Jan 1, 2017; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Broncos head coach Gary Kubiak waves to the crowd after the game against the Oakland Raiders at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Photo Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
The news would come 11 months after Kubiak led the Broncos to a Super Bowl title in his first season.
This season, however, has taken a toll on the 55-year-old coach and his family, according to Schefter. The Broncos (9-7) were eliminated from playoff contention last week and ended their season Sunday at home with a 24-7 win over the Oakland Raiders.
Kubiak’s decision will be finalized this week based on his family wanting him to leave coaching and move to their retirement ranch in Texas, according to Schefter.
–Chicago Bears coach John Fox is expected to get another chance to turn around the team in 2017 despite only three wins heading into Sunday’s season finale against the Minnesota Vikings.
Fox will get the opportunity to make his mark in the third season with the Bears, according to NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport. The Bears are just 9-22 in his first two seasons.
The jobs of Fox and general manager Ryan Pace appear to be safe and the team is not expected to be making any significant coaching changes, league sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Fox, hired by Chicago after going 46-18 in four seasons with the Denver Broncos, is in the second year of a four-year deal he signed with the Bears in 2015. The Bears (3-13) will finish last in the NFC North for the third straight season, after going 6-10 in 2015.
–Arizona Cardinals Pro Bowl running back David Johnson suffered a gruesome knee injury in the first half of Sunday’s game against the Los Angeles Rams.
Johnson was hurt when he attempted to cut back on a running play and had his left leg bent at an awkward angle as two Rams defenders tackled him.
He was helped to the sideline and carted to the locker room. Johnson rushed for 6 yards on five carries and had 38 yards receiving on three catches before sustaining the injury.
Johnson ran for 1,239 yards rushed for a franchise-record 20 touchdowns. He also caught 80 passes for 879 yards.
— Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo took his first snaps of the regular season when he entered Sunday’s game in the first half for Dak Prescott.
With 13 minutes left in the second quarter against the Philadelphia Eagles, Romo saw his first regular-season action since Thanksgiving 2015.
Romo completed 3 of 4 passes for 29 yards on his first drive, ending it with a 3-yard touchdown pass to Terrance Williams to give the Cowboys a 10-3 lead in the second quarter. It was the 36-year-old’s first touchdown pass in a game since Nov. 22, 2015.
Romo’s return was brief as he was replaced by Mark Sanchez on the next drive.
–Oakland Raiders quarterback Matt McGloin left Sunday’s game at Denver late in the second quarter with a shoulder injury.
He was starting in place of Derek Carr, who is out indefinitely after breaking his right leg during Oakland’s win over Indianapolis last week. It was his first start since 2013.
There was no immediate word on when McGloin was injured. McGloin was replaced by rookie Connor Cook for the Raiders’ last offensive series of the first half.
–Buffalo Bills running back LeSean McCoy suffered an ankle injury in the second quarter and did not return to Sunday’s game against the New York Jets.
McCoy was apparently hurt while being dragged down for a 2-yard loss on the first snap of the second quarter. He was briefly evaluated on the Bills’ bench before being taken to the locker room. The Bills, who were eliminated from playoff contention last weekend, announced a few minutes later that McCoy was done for the day.
McCoy had five carries for 10 yards along with one catch for 6 yards Sunday. He finishes the season with 1,267 yards rushing and 13 touchdowns as well as 350 yards receiving and one touchdown.
–San Francisco 49ers backup tight end Je’Ron Hamm sustained a serious injury to his left leg during warmups and was ruled out for the game against the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday at Levi’s Stadium.
Hamm was carted off the field and had an air cast on his left leg.
–Kansas City Chiefs rookie linebacker Dadi Nicolas hurt his knee in the first quarter of Sunday’s game against the San Diego Chargers and exited the game on a cart.
Nicolas, who was seeing more playing time with Justin Houston (knee) idle, was ruled out of the game.
–New York Jets wide receiver Brandon Marshall, slowed by hip and shoulder injuries, was declared inactive for Sunday’s season finale against the Buffalo Bills.
Marshall, 32, was listed as questionable on Friday’s injury report and practiced on a limited basis. Hel appeared to be in some discomfort as he walked in into the locker room two hours before kickoff, according to ESPN.com.
Marshall is signed for 2017 at $7.5 million but there has been speculation about his future as he could be a cap casualty. Hel finished a disappointing season with 59 catches for 788 yards and three touchdowns in 15 games.
–Two spectators rapelled from the rafters of U.S. Bank Stadium during the Chicago Bears-Minnesota Vikings game on Sunday and hung a banner protesting the Dakota Access Pipeline.
During the second quarter of Sunday’s game, the banner was hung from the rafters and the two individuals hung from ropes while the game continued. Police climbed the rafters above the two, who remain in position. One fan was wearing a Vikings purple No. 4 Brett Favre jersey. The banner read “U.S. Bank, Divest, #NoDAPL.” U.S. Bank is helping fund the project.
