Jim Kubiak
Encyclopedia
James Kubiak is the color commentator for the Buffalo Bulls football
team and the director of the WNY Quarterback Academy. Kubiak was the Director of Football Operations and Offensive coordinator
for the Georgia Force
of the Arena Football League. He is also a retired American
and Arena football
Quarterback
. He was originally signed by the Carolina Panthers
. He played college football
at Navy
.
In his career, Kubiak has played for the Carolina Panthers, Indianapolis Colts
, Barcelona Dragons
, New York Jets
, Buffalo Destroyers, Dallas Desperados
, Detroit Fury
, and Georgia Force.
, where he was a four-year letterman and three-year starter.
In 1991, Kubiak started the season the Plebe/JV
team and earned a spot on the Midshipmen's final roster. He earned the starting job in the fifth week of the season and finished the season 93-of-154 for 957 yards, two touchdown
s and 11 interceptions, having led the Midshipmen to their sole victory of the season over archrival Army. In 1992, he passed for 35 yards, completing 6-of-15 passes before dislocating his shoulder
in the season opener against Virginia
. As a result, he underwent season-ending surgery. In 1993, as a junior, he returned to set school records for passing yards (2,628), attempts (401) and completions (248), while throwing 11 touchdowns and 17 interceptions.
In his career, Kubiak set 22 school records and left as the school's all-time leader in passing yards (6,008) and pass completions (558), while throwing 23 touchdowns.
as an undrafted
rookie
in 1996
. He was also on active military duty during the season. He was then out of football in 1997
. In 1998
, he signed with the Indianapolis Colts
, where he went to training camp but missed the season to fulfill his naval commitment. He was then re-signed by the Colts in 1999
, and was then allocated to the Barcelona Dragons
of NFL Europe. He finished the season 45-of-79 for 524 yards and seven touchdowns in three games. In January 2000
, he signed with the New York Jets
, he was then allocated to the Amsterdam Admirals
of NFL Europe. He finished the season 76-of-129 for 817 yards, 17 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. He was then released by the Jets following training camp.
In 2003
, he attended training camp with the Colts, however he was released after camp.
, Kubiak signed with the Buffalo Destroyers of the Arena Football League.
As a rookie in AFL. Kubiak finished the season 295-of-484 for 3,787 yards, 64 touchdowns and 15 interceptions. His attempts, completions and yardage totals all set new league rookie records.
In his debut on the road against the Toronto Phantoms
, he completed 29-of-38 passes for a season-high 365 yards and six touchdowns. In his home debut against the New Jersey Gladiators, he was 20-of-35 for 253 yards, four touchdowns and an interception. He also recorded his first rushing touchdown. In a game against the Carolina Cobras
, he threw a season-high seven touchdown passes. In 2002
, he served as the back-up to Quarterback
Andy Kelly
. Kubiak saw most of his playing time as held for field goal
and extra point attempts.
His only playing time with the offense occurred on the road against the Chicago Rush
when Kelly went down with a strained hip flexor
early in the second quarter. Kubiak finished the overtime loss 29-of-38 for 264 yards, five touchdowns and an interception.
In 2003
, Kubiak joined the Dallas Desperados
. He also put together one of the best seasons in league history. He finished the season 388-of-557 for 4,762 yards, 97 touchdowns and 17 interceptions, all career-highs, while leading the top ranked offense in the league. His 4,762 passing yards and 69.7% completion percentage each league records. He had nine-of-16 games with a completion percentage of 70.0% or higher. For that seasons performance, he earned Second-team All-Arena honors.
In 2004
, Kubiak signed with the Detroit Fury
on February 6. However, he was placed on Injured Reserve
on February 9, after having surgery in January for a cervical disk herniation between the C-6
and C-7 vertebrae in the base of his neck
. In 2005
he signed with the Georgia Force
, on the first day of the AFL's free agency signing period, where he rejoined former teammates and coaches from Dallas, Offensive coordinator
Steve Thonn
, WR
/LB
Dialleo Burks
and WR/DB Luke Leverson. However, Kubiak injured his knee
during Week 5, and missed the rest of the season.
for Erie Community College
. He was also hired as the Philadelphia Soul
's Offensive coordinator. Then, in 2007, he was named the Georgia Force's Director of Football Operations. Then, in 2008
, he became the teams Offensive coordinator also. Kubiak is now the color commentator for the Buffalo Bulls football
team, alongside play-by-play man Paul Peck, sideline reporter Nick Mendola and in-game host Scott Wilson
.
