OWINGS MILLS, Md. — Even if the Denver Broncos are targeting Ravens offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak as their next head coach, John Harbaugh gave no indication Tuesday afternoon that it would happen.
The Ravens head coach said he’s heard nothing from Kubiak that indicates he has changed his mind about the commitment he made to remain as offensive coordinator Sunday night, but Harbaugh didn’t dismiss the possibility of it happening. Kubiak spent nine years as the backup quarterback in Denver in addition to 11 years as an assistant coach under former Broncos head coach Mike Shanahan.
“I haven’t sat down with Gary and interrogated him about it,” said Harbaugh as he smiled. “Maybe I should. That might be my next move. Out of respect, he’s told me he’s planning on being here. Denver hasn’t reached out in any way at this time. That’s not to say it couldn’t change at some point in time. I just think if that happens, we’ll cross that bridge when we get there.
“I’m not really one to put anybody on the spot like that. I want to be respectful. I’m planning on Gary being back, so if that changes, then we’ll deal with it if it comes up. But I don’t anticipate that changing at this time.”
Hall of Fame quarterback and Broncos general manager John Elway remains close friends with Kubiak and hasn’t shot down the possibility of him being a candidate to replace head coach John Fox, who parted ways with the Broncos on Monday. For now, Kubiak remains the Ravens offensive coordinator despite an ESPN report indicating Denver will request permission to interview him.
In their first season with Kubiak running the offense, the Ravens set franchise records in points scored and total yards and finished 12th in the NFL in total offense and eighth in points per game. A running game that ranked last in the NFL in yards per carry in 2013 improved to eighth in yards per game this season.
Kubiak’s announcement on Sunday squashed reported interest from Chicago, the New York Jets, and San Francisco, but the Denver position could be viewed as a dream job that could prompt the 53-year-old to change his mind.
“As far as I know, nothing’s changed,” Harbaugh said. “I’m not aware of any change of anything that’s taken place between then and now. Of course, I’m as pleased as heck to hear that [initial announcement] and talk to Gary about that leading up to that and then that day. I told him that’s music to my ears. He’s very happy here; his family’s happy here. I think all the coaches really feel good about where they’re at right now. As far as I know, nothing’s changed along those lines.”
Harbaugh did confirm that secondary coach and assistant head coach Steve Spagnuolo will interview for the New York Giants’ defensive coordinator position on Wednesday. The Ravens finished 23rd in pass defense after dealing with a rash of injuries that included top cornerback Jimmy Smith and No. 3 corner Asa Jackson.
Spagnuolo is no stranger to Tom Coughlin and the Giants after serving as their defensive coordinator in 2007 and 2008 before he became the head coach of the St. Louis Rams.
“Steve’s a great coach and has done a great job with the guys throughout the course of the season,” Harbaugh said. “Obviously, a tremendously experienced coach. He’s been a head coach, been a coordinator, and that’s not something that we would want to hold him back from as an opportunity. I don’t know what’s going to happen with that, but that’s something that he deserves an opportunity to look at.”
Though a change in Kubiak’s status could create a ripple of change with quarterbacks coach Rick Dennison and tight ends coach Brian Pariani in particular, Harbaugh is not anticipating any other shakeups to his coaching staff at this time.
The Ravens endured plenty of change last offseason with the departures of offensive coordinator Jim Caldwell, running backs coach Wilbert Montgomery, wide receivers coach Jim Hostler, tight ends coach Wade Harman, offensive line coach Andy Mueller, and secondary coach Teryl Austin. Harbaugh is hoping for more continuity this winter as the Ravens try to build on their 2014 return to the playoffs after a one-year absence.
“I sure hope so. I’m recruiting those guys every day,” Harbaugh said. “But like I said, guys like being here. If a coach gets a chance to be a head coach in this league, you’ve got to be happy for him. I don’t know if anything else will come up — I haven’t heard of anything along those lines — but if something comes up, we’ll just have to deal with it.”
