Vikings opt for stability, promote Klint Kubiak to offensive coordinator

As expected, the Minnesota Vikings have promoted Klint Kubiak from with to be their next offensive coordinator, replacing his father Gary Kubiak in that high-profile role.

The Minnesota Vikings have opted for stability, as they are replacing former offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak with his son Klint Kubiak. The younger Kubiak had been the Vikings’ quarterbacks coach the previous two seasons in the Twin Cities, coming over from the Denver Broncos in 2019.

This move was expected, as the Vikings tend to promote from within throughout much of the Mike Zimmer era in Minneapolis. The elder Kubiak had been on the Vikings staff in 2019, replacing former offensive coordinator Kevin Stefanski once he became the Cleveland Browns head coach. While this move could be viewed as nepotism by some, this is a move Vikings fans can get behind.

Will Klint Kubiak be able to get the absolute most out of Kirk Cousins in 2021?

The Vikings have had a revolving door of offensive coordinators since Norv Turner resigned abruptly in 2016. His successor Pat Shurmur flourished in 2016 and ’17, culminating in him getting the New York Giants head-coaching gig in ’18. While Shurmur, Stefanski and both Kubiaks were promoted from within, Minnesota has not been able to get to the Super Bowl.

The single most important thing the 33-year-old Kubiak can do is put his age contemporary quarterback Kirk Cousins in a position to succeed. Stefanski helped get him to a Pro Bowl in 2019 and won a playoff game. If Kubiak can get Cousins to play better, this could give the Vikings an outside shot to win the NFC North or more likely get into the playoffs as a wild card team.

The Vikings will either sink or swim in 2021 based on Kubiak’s rapport with Cousins under center.