KC Chiefs: Ranking The AFC West Coaches

Feb 18, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Denver Broncos coach Gary Kubiak speaks at a press conference during the 2015 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

Name: Gary Kubiak

Team: Denver Broncos

Years coached: 8 (Houston)

Overall record: 61-64 (.488)

Playoff appearances (record): 2 (2-2)

Super Bowl appearances/wins: 0/0

Best Season: 2012 (12-4); Lost in Divisional Round

Gary Kubiak was an average NFL quarterback and he’s pretty much been that as a head coach as well. However, before his 2-win, 2013 season in Houston, where Bill Parcells probably couldn’t have won five games, Kubiak actually had a 59-53 record with the Texans.

It’s hard to take over a team that had never won more than seven games and be competitive, but Kubiak did just that. After taking replacing he fired Dom Capers in 2005 following a 2-14 season, Kubiak won six games in his first year at the helm.

He helped guide the team to its first non-losing seasons in 2007 and 2008 with 8-8 records, before finally breaking through with a 9-7 season his fourth year.

The Texans took a step back in 2010, but they qualified for their first playoff appearance in 2011, defeating the Bengals (Do you see a theme here for Cincy?) 31-10 in a Wild Card game. The next season Houston was 12-4 and beat the Bengals again (told you) before falling to Tom Brady and the Patriots.

While Arian Foster, when he wasn’t injured, was a key to success, Kubiak won with an average quarterback in Matt Schaub, but helped build one of the best defenses in the NFL.

He had to be on board with drafting defensive lineman Mario Williams No. 1 overall in 2006 over the favored Reggie Bush, and although he left for Buffalo, it was a great step in turning the Texans around.

Kubiak is no Hall of Fame coach, but he has to get kudos for taking an expansion team from irrelevance, to average, to the playoffs.

He fell victim to Schaub regressing and getting inured in 2013, and trying to win with Case Keenum behind center. He was fired with three games remaining in the 2013 season after five non-losing seasons with a team that didn’t know what winning was before he arrived.

Next: No.1 -- Andy Reid, Kansas City Chiefs