Buffalo Bulls football
The Buffalo Bulls football program is the intercollegiate American football team for the University at Buffalo located in the U.S. state of New York. The team competes at the NCAA Division I level in the Football Bowl Subdivision and is a member of the Mid-American Conference. Buffalo's first...
team and the director of the WNY Quarterback Academy. Kubiak was the Director of Football Operations and Offensive coordinator
Offensive coordinator
An offensive coordinator is a member of the coaching staff of a gridiron football team who is in charge of the offense. Generally, along with his defensive counterpart, he represents the second level of command structure after the head coach...
for the Georgia Force
Georgia Force
The Georgia Force are an Arena Football League team based in Gwinnett County, Georgia, United States that plays in the South Division of the American Conference. The team is owned by Doug MacGregor and Donn Jennings...
of the Arena Football League. He is also a retired American
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
and Arena football
Arena football
Arena football is a variety of gridiron football played by the Arena Football League . It is a proprietary game, the rights to which are owned by Gridiron Enterprises, and is played indoors on a smaller field than American or Canadian outdoor football, resulting in a faster and higher-scoring game....
Quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
. He was originally signed by the Carolina Panthers
Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers are a professional American football team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. They are currently members of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Panthers, along with the Jacksonville Jaguars, joined the NFL as expansion...
. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at Navy
Navy Midshipmen football
The Navy Midshipmen football team represents the United States Naval Academy in NCAA Division I-A college football. They are a Division I Football Bowl Subdivision independent school and coached by Ken Niumatalolo since December 2007...
.
In his career, Kubiak has played for the Carolina Panthers, Indianapolis Colts
Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League ....
, Barcelona Dragons
Barcelona Dragons
The Barcelona Dragons were a team originally in the World League of American Football and later in the resurrected NFL Europe. Their home field in Barcelona was the Estadi Olímpic de Montjuic, the 1992 Olympic Stadium, and later the Mini Estadi. The Dragons were successful on the field, making it...
, New York Jets
New York Jets
The New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, Buffalo Destroyers, Dallas Desperados
Dallas Desperados
The Dallas Desperados were a professional Arena Football team. The Desperados played in the Southern Division of the now-defunct Arena Football League from 2002 to 2008....
, Detroit Fury
Detroit Fury
The Detroit Fury were an Arena Football League team. The team began play in 2001 and was based in Auburn Hills, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit, at The Palace of Auburn Hills, also the home of the NBA's Detroit Pistons. The team was co-owned by William Davidson, who owned the Pistons, along with...
, and Georgia Force.
College career
After a successful prep career at St. Francis High School in Hamburg, N.Y., Kubiak attended the United States Naval AcademyUnited States Naval Academy
The United States Naval Academy is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located in Annapolis, Maryland, United States...
, where he was a four-year letterman and three-year starter.
In 1991, Kubiak started the season the Plebe/JV
Junior varsity
Primarily in North America, junior varsity or JV players are the members of a team who are not the main players in a competition , usually at the high school and college levels in the United States and Canada. The main players comprise the varsity team...
team and earned a spot on the Midshipmen's final roster. He earned the starting job in the fifth week of the season and finished the season 93-of-154 for 957 yards, two touchdown
Touchdown
A touchdown is a means of scoring in American and Canadian football. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchdown by advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone.-Description:...
s and 11 interceptions, having led the Midshipmen to their sole victory of the season over archrival Army. In 1992, he passed for 35 yards, completing 6-of-15 passes before dislocating his shoulder
Shoulder
The human shoulder is made up of three bones: the clavicle , the scapula , and the humerus as well as associated muscles, ligaments and tendons. The articulations between the bones of the shoulder make up the shoulder joints. The major joint of the shoulder is the glenohumeral joint, which...
in the season opener against Virginia
Virginia Cavaliers football
Virginia Cavaliers football is a college football program that competes in the NCAA Division I-FBS and the Coastal Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference...
