Posted Jan 28, 2014
Garrett DowningBaltimoreRavens.com Staff Writer@Ravens All Garrett Downing ArticlesThe new offensive coordinator looks forward to getting up ‘very early in the morning and going to work.’
Gary Kubiak responded with a quick joke when asked about his health status during Monday’s press conference announcing him as the Ravens’ new offensive coordinator.
“How do I look?” Kubiak said with a smile. “Am I okay?”
Kubiak can joke now after making a full recovery from a “mini-stroke” that occurred during a game on Nov. 3. The former Houston Texans head coach collapsed on the sideline as teams were heading to the locker rooms for halftime and had to be rushed to the hospital.
Kubiak, 52, was hospitalized after the incident and had to take about two weeks away from coaching. He ended up getting fired in December by the Texans as they struggled to a 2-14 finish.
After having some time away from football, Kubiak is rejuvenated to start his new role with the Ravens.
“I feel great,” Kubiak said. “I’ve been working out, [I’m] looking forward to getting up very early in the morning and going to work again. My wife is tired of me being around the house.”
NFL coaches are known for keeping tireless schedules, working 100-hour work weeks during the season and operating on minimal sleep. Ravens Head Coach John Harbaugh has a reputation of catching a few hours of sleep on his couch in his office just so he doesn’t waste time driving home.
Kubiak said he and Harbaugh talked about his health during the interview process, and he is confident he can keep the same pace as earlier in his coaching career.
“I went through about a three-week process where I cut back my hours a little bit, but no, I came out of it fine,” Kubiak said. “I was my old self at the end of the season, but things didn’t work out and that’s part of this game.”
Kubiak is a 21-year coaching veteran in the NFL, and the time off after getting fired by the Texans on Dec. 6 was the longest break he’s ever had as a coach. After finalizing a deal with the Ravens, Kubiak stressed during Monday’s press conference that he’s looking forward to getting back to his craft.
“This has been the best day I’ve had in two months, because I’m so excited to be back in this league, to get back to work,” Kubiak said.
“I love the competition, I love being a part of this league, but I was looking for something that hit me and said, ‘OK, this is it.’ And that’s what happened through the course of this visit.”
