ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — The Denver Broncos fired first-year head coach Nathaniel Hackett on Monday. There are still two games left in the season.
Owner and CEO Greg Penner said he would lead the search for a new coach with support from GM George Paton, whom he placed his trust in announcing Hackett’s dismissal.
If Penner releases Hackett with two games left in a losing season, Penner can immediately start looking for a replacement.
The Broncos have a press conference scheduled for Tuesday where they are expected to name their interim head coach for the games in Kansas City next weekend and at home against the Chargers in week 18.
The Walton Bum Group bought the Broncos last summer for $4.65 billion, a world record for a professional sports franchise, and Rob Walton said after the league’s approval that he wanted to make the Broncos multi-year championship contenders again.
On Sunday, the Broncos (4:11) were knocked out 51-14 by the equally downtrodden Los Angeles Rams when Russell Wilson threw three interceptions and was sacked six times. There was a dispute on the sidelines between backup QB Brett Rypien and guard Dalton Risner, and pass rusher Randy Gregory threw a punch at a Rams player after the game.
In a statement on Monday, Penner thanked Hackett for his commitment but said: “After extensive discussions with George and our ownership group, we’ve decided that a new direction is ultimately in the Broncos’ best interest. This change has now been made out of respect for everyone involved and allows us to start looking for a new head coach right away.”
Penner said that “going forward, we will carefully review every aspect of our soccer operations and make any necessary changes to restore the successful tradition of this franchise.”
Hackett replaced Vic Fangio last January but was unable to build an offensive that suits Wilson, who recently turned 34 years old.
Hackett is the third NFL head coach to be fired in the 2022 season. The Carolina Panthers replaced Matt Rhule with interim head coach Steve Wilks and the Indianapolis Colts fired Frank Reich and replaced him with rookie trainer Jeff Saturday.
Many fans thought the Broncos had hired Hackett outside the Green Bay Packers, where he served as offensive coordinator, to help them find quarterback Aaron Rodgers. But Rodgers decided to work with the Packers again, and the Broncos traded for Wilson instead, who was considered to be still in his prime.
Wilson, however, had a terrible first season in Denver after the Broncos sent four first-class draft picks and three players to Seattle for the nine-time Pro Bowler. Wilson has scored 12 touchdown passes with nine interceptions and 49 sacks in 13 starts and was unable to get out of a years-long funk.
He is 3-10 as Denver’s starter and has missed games with a pulled hamstring and concussion.
He has routinely ignored open receivers including to attempt deep throws, and he’s shown a noticeable decline in his ability to escape pass rushers this season.
The Broncos missed the playoffs seven straight seasons and raised their losing records to six.