Denver Broncos Coaching Changes
In a significant shift within their coaching ranks, the Denver Broncos announced the departure of offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi on Tuesday following the team’s defeat in the AFC Championship game. Lombardi, who had been with head coach Sean Payton since his tenure began with the Broncos in 2023, faced scrutiny after backup quarterback Jarrett Stidham stepped in for an injured Bo Nix during a challenging game against the New England Patriots, which resulted in a narrow 10-7 loss amid brutal snowstorm conditions that hampered both teams’ offensive efforts.
Coaching Staff Departures
In addition to Lombardi’s exit, the Broncos also dismissed wide receivers coach Keary Colbert and cornerbacks coach Addison Lynch. Payton, who has worked with Lombardi for over 15 years, expressed his gratitude in a statement, acknowledging the contributions these coaches made to the team’s progress over the past three seasons. He stated:
“I want to thank these coaches for playing an important role in elevating our program over the last three seasons. Joe’s contributions as offensive coordinator have been invaluable. We sincerely appreciate Joe, Keary, and Addison’s hard work and wish them all the best in the future.”
Season Highlights and Future Outlook
This season under Nix, the Broncos achieved a record-tying 14 wins in the regular season and secured their first playoff victory since their Super Bowl 50 triumph a decade ago. Nix has led the Broncos to 25 wins in his two seasons with the team, including an NFL-record 11 game-winning drives in the fourth quarter or overtime during that time. However, despite a robust offensive showing with an average of 23.6 points per game this season, head coach Payton now holds a 1-3 record in conference championship appearances.
As Denver prepares for the next chapter, the focus will undoubtedly be on restructuring to improve their performance ahead of the new season.
