Tag: coaching staff

Will Sean Payton find a role for Dennis Allen on Broncos’ staff?

After being fired by the Saints, perhaps Dennis Allen could land a role with Sean Payton’s Broncos?

Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton has 14 former New Orleans Saints coaches and staff members on his staff in Denver.

Perhaps another name will soon be added to the list.

The Saints fired head coach Dennis Allen earlier this week. Allen, 52, had two different stints under Payton with the Saints, including a run as the team’s defensive coordinator from 2015-2021.

The Broncos already have a defensive coordinator in Vance Joseph, but Payton could probably find a role for Allen.

On offense, Payton hired ex-Saints quarterbacks coach Joe Lombardi in 2023 to serve as Denver’s offensive coordinator. One year later, New Orleans fired offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael. The Broncos already had a coordinator in Lombardi, so Payton hired Carmichael as a “senior offensive assistant.”

It wouldn’t shock anyone if Payton now created a defensive assistant role for Allen.

Earlier this season, the New York Jets fired Robert Saleh and he quickly landed as a consultant with the Green Bay Packers. Time will tell if Allen might land a similar gig in Denver.

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Raiders hop into the wayback machine for coaching hire following Luke Getsy ouster

It’s been 20 years since Norv Turner roamed the Raiders sideline. And he’s back.

It’s been 20 years since Norv Turner roamed the sideline for the Raiders. It’s been five years since he roamed an NFL sideline at all. But today, he’s back, folks. Tuesday it was reported that in the wake of the Raiders firing Luke Getsy as offensive coordinator, they have hired former head coach Norv Turner.

Turner’s son Scott was already on the Raideres’ staff. Many have suspected Scott would be taking over offensive play calling duties with Getsy out. And that’s still possible. But whatever role he has, he will have his dad to help him out.

Turner is one of several longtime former NFL head coaches the Raiders brought in this offseason along with Tom Coughlin and Assistant Head Coach Marvin Lewis.

Broncos DC Vance Joseph had a perfect response to head coach rumors

“Being mentioned is cool, but right now my mind’s not there,” Broncos DC Vance Joseph said of being named on head coach candidate lists.

The Denver Broncos‘ defense has been one of the best in the NFL this fall, which has led to rumblings that defensive coordinator Vance Joseph could be a top head coach candidate following the season.

Joseph, 52, previously served as Denver’s head coach 2017-2018. The Broncos went 11-21 during that time and Joseph was fired, but he was working with a roster full of deficiencies, including not having a franchise quarterback.

With such a strong defensive scheme, Joseph could perhaps have a better run as a head coach if he lands in the right situation.

After practice on Thursday, Joseph was asked for his thoughts about being mentioned among head coach candidates this season. Joseph had a perfect response.

“I don’t have a thought about it right now because, thank God this league has seasons, right?” Joseph said. “You know, we have an offseason, you have a draft season — right now it’s play and win season. So for me, my entire focus is this [upcoming] football game and winning games and coaching right now. That stuff takes care of itself down the road.

“There’s a season for that stuff, but right now, for me, it doesn’t even have a place for me. I’m so busy right now. My mind’s on this team, a young defense who’s playing good football, they keep improving each week, to get ahead of the adversity before it strikes, that’s my focus. But obviously, being mentioned is cool, but right now my mind’s not there.”

https://twitter.com/Broncos/status/