The Broncos, who just missed a chance to appear in the Super Bowl, are now making significant changes to their coaching team.
Denver has let go of offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi, as reported by NFL Network on Tuesday evening.
Lombardi, who has been a seasoned offensive assistant with the Saints, partnered with Sean Payton when he came to Denver before the 2023 season began.
This past season, the Broncos performed relatively well in various offensive categories, ranking 14th in points per game at 23.6, 10th in total yards per game at 342.6, and 11th in passing yards at 223.9.
Quarterback Bo Nix, leading the NFL in pass attempts, recorded 3,931 passing yards, with 25 touchdowns and 11 interceptions in his second season. However, his completion percentage did dip a bit, from 66.3% as a rookie to 63.4% in his sophomore year.
Nix unfortunately fractured his right ankle during the playoffs, which meant he couldn’t play in the AFC Championship game.
In his absence, backup Jarrett Stidham started. He kicked off with a promising drive in the first quarter but ended up completing 17 of 31 passes for just 133 yards, one touchdown, and one interception.
Due to the snowy conditions at Empower Field and an ineffective ground game, the Broncos struggled immensely. They only managed 181 total offensive yards in the game, with a mere 26 yards in the second half, ultimately losing 10-7 to the Patriots.
Given the Broncos’ recent achievements, particularly with Payton at the helm, the offensive coordinator position is likely to attract some good candidates, considering Payton led his previous teams to Super Bowl success and had a top seed in the AFC.
