Gary Kubiak, newly installed as head coach of the Denver Broncos, is already feeling right at home with the NFL club where he had played and coached.
"When I got off the plane ... I knew that I was home," Kubiak said on Tuesday at a media conference to formally kick off his tenure as head coach.
"I'm proud to be back in the Bronco nation. This was a big part of my life and I'm looking at it being a big part of it again. Now, it's time to go to work."
Kubiak, formerly head coach in Houston, spent last season as the offensive coordinator of the Baltimore Ravens.
But he has a long history with Denver, where he was back-up quarterback behind John Elway from 1983-91 and spent 11 seasons as offensive coordinator from 1995-2005.
Kubiak takes over for John Fox, who guided Denver to AFC West division titles in each of his four seasons and also led the Broncos to last season's Super Bowl.
Fox departed by mutual decision with management after the Broncos lost in the second round of the playoffs to Indianapolis.
"This is a great football team," Kubiak said of trying to fulfil the lofty expectations created by the success of the last four years.
"The next level is winning the Super Bowl. You have to position yourself for taking that next step."
One of the most pressing questions Kubiak will face is whether he will try to take that step with veteran quarterback Peyton Manning.
Kubiak says he has spoken with Manning, who hasn't decided whether he will return for another season.
"We have talked," Kubiak said, but added the conversations weren't about Manning's decision.
"It was just conversations about family, about how he's feeling. We were just setting the stage for our time to get together and talk," Kubiak said. "This is his time, his decision and I need to be there for him."
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