Dating back to my first training camp with the Oilers in 1977, I have never known a more honest coach who had less of an ego than Gary Kubiak.

If Kubiak had a dollar for everyone who was happy for him leading Denver to a Super Bowl 50 victory over Carolina, he could pay for the renovation at Kyle Field and have money left over.

Kubiak doesn't have a revenge bone in his body, but he's such a competitor you know how bad he wants to beat the Texans on Monday night at Sports Authority Field at Mile High.

Kubiak wants to win because the Broncos (4-2) have lost two consecutive games to fall into a first-place tie with Oakland in the AFC West.

Because of the complex migraine he suffered after their first defeat, Kubiak was forced to watch Denver's loss to San Diego on his sofa with his family.

Of course, he was antsy. You didn't need to be there to know how Kubiak must have been squirming in his den because he couldn't be on the sideline with his team.

Doctors' orders.

A complex migraine causes extreme fatigue. Kubiak was taken by ambulance to a Denver hospital to undergo tests and was released the next day. But team doctors demanded he get some rest and relaxation, so he was forced to become a couch potato for a week.

Now Kubiak is re-energized and preparing for the team he coached for almost eight years in his hometown. Under his stewardship, the Texans won two AFC South titles and two playoff games before owner Bob McNair fired him with three games left on the way to a 2-14 record in 2013.

"I battled with a lot of people there and a lot of people that are still there," Kubiak said Thursday about his former players. "That's part of this league.

"Obviously, I have great respect for the organization, for Mr. McNair and his family for the opportunity he gave me as a person and as a coach."

'I love what I do'

After giving everyone a scare, Kubiak was eager to get back to work and dive into his next game plan for the Texans.

"I'm just happy to be back on the field this week," he said. "You just go through something (and), you try to figure out what the heck is going on. The good news for me is all my tests came back fine.

"I love what I do. I love being on that field with these players, just walking off the field, talking to you guys (media). I mean, that's my routine. I'm just glad to be doing it again today."

Kubiak's situation was a déjà vu experience for his former players who were with him in 2013 when he collapsed on the sideline due to a mini stroke against Indianapolis.

"That was a lot worse, the way it happened in the middle of a game, on the field," defensive end Antonio Smith said this week. "That was a tough night for all of us."

Smith won a Super Bowl ring with the Broncos last season after playing five seasons for Kubiak with the Texans.

"He came back really strong," Smith said about Kubiak's return this week. "He looks good. He says he feels good. We're glad he's back.

"When your (head) coach is out, I think you lose a lot of leadership."

Left tackle Duane Brown remembers when he heard Kubiak was being rushed to a Denver hospital.

"When I heard he had to go to the hospital, it was a scary feeling not knowing the particulars, and I was hoping and praying he was OK," Brown said. "I've got all the love in the world for coach Kubiak. His health is something that's important to me. I hope he's doing well."

Lots of pregame hugs

Brown, who played six seasons for Kubiak, didn't begrudge his former coach winning a Super Bowl ring with the Broncos rather than the Texans.

"I was happy for them (because) I know how much goes into that," Brown said. "I spent a lot of time with him and a lot of time with those guys (former Texans players and coaches). I was definitely happy to see them get a (ring)."

Although the Texans and quarterback Brock Osweiler will get a hostile reception from Broncos' fans, there will be a lot of hugging in pregame warmups when they see Kubiak. The respect they have for Kubiak isn't lost on Bill O'Brien, who replaced him as the Texans' coach.

"I think he's a great coach," O'Brien said. "You go there and you win a Super Bowl, I think that says a lot about you as a coach. He's an excellent offensive coach (who), obviously, has a great understanding of defense, a great understanding of his team. It's a big challenge for us."