. As a result, he underwent season-ending surgery. In 1993, as a junior, he returned to set school records for passing yards (2,628), attempts (401) and completions (248), while throwing 11 touchdowns and 17 interceptions.
In his career, Kubiak set 22 school records and left as the school's all-time leader in passing yards (6,008) and pass completions (558), while throwing 23 touchdowns.
National Football League (1996 - 2000, 2003)
Kubiak signed with the Carolina PanthersCarolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers are a professional American football team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. They are currently members of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Panthers, along with the Jacksonville Jaguars, joined the NFL as expansion...
as an undrafted
Undrafted
An undrafted sportsperson or undrafted free agent is specific type of sportsperson who plays, or attempts to play, in a professional sports league without first being selected in a draft....
rookie
Rookie
Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of their sport or has little or no professional experience. The term also has the more general meaning of anyone new to a profession, training or activity Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of...
in 1996
1996 Carolina Panthers season
-Regular season:-Postseason:-Week 2: at New Orleans Saints:Acquired from the Jacksonville Jaguars, quarterback Steve Beuerlein did not throw a single pass, instead rushing three times for a net loss of ten yards; Kerry Collins handled the quarterbacking duties, throwing for 171 yards and one pick...
. He was also on active military duty during the season. He was then out of football in 1997
1997 NFL season
The 1997 NFL season was the 78th regular season of the National Football League. The Oilers relocated from Houston, Texas to Nashville, Tennessee...
. In 1998
1998 Indianapolis Colts season
The 1998 Indianapolis Colts season was the 46th season for the team in the National Football League and 15th in Indianapolis. The Indianapolis Colts finished the National Football League's 1998 season with a record of 3 wins and 13 losses, and finished fifth in the AFC East division.-NFL...
, he signed with the Indianapolis Colts
Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League ....
, where he went to training camp but missed the season to fulfill his naval commitment. He was then re-signed by the Colts in 1999
1999 Indianapolis Colts season
The 1999 Indianapolis Colts season was the 47th season for the team in the National Football League and 16th in Indianapolis. The Indianapolis Colts finished the National Football League's 1999 season with a record of 13 wins and 3 losses, and won the AFC East...
, and was then allocated to the Barcelona Dragons
Barcelona Dragons
The Barcelona Dragons were a team originally in the World League of American Football and later in the resurrected NFL Europe. Their home field in Barcelona was the Estadi Olímpic de Montjuic, the 1992 Olympic Stadium, and later the Mini Estadi. The Dragons were successful on the field, making it...
of NFL Europe. He finished the season 45-of-79 for 524 yards and seven touchdowns in three games. In January 2000
2000 New York Jets season
-Schedule:The Jets were ranked 12th in the NFL in total offense and finished tied with Philadelphia for 10th in total defense.-Best performances:* Curtis Martin, Week 14, 203 Rushing Yards vs. Indianapolis...
, he signed with the New York Jets
New York Jets
The New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, he was then allocated to the Amsterdam Admirals
Amsterdam Admirals
The Amsterdam Admirals were a professional American football team in NFL Europe based in Amsterdam, Netherlands.-History:The Admirals were formed in 1995 as part of the NFL's plan to restart the World League of American Football, to be based entirely in Europe...
of NFL Europe. He finished the season 76-of-129 for 817 yards, 17 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. He was then released by the Jets following training camp.
In 2003
2003 Indianapolis Colts season
The 2003 Indianapolis Colts season was the 51st season for the team in the National Football League and 20th in Indianapolis.-Roster:-Schedule:- Division standings :...
, he attended training camp with the Colts, however he was released after camp.
Arena Football League (2001 - 2005)
In 20012001 Arena Football League season
The 2001 Arena Football League season was the 15th season of the Arena Football League. The league champions were the Grand Rapids Rampage, who defeated the Nashville Kats in ArenaBowl XV.-Standings:* Green indicates clinched playoff berth...
, Kubiak signed with the Buffalo Destroyers of the Arena Football League.
