Source: Broncos hiring Packers OC Hackett as head coach
ARNIE STAPLETON AP Pro Football Writer
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — A person with knowledge of the negotiations told The Associated Press Thursday morning the Denver Broncos are finalizing a deal to hire Packers offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett as their new head coach.
The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal was still in the works and the team hadn’t announced the hiring.
Hackett’s hiring will bring immediate speculation about the Broncos trying to lure star quarterback Aaron Rodgers to Denver, perhaps along with his star receiver Devante Adams, who is set to hit free agency in March.
Rodgers, who turned 38 last month in the midst of what’s expected to be his fourth MVP season, is contemplating his future, including retirement, after the Packers’ early exit from the playoffs last weekend when the top-seed was upset at home 13-10 by the San Francisco 49ers.
Hackett, 42, emerged as the front-runner on his own merits, however, which includes his stellar work with Blake Bortles as Jacksonville’s offensive coordinator from 2016-18 before he went to Green Bay and helped Matt LaFleur win a record 39 games in his first three seasons as head coach.
Hackett, who is the the son of former college and NFL coach Paul Hackett, inherits a young, talented roster in Denver, where he flew in for a second interview on Monday. He was the only one of the finalists to get a second in-person interview in Denver.
General manager George Paton interviewed 10 candidates to replace Vic Fangio, whom he fired after a disappointing 7-10 season, Denver’s sixth consecutive without a playoff berth.
After crisscrossing the country with a team of evaluators, Paton narrowed that list to three finalists: Hackett, Cowboys defensive coordinator and former Falcons head coach Dan Quinn and Rams offensive coordinator Kevin O’Connell.
Quinn has received the most interest from teams looking for new head coaches after helping Dallas turn around its defense in 2021 and was seen as an early favorite in Denver because of his previous ties to Paton. O’Connell is seen as the next in a growing list of hires from the Sean McVay coaching tree.
In turning to Hackett, the Broncos have turned away from their focus on defensive-minded head coaches. Fangio replaced Vance Joseph, who has roots as a secondary coach, in 2019, after Joseph went 11-21 in two years.
Fangio finished 19-30 in three seasons in Denver, his unremarkable tenure dotted with poor quarterback play, uncreative offenses that struggled to score 20 points a game under Pat Shurmur and sloppy special teams play under Tom McMahon, all of which negated a stout defense that was Fangio’s calling card.
The Broncos have had 10 starting quarterbacks and no playoff appearances since Peyton Manning’s retirement six years ago, and they are in the market for an upgrade at QB from oft-injured Teddy Bridgewater (7-7), who’s set to become a free agent in March, and Drew Lock (0-3) this offseason.
They’re also on the lookout for a new owner.
Joe Ellis, the team’s outgoing president and CEO, said that once a new head coach was in place he would release details about the franchise’s future in what’s expected to be the most expensive team sale in U.S. sports history.
The Broncos are valued at nearly $4 billion and if sold for that much, it would surpass the record $3.35 billion that Alibaba co-founder Joe Tsai paid for the Brooklyn Nets and the Barclays Center in 2019.
The team this month cleared the final legal hurdle to a sale when a district judge ruled a right of first refusal claim stemming from late owner Pat Bowlen’s purchase of the team from Edgar Kaiser in the 1980s was no longer valid.
John Elway, who is in the final months as the team’s president of football operations, and Manning, who’s lived in Denver since his retirement, are expected to get involved in the bidding as minority partners of billionaires competing to win the NFL’s approval to acquire the iconic franchise.
The Broncos won two Super Bowl titles in the late 1990s with Elway under center and again in 2016 with Elway in the front office and Manning at quarterback in the final game of his Hall of Fame career.
The only holdover from their last championship parade is kicker Brandon McManus. Paton traded Super Bowl 50 MVP Von Miller to the Rams for a pair of second-day draft picks last fall and Miller has shined in his return to the postseason. The Rams host the 49ers Sunday in the NFC championship.
The second- and third-round draft choices the Broncos received in return for Miller give Paton 11 draft picks in April, including five of the top 100, which he could either use to beef up his roster or package to acquire a quarterback such as Rodgers or the Seahawks’ Russell Wilson.
Also interviewed for the Broncos head coaching vacancy were: offensive coordinators Kellen Moore of the Cowboys, Brian Callahan of the Bengals and Eric Bieniemy of the Chiefs and defensive coordinators Aaron Glenn of the Lions and Jonathan Gannon of the Eagles.
Patriots inside linebackers coach Jerod Mayo and Packers QBs coach Luke Getsy also spoke with Paton about the job.
Super Bowl organizers say game is staying in Inglewood
Darron Cummings
Hamilton is a hybrid playmaker who combines the versatility of Isaiah Simmons with instincts that are reminiscent of Hall of Famer Ed Reed.
Darron Cummings
Hamilton is a hybrid playmaker who combines the versatility of Isaiah Simmons with instincts that are reminiscent of Hall of Famer Ed Reed.
Super Bowl organizers say game is staying in Inglewood
Stephen Brashear
Thibodeaux is a top-tier athlete who wins with speed and has shown surprising coverage versatility. His ceiling is massively high, but it might take a few years for his technique and toolbox to catch up to his talent.
Stephen Brashear
Thibodeaux is a top-tier athlete who wins with speed and has shown surprising coverage versatility. His ceiling is massively high, but it might take a few years for his technique and toolbox to catch up to his talent.
