'I'm so humbled': Gary Kubiak '83 among 2025 Distinguished Alumni of A&M

The Association of Former Students announced legendary football coach Gary Kubiak '83 as one of Texas A&M's 2025 Distinguished Alumni. The Fightin' Texas Aggie joined Friday's edition on TexAgs Live to discuss the honor, as well as his favorite memories in College Station.

Key notes from Gary Kubiak interview

• I’m so humbled. I had my family in town. I had everybody together, and that's very rare for the Kubiak family with my boys all in football, and I am trying to figure out how that happened. I have always taken a lot of pride in being an Aggie, and as my career kind of took me everywhere, I am just very proud of being a Fightin’ Texas Aggie, and to have something happen to me at this point in my life is just a very humbling experience.
   
• I came to A&M under Tom Wilson early in my career. My first year did not go very well. I was being redshirted and got put into a game for about 30 plays at the end of a game because of some injuries and lost an entire year of eligibility, so I was certainly disappointed at that point. A lot of thoughts were going through my mind, and actually, Greg Davis, who coached me at A&M, talked me into hanging in there, and there were better times ahead. I fought the fight. Then, I played for Jackie Sherrill for one year. The last year of my career, I really had a lot of opportunity to go on to play pro football, and then I got into coaching.
   
• It was a lot of fun. We had some really good times, but it wasn't easy. I say that most people, when they look back at things, there are very challenging things in your life that push you forward. 
   
• I was in Buffalo. We were playing in an AFC Championship. My last time playing as a pro football player. The week before, Bill Walsh offered me a job at Stanford to go coach for him, and I knew I was going to get into coaching. I just didn't know quite where, but I had talked to R.C. Slocum, and he talked to me about coming back to A&M and becoming the running backs coach. A couple of great football coaches offered me opportunities that offered me to get into the coaching profession. My wife made sure I came back here to Texas. I spent two years with Slocum coaching running backs. I had a great room, then I went back to the NFL. I am forever grateful to Slocum to give me an opportunity to giving me a coaching opportunity. 
   
• I was John Elway's roommate for 10 years there in Denver. I was his backup. Football has changed a lot. Back in the day, teams stuck together. That was a very good friend of mine. If you look at the cycle throughout my career, I was Elway's friend. I was Elway's teammate. I became Elway's coach for a couple of Super Bowl wins, and then I went to work for Elway, and he was the General Manager, and we won another Super Bowl. Obviously, he was a very big part of my life and is a very good friend. What an amazing mountain of man when it comes to football in the NFL. I am just very fortunate to be a part of some of the things with him.
   
• I knew Von Miller a little bit because Mike Sherman was a good friend of mine. I get to Denver. We're really good on defense, and when I got there, Miller and DeMarcus Ware were leading the way. That's something that we will be able to share the rest of our lives being two Aggies winning a Super Bowl together. He was the MVP of the game. I'll never forget the morning after the game. We had to go down to San Francisco for Miller to get his award, and we were riding in a bus. We had been up all night and hadn't had much sleep, so we were sitting there laughing about what a special time this was for both of us. Very proud of him. He is still doing it at a high level. I think he is going to continue to do it. It is interesting that an Aggie crossed my path at various moments of my career.
   
• I am a big fan of Aggie basketball. I sat right here last night and watched it. I love the way Buzz Williams coaches that team. I know him a little bit. I met him in College Station. I love to go watch them play. I love the way he coaches them and how hard they play the game. As a coach, when you look at things that are so impressive to you, I am excited to see how they do here. I think they have an excellent team, and they are very driven. I think last night was a good start to the NCAA Tournament.
   
• Y'all have a great time in Denver. It's a great town, and I have great memories there. I'm sure you guys are about to share another great memory there tomorrow.