As a rookie in AFL. Kubiak finished the season 295-of-484 for 3,787 yards, 64 touchdowns and 15 interceptions. His attempts, completions and yardage totals all set new league rookie records.
In his debut on the road against the Toronto Phantoms
Toronto Phantoms
The Toronto Phantoms was the final name of a team in the Arena Football League, that also operated in New York City and Hartford, Connecticut.-New York CityHawks :The team began in 1997 as the New York CityHawks...
, he completed 29-of-38 passes for a season-high 365 yards and six touchdowns. In his home debut against the New Jersey Gladiators, he was 20-of-35 for 253 yards, four touchdowns and an interception. He also recorded his first rushing touchdown. In a game against the Carolina Cobras
Carolina Cobras
Not to be confused with the Los Angeles Cobras, who played in the 1988 AFL season.The Carolina Cobras were an expansion franchise in the Arena Football League...
, he threw a season-high seven touchdown passes. In 2002
2002 Arena Football League season
The 2002 Arena Football League season was the 16th season of the Arena Football League. The league champions were the San Jose SaberCats, who defeated the Arizona Rattlers in ArenaBowl XVI...
, he served as the back-up to Quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
Andy Kelly
Andy Kelly
Andy Kelly is a former American football quarterback in the Arena Football League. He played in the AFL for fifteen seasons. He also played for two seasons for the Rhein Fire of the former World League of American Football....
. Kubiak saw most of his playing time as held for field goal
Field goal (football)
A field goal in American football and Canadian football is a goal that may be scored during general play . Field goals may be scored by a placekick or the now practically extinct drop kick.The drop kick fell out of favor in 1934 when the shape of the ball was changed...
and extra point attempts.
His only playing time with the offense occurred on the road against the Chicago Rush
Chicago Rush
The Chicago Rush is an arena football team based in Rosemont, Illinois. It is a member of the Central Division of the National Conference of the Arena Football League. The team was founded in 2001 and is co-owned by Mike Ditka, the Hall of Fame player and coach.The Rush have qualified for the...
when Kelly went down with a strained hip flexor
Hip flexors
In human anatomy, the hip flexors are a group of skeletal muscles that act to flex the femur onto the lumbo-pelvic complex, i.e., pull the knee upward....
early in the second quarter. Kubiak finished the overtime loss 29-of-38 for 264 yards, five touchdowns and an interception.
In 2003
2003 Arena Football League season
The 2003 Arena Football League season was the 17th season of the Arena Football League. The league champions were the Tampa Bay Storm, who defeated the Arizona Rattlers in ArenaBowl XVII. The AFL expanded its season to a 16-game schedule...
, Kubiak joined the Dallas Desperados
Dallas Desperados
The Dallas Desperados were a professional Arena Football team. The Desperados played in the Southern Division of the now-defunct Arena Football League from 2002 to 2008....
. He also put together one of the best seasons in league history. He finished the season 388-of-557 for 4,762 yards, 97 touchdowns and 17 interceptions, all career-highs, while leading the top ranked offense in the league. His 4,762 passing yards and 69.7% completion percentage each league records. He had nine-of-16 games with a completion percentage of 70.0% or higher. For that seasons performance, he earned Second-team All-Arena honors.
In 2004
2004 Arena Football League season
The 2004 Arena Football League season was the 18th season of the Arena Football League. The league champions were the San Jose SaberCats, who defeated the Arizona Rattlers in ArenaBowl XVIII...
, Kubiak signed with the Detroit Fury
Detroit Fury
The Detroit Fury were an Arena Football League team. The team began play in 2001 and was based in Auburn Hills, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit, at The Palace of Auburn Hills, also the home of the NBA's Detroit Pistons. The team was co-owned by William Davidson, who owned the Pistons, along with...
on February 6. However, he was placed on Injured Reserve
Injured reserve
The injured reserve list is a list of reserved players who are injured and unable to play for a period of time, used most prominently in the National Hockey League and National Football League . It is used because these leagues have a maximum number of players on the team roster, so placing a...
on February 9, after having surgery in January for a cervical disk herniation between the C-6
Cervical vertebra 6
The cervical vertebra 6 is a vertebra of the spinal column.The cervical spinal nerve 6 passes out above it.The first cricoid ring is directly opposite C6....
and C-7 vertebrae in the base of his neck
Neck
The neck is the part of the body, on many terrestrial or secondarily aquatic vertebrates, that distinguishes the head from the torso or trunk. The adjective signifying "of the neck" is cervical .-Boner anatomy: The cervical spine:The cervical portion of the human spine comprises seven boney...