Super Bowl organizers say game is staying in Inglewood
Carlos Osorio
Hutchinson's season was shades of Chase Young's 2019 dominant campaign, culminating in him finishing second in the Heisman voting. He's a high-floor prospect who wins with technique and strength.
Carlos Osorio
Hutchinson's season was shades of Chase Young's 2019 dominant campaign, culminating in him finishing second in the Heisman voting. He's a high-floor prospect who wins with technique and strength.
Super Bowl organizers say game is staying in Inglewood
Marcio Jose Sanchez
Stingley features rare ball-tracking skills that make him a threat to take the ball away anytime it's in his vicinity. As an 18-year-old, he produced one of the most impressive true freshman seasons in college football history in 2019. Durability has been a concern ever since.
Marcio Jose Sanchez
Stingley features rare ball-tracking skills that make him a threat to take the ball away anytime it's in his vicinity. As an 18-year-old, he produced one of the most impressive true freshman seasons in college football history in 2019. Durability has been a concern ever since.
Super Bowl organizers say game is staying in Inglewood
Rebecca S. Gratz
Karlaftis has been one of the most consistent pass rushers in the nation during his three seasons in West Lafayette. His inside-outside versatility, overwhelming power and special athleticism could make him a star at the next level.
Rebecca S. Gratz
Karlaftis has been one of the most consistent pass rushers in the nation during his three seasons in West Lafayette. His inside-outside versatility, overwhelming power and special athleticism could make him a star at the next level.
Super Bowl organizers say game is staying in Inglewood
Karl B DeBlaker
Ekwonu was the most dominant run-blocking tackle in the country this season — it really wasn't close — and I envision him thriving at tackle or guard in the NFL.
Karl B DeBlaker
Ekwonu was the most dominant run-blocking tackle in the country this season — it really wasn't close — and I envision him thriving at tackle or guard in the NFL.
Super Bowl organizers say game is staying in Inglewood
Charlie Neibergall
The Rimington Trophy winner and unanimous All-American was a multisport athlete in high school who earned multiple letters in wrestling, track, baseball and football.
Charlie Neibergall
The Rimington Trophy winner and unanimous All-American was a multisport athlete in high school who earned multiple letters in wrestling, track, baseball and football.
Super Bowl organizers say game is staying in Inglewood
Jeff Dean
Gardner made it through the playoff loss to Alabama unscathed. He finished his collegiate career with 1,100-plus snaps with nine interceptions and zero touchdowns allowed.
Jeff Dean
Gardner made it through the playoff loss to Alabama unscathed. He finished his collegiate career with 1,100-plus snaps with nine interceptions and zero touchdowns allowed.
Super Bowl organizers say game is staying in Inglewood
John Raoux
Elam is a 6-foot-2 corner with elite ball skills who fine-tuned his technique after an underwhelming sophomore season. His game is built on speed and physicality, which you normally don't see in the same toolkit.
John Raoux
Elam is a 6-foot-2 corner with elite ball skills who fine-tuned his technique after an underwhelming sophomore season. His game is built on speed and physicality, which you normally don't see in the same toolkit.
Super Bowl organizers say game is staying in Inglewood
Al Goldis
Dotson features the game-breaking speed to beat defenses at all three levels and is good against press coverage despite his size (5-11, 185). He has very good hands and is a very capable blocker.
Al Goldis
Dotson features the game-breaking speed to beat defenses at all three levels and is good against press coverage despite his size (5-11, 185). He has very good hands and is a very capable blocker.
Super Bowl organizers say game is staying in Inglewood
Barry Reeger
The former five-star recruit needs to fine tune his tackling technique, but his combination of size (6-foot-3, 240 pounds), athleticism and coverage skills is impressive.
Barry Reeger
The former five-star recruit needs to fine tune his tackling technique, but his combination of size (6-foot-3, 240 pounds), athleticism and coverage skills is impressive.
Super Bowl organizers say game is staying in Inglewood
Charlie Neibergall
The two-time All-American has the size and skills — Hall is very capable in pass pro — to be a three-down back. His 800 collegiate touches will concern some scouts.
Charlie Neibergall
The two-time All-American has the size and skills — Hall is very capable in pass pro — to be a three-down back. His 800 collegiate touches will concern some scouts.
Super Bowl organizers say game is staying in Inglewood
Al Goldis
The former tight end turned tackle graded out as one of the best offensive lineman in the country, according to Pro Football Focus. Raimann allowed zero pressures over his last six games.
Al Goldis
The former tight end turned tackle graded out as one of the best offensive lineman in the country, according to Pro Football Focus. Raimann allowed zero pressures over his last six games.
Source: Broncos hiring Packers OC Hackett as head coach
Jeffrey Phelps
FILE - Green Bay Packers offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett looks on during pre-game warm-ups before an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns Saturday, Dec. 25, 2021, in Green Bay, Wis. A person with knowledge of the negotiations told The Associated Press early Thursday morning, Jan. 27, 2022, that the Denver Broncos are finalizing a deal to hire Packers offensive coordinator as their new head coach. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal was still in the works and the team hadn't announced the hiring. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps, File)
Jeffrey Phelps
FILE - Green Bay Packers offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett looks on during pre-game warm-ups before an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns Saturday, Dec. 25, 2021, in Green Bay, Wis. A person with knowledge of the negotiations told The Associated Press early Thursday morning, Jan. 27, 2022, that the Denver Broncos are finalizing a deal to hire Packers offensive coordinator as their new head coach. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal was still in the works and the team hadn't announced the hiring. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps, File)
