A plethora of unanswered questions about the Denver Broncos float around the NFL. Is Peyton Manning done? If so, what does the Broncos offense look like without him? If not, what does it look like with their recently hired coach, Gary Kubiak? John Elway, the GM of the Broncos, and the rest of the organization held a press conference this Tuesday to clear the air.

All eyes were on Gary Kubiak, the recently hired coach of the Denver Broncos, as the organization introduced and
welcomed him to the public. “I think I’m a much better coach now than I was when I left in 2006,” stated Gary Kubiak to start off the conference. “You take it all with you everywhere you go, you learn more.” As reporters fired off questions, one arose to which Kubiak is not unfamiliar, “Are you healthy?” Kubiak’s health is of utmost importance, the coach collapsed from a transient ischemic attack, or mini stroke, in 2013.

Kubiak admitted that during his time with the Texans’ organization he had “probably run himself into the ground,” adding that he recently had taken a physical and that he felt he was “good to go.” A reporter then asked about the running plan, Kubiak’s signature zone-blocking scheme. “I get asked that question a lot – we’re going to do what the team does best,” he replied. “This isn’t Gary Kubiak’s offense it’s the Denver Broncos’ offense.”
Kubiak is no stranger to the Broncos organization, starting his career there as a backup quarterback to John Elway. He also served several years as an offensive coordinator for the team. On Tuesday, former wide receiver Mark Jackson put it simply, “Gary is coming home.” However, Denver becoming Kubiak’s longtime home is largely dependent on quarterback Peyton Manning’s decision.

The talk about Peyton Manning has been especially rampant since the firing of John Fox. The future of the Hall of Famer with the team is unclear. Kubiak’s zone-running scheme involves the quarterback rolling out often, something Manning is not entirely comfortable with. If he were to stay, Kubiak and Manning would have to find some sort of compromise.

If Manning were to leave the team, his backup, Brock Osweiler, would be forced into the spot light. According to John Elway, this is something that would be okay. “We’re excited about Brock’s progress. He’s been here for three years and been a tremendous student,” said Elway. “He hasn’t had a lot of playing but I’m confident he can do it.”

Manning not returning may be a worst-case scenario for the Broncos, but it is a very realistic outcome that they will have to face eventually. Retirement talks for Peyton only got serious Monday, when Kubiak got the head coaching job. Kubiak plans to coach in Denver much longer than Peyton plans to play, meaning the team inevitably will have to end up parting ways with Manning.
Manning will be out of football forever within the next two seasons. Unless some things change with Kubiak’s offense, or some major compromises are met, Manning will not return to the Broncos. Though the future is uncertain, the staff remains in high hopes as the 2015 season approaches.