Broncos’ Kubiak to retire

Associated Press

Broncos head coach Gary Kubiak informed his players after their victory over Oakland on Sunday that he’s stepping away from the game and the team he loves. He said the grind of coaching was taking too big of a toll on his health.

Elsewhere, Saints coach Sean Payton declined to address his future while the San Diego Charges fired Mike McCoy after four seasons as head coach.

BRONCOS

The Broncos beat the Raiders 24-6 Sunday, a bittersweet capstone to a disappointing season that began with expectations of repeating as Super Bowl champs and ended without a trip to the playoffs.

Kubiak, 55, leaves with two years left on his contract and a 24-11 record in Denver, including a 24-10 win over Carolina in Super Bowl 50. Including his eight seasons with Houston, his career record is 87-77.

Broncos superstar Von Miller said he could see the season wearing on Kubiak.

“His health is the most important thing,” Miller said.

After an Oct. 9 loss, Kubiak was taken to the hospital and diagnosed with a complex migraine, then forced to sit out Denver’s next game.

It was his second major health scare. In 2013, while with the Texans, he collapsed on the field and was diagnosed with a mini-stroke.

SAINTS

In Atlanta, Payton was in no mood to talk about his future.

When someone asked if he expects to return next season as coach, Payton snapped, “Next question.”

But as the Saints closed out a third straight losing season with a 38-32 loss to the Atlanta Falcons, there was little doubt that Payton’s status was the big issue heading into the offseason.

NFL.com reported before the season finale that Payton might be in line to take over the Los Angeles Rams, who are seeking a replacement for Jeff Fisher.

Payton was once the toast of New Orleans, posting a record of 62-34 over his first six years with the team, including four playoff appearances and the franchise’s lone Super Bowl title.

Since being suspended for a year in a bounties scandal, Payton is 32-32 with a single playoff appearance in 2013. The last three seasons all ended with a 7-9 mark.

CHARGERS

The Chargers fired McCoy following a second straight last-place finish in the AFC West and a third straight season out of the playoffs.

The team announced McCoy’s firing about an hour after the Chargers lost 37-27 to the Kansas City Chiefsy.

McCoy had said in a postgame news conference he hoped to be back next year. He won’t get that chance.

McCoy was 27-37 in four seasons. The Chargers earned a wild-card berth in his first season, 2013, and beat Cincinnati in a road game before losing to Denver in the divisional round.