Broncos fire Nathaniel Hackett: First-year coach fired after ugly loss on Christmas Day
The Denver Broncos fired first-year head coach Nathaniel Hackett on Monday. A league source said CBS Sports NFL Insider Josina Anderson that the Broncos were looking to “blow him up.” That process apparently begins with the split from Hackett.
This move comes after the Broncos were embarrassed by the los angeles rams at Christmas, 51-14. Russell Wilson threw three interceptions as Denver’s defense failed to force a single Rams punt. There was also a skirmish on the Broncos’ sideline during the game, and then pass rusher Randy Gregory appeared to slap Rams offensive guard Oday Aboushi after the final whistle. Sunday was an absolute disaster for Denver and the final nail in the coffin for Coach Hackett.
by ESPN, Broncos senior assistant Jerry Rosburg will take over as interim head coach. He was hired by the franchise earlier this season to help Hackett with clock management strategy, and has served as a special teams coordinator for a few other NFL teams in the past.
Hackett went 4-11 in his 15 games as the Broncos’ head coach. Broncos Owner and CEO Greg Penner posted this statement announcing the decision.
“On behalf of our ownership and organization, I want to thank Nathaniel Hackett for his dedication as head coach of the Denver Broncos. We sincerely appreciate Nathaniel’s efforts and wish him and his family all the best in the future.
“After extensive discussions with George and our ownership group, we determined that a new direction would ultimately be in the best interest of the Broncos. This change was made now out of respect for all involved and allows us to immediately begin the search for a new director”. coach.
“We recognize and appreciate this organization’s championship history, and understand that we have not lived up to that standard. Our fans deserve so much better, and I cannot say enough about their loyalty during such a challenging stretch for our team.”
“Moving forward, we will carefully evaluate every aspect of our soccer operations and make the changes necessary to restore this franchise’s winning tradition.
“I will lead our head coach search with the support of our ownership group and George, whom I trust as our general manager. As we begin the selection process for our next head coach, we remain focused on playing competitive soccer for end the season.” on a positive note.”
By CBS Sports NFL Insider Josina AndersonSome of the initial names being discussed for the Broncos head coaching vacancy are Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn, Miami Dolphins passing game coordinator Darrell Bevell, Miami Dolphins offensive coordinator the Kansas City Chiefs, Eric Bieniemy, former New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton, and the San Francisco 49ers. DeMeco Ryans defensive coordinator and Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator Shane Steichen.
The Broncos have been the biggest disappointment in the NFL this season. Despite the hiring of the colorful offensive coordinator before the Green Bay Packers and the addition of Wilson, the Broncos struggled from the starting gates, and things never got better.
Denver’s disappointments began in the season opener against the Seattle Seahawks, where Wilson fell to his former team in prime time. Down one point with just seconds left in the fourth quarter, Hackett pulled his newly stretched quarterback, the Broncos giving up two first-round and two second-round picks plus three players off the field with the game hanging at fourth-and-5 , opting to attempt a field goal that would have made history at Lumen Field However. Hackett later admitted that he made the wrong decision, but the decision-making problems followed him into the following week.
Hackett’s first career win against the houston texans could not be enjoyed, as fourth-down troubles again plagued the Broncos. During a specific instance in enemy territory, the offense accidentally ran out of play clock on fourth and short, putting the Broncos out of field goal range. It was Denver’s first home game, and fans joked by counting down the play clock in an attempt to help the offense.
Even in Denver’s second win of the season against the san francisco 49ers, the offense was mercilessly booed. The Broncos then lost to the las vegas raidersthe Jonathan Taylor-less Indianapolis Colts at home in overtime, the Los Angeles Chargers in another overtime game and then the new york jets at home. Denver posted a win against the Jacksonville Jaguars in London, but then went on a five-game losing streak. Hackett’s final win as head coach came against the arizona cardinals in a backup quarterback battle in week 15.
We don’t see first-year head coaches get fired very often, but in fact it happens. Last year, Urban Meyer lost the Jaguars’ head coaching job in the middle of the season due to issues that didn’t just have to do with playing the field, but the Texans also let David Culley go, a move that was controversial after it was possibly overstepped. despite the 4-13 record. The last first-year head coach to be fired before last season was Steve Wilks of the Cardinals in 2018.