. In 2005
2005 Arena Football League season
The 2005 Arena Football League season was the 19th season of the Arena Football League. The league champions were the Colorado Crush, who defeated the Georgia Force in ArenaBowl XIX. The AFL changed its playoff format to allow the top four teams per conference to make the playoffs. Previously, the...
he signed with the Georgia Force
Georgia Force
The Georgia Force are an Arena Football League team based in Gwinnett County, Georgia, United States that plays in the South Division of the American Conference. The team is owned by Doug MacGregor and Donn Jennings...
, on the first day of the AFL's free agency signing period, where he rejoined former teammates and coaches from Dallas, Offensive coordinator
Offensive coordinator
An offensive coordinator is a member of the coaching staff of a gridiron football team who is in charge of the offense. Generally, along with his defensive counterpart, he represents the second level of command structure after the head coach...
Steve Thonn
Steve Thonn
Steve Thonn is the head coach for the Cleveland Gladiators of the Arena Football League. Steve is also a former Arena Football League player and the former head coach of the AFL team Grand Rapids Rampage. As a player he played WR/DB for the Chicago Bruisers and the Albany Firebirds...
, WR
Wide receiver
A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible...
/LB
Linebacker
A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
Dialleo Burks
Dialleo Burks
Dialleo Burks Sr. is a special teams and fullback / linebacker coach for the Georgia Force and former arena football wide receiver / defensive back for the Arena Football League...
and WR/DB Luke Leverson. However, Kubiak injured his knee
Knee
The knee joint joins the thigh with the leg and consists of two articulations: one between the fibula and tibia, and one between the femur and patella. It is the largest joint in the human body and is very complicated. The knee is a mobile trocho-ginglymus , which permits flexion and extension as...
during Week 5, and missed the rest of the season.
Outside of football
In 2005, Kubiak was hired as the Quarterbacks coachQuarterbacks coach
A quarterbacks coach is a coach in charge of the quarterbacks in gridiron football. The quarterbacks coach typically operates under the offensive coordinator on a team's coaching staff....
for Erie Community College
Erie Community College
Erie Community College is a two-year community college that is part of the 64-campus SUNY system. It is the fourth-largest community college in New York State....
. He was also hired as the Philadelphia Soul
Philadelphia Soul
The Philadelphia Soul are an Arena Football League team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They began play in as an expansion team. The team plays in the Eastern Division of the American Conference. They won their first ArenaBowl in 2008, defeating the San Jose SaberCats 59–56 in ArenaBowl XXII...
's Offensive coordinator. Then, in 2007, he was named the Georgia Force's Director of Football Operations. Then, in 2008
2008 Georgia Force season
The 2008 Georgia Force season is the seventh season for the franchise. Starting the season 3-5, the Force finished the regular season with 7 wins in their last 8 games, ending with a 10-6 record, and winning their second consecutive Southern Division title, allowing them to enter the playoffs as...
, he became the teams Offensive coordinator also. Kubiak is now the color commentator for the Buffalo Bulls football
Buffalo Bulls football
The Buffalo Bulls football program is the intercollegiate American football team for the University at Buffalo located in the U.S. state of New York. The team competes at the NCAA Division I level in the Football Bowl Subdivision and is a member of the Mid-American Conference. Buffalo's first...
team, alongside play-by-play man Paul Peck, sideline reporter Nick Mendola and in-game host Scott Wilson
Scott Wilson
Scott Wilson was a judge on United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit from 1929 to 1942.-Early life:Scott Wilson was born on January 11, 1870, in Falmouth, Maine. He graduated from Bates College in Maine in 1892 and then studied at the University of Pennsylvania...
.