. He was an offensive innovator who played a major role in shaping the sport to what it looks like today. He also won four championships as a coach: Super Bowl 29 as the 49ers' QB coach, Super Bowls 32 and 33 as the Broncos' offensive coordinator, and Super Bowl 50 as the Broncos' head coach.

But, just as importantly, Kubiak's legacy will be about how he impacted the lives of the people around him. Few coaches are as universally revered as Kubiak, who was a true players' coach. Throughout his time in Denver, San Francisco, Houston, Baltimore, and Minnesota, he built great relationships with countless players, coaches, staffers, journalists, and others.

That makes it entirely unsurprising that so many people took to Twitter on Thursday to congratulate Kubiak on a great career. Here are a bunch of those posts.

Former Texans RB Arian Foster (played for Kubiak from 2009-13)

gary kubiak changed the trajectory of my life. believed and pushed me to be better. i’ll love that dude forever. thank you for everything, coach. 🙏🏾
— feeno (@ArianFoster) January 22, 2021

Texans DE J.J. Watt (played for Kubiak from 2011-13)

Utmost congratulations to a truly great man and hell of a football coach.

A players coach through and through who knew how to grind when it was time to grind and when to have a beer with you when it was time for a beer.

A legend who I am honored to have been able to call coach. https://t.co/aik7Lf1mci
— JJ Watt (@JJWatt) January 21, 2021

Former Broncos RB C.J. Anderson (played for Kubiak from 2015-16)

The game will miss you Kub
— Cj Anderson (@cjandersonb22) January 21, 2021

Vikings TE Tyler Conklin

Appreciate everything Kub....a real one🤞🏼 https://t.co/xgOfmln6Yd
— Tyler Conklin (@T_Conk1) January 21, 2021

Vikings DL Hercules Mata'afa

Kub the man https://t.co/3IOHulCvMp
— Hercules Mata'afa (@herculesuluao50) January 21, 2021

Vikings FB C.J. Ham

One of the best to do it!! 🙌🏾 https://t.co/MWRzZaa81h
— CJ Ham (@cjham28) January 21, 2021

The Houston Chronicle's John McClain (covered Kubiak from 2006-13)

In all my decades of covering the NFL, I've never met a coach, player or administrator I respected more than Gary Kubiak. He played and coached with so much class and dignity. I've been privileged to know him since the late 70s. I've never known a better man in or out of football
— John McClain (@McClain_on_NFL) January 21, 2021

The Athletic's Robert Mays

Gary Kubiak had such a massive role in how offense is played in the modern NFL. Nearly 1/3 of the league this season ran an offense based on the principles he helped establish almost 30 years ago. A true innovator in the sport. https://t.co/xLVs9JEcTD
— Robert Mays (@robertmays) January 21, 2021

ESPN's Jeff Legwold

Bottom line is Gary Kubiak is absolutely one of best football minds to have coached in the league and just happens to be one of the best humans as well .... Mike Shanahan's and Gary Kubiak's influence on how the game is played in the NFL has been enormously underappreciated. https://t.co/2aGqr8NqnI
— Jeff Legwold (@Jeff_Legwold) January 21, 2021

Thanks for reading. Make sure to bookmark this site and check back daily for the latest Vikings news and analysis all offseason long. Also, follow me on Twitter and feel free to ask me any questions on there.