Joe Lombardi wasn’t surprised when the Broncos let him go.
Having spent many years under Sean Payton with the Saints, mainly as a quarterbacks coach, Lombardi understands Payton’s mindset. Despite Denver reaching the AFC Championship game and only losing due to a field goal from his backup, the 54-year-old Lombardi sensed his job was in jeopardy.
“Sean decided to move on, and I think that’s really all there is to it,” Lombardi mentioned. “It’s not unexpected in the NFL. You could tell he was in one of those moods where changes needed to happen, and maybe I was one of them. I’ve been around him long enough to get a feel for these things.”
After joining the Broncos from the Chargers when Payton became head coach in 2023, Lombardi doesn’t think he was used as a scapegoat. “We got to the AFC Championship. I don’t see why they need a scapegoat. I felt like it was a good season, so I never saw it that way. I think (Payton) just wanted to shift direction.”
Interestingly, Broncos quarterbacks coach Davis Webb has been approached by other head coaches and is receiving interest from teams looking for offensive coordinators, including the Giants.
In the 2025 season, Denver averaged 342.6 yards per game, placing them 10th in the league, and ranked 14th in points, averaging 23.6 per game.
Second-year quarterback Bo Nix, chosen 12th overall in 2024, recorded a completion rate of 63.4%, throwing for 3,931 yards with 25 touchdowns and 11 interceptions, helping lead the Broncos to a 14-3 record and securing the top seed in the AFC.
However, Nix was sidelined, forcing backup Jarrett Stidham to take over in the AFC Championship loss against the Patriots due to a broken ankle sustained in the divisional-round victory against the Bills.
Weather conditions severely impacted the game in the second half. Stidham ended up completing 17 of 31 passes for 133 yards, one touchdown, and a crucial interception late in the game, which significantly hurt the Broncos’ chances. He also had a fumble during a backward pass in the second quarter, which was converted into a rushing touchdown by Drake Maye before halftime.
