Broncos Sign John Elway To Five-Year Deal, Gary Kubiak To Scouting Role

The Denver Broncos followed their signing on Monday of general manager/vice president of football operations John Elway to a new five-year extension with the hiring of former head coach Gary Kubiak to a scouting position.

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Mike Klis of KUSA and ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter both reported Tuesday that Kubiak — who stepped down as Denver’s head coach at the end of the 2016 season following a series of health problems — will serve as a scouting advisor for the Broncos.

Kubiak — who will be 56 next month — missed a Broncos game last season after being transported to a hospital for what was believed to be a complex migraine. He also suffered a mini-stroke when he was the Houston Texans’ head coach in 2013.

“I’m getting out of coaching, but I have a lot to give,’’ Kubiak said at his retirement press conference on Jan. 2. “I’m going to find something else to do and I’m going to wake up with that same passion and do that, just like I’ve coached for the last 20-something years.’’

As Schefter reported, Kubiak will be based in Houston — where he was head coach for seven years — for his new role in evaluating college players for the draft, and will occasionally return to Denver for meetings. Kubiak will thus likely be interacting with his son Klein, who is a Broncos southwest area scout. Another of his sons, Klint, is an offensive assistant on current Broncos head coach Vance Joseph’s staff.

Kubiak helped lead the Broncos to a Super Bowl 50 title after the 2015 season, the national championship game after which Peyton Manning retired. He played quarterback for the team from 1983 to 1991.

Elway’s deal, meanwhile, will keep him in Denver through the 2021 season. Although the value of the pact has not been released, Elway’s new contract is expected to make him the highest-paid NFL general manager.

“During these last six seasons, John’s clearly established himself as one of the best general managers in all of sports,” President and CEO Joe Ellis said in a statement released by the Broncos. “He”s demonstrated impressive football instincts, a strong business acumen and a consistent ability to build competitive teams.”

Since Elway, 57, took over as GM in 2011, the Broncos have dominated the AFC West, compiling a 67-29 record along with two Super Bowl appearances (2013, 2015) and five division titles. Only the New England Patriots’ .781 winning percentage bests the Broncos’ .698 mark over that span.

Elway, another former Broncos quarterback, also helped the franchise win its first two Lombardi trophies after the 1997 and 1998 seasons, and retired after Denver’s second Super Bowl victory during that time. The Hall of Famer was drafted as the No. 1 overall pick out of Stanford in 1983, and at the time of his retirement from his 16-year career with the Broncos set a record for most victories by a starting quarterback and was the second-most prolific passer in NFL history. Elway was also one of only two players to ever score a rushing touchdown in four different Super Bowls (the other being Thurman Thomas) and the only quarterback to do so.

“I appreciate the trust and confidence that Joe has shown in me,” Elway said Monday, via the Broncos’ official website. “[Principal owner] Pat Bowlen has always put outstanding leadership in place, and I’m grateful for the support Joe gives us to compete for championships each and every year.

“This is a special place, and the Broncos are home to me. While there’s still a lot of work to be done, I’m excited about the future of this team and this organization.”

Among the top players Elway has helped recruit to Denver over the years are Manning — the biggest free-agent fish of the new millennium — Super Bowl 50 MVP Von Miller, and other Pro Bowl talents like DeMarcus Ware, Aqib Talib, T.J. Ward and Emmanuel Sanders. 

Elway also brought in valuable college free agents like Chris Harris Jr. and C.J. Anderson.

Caption:SANTA CLARA, CA – FEBRUARY 02: Denver Broncos’ head coach Gary Kubiak speaks to the media at the Broncos media availability at the Santa Clara Marriott on February 2, 2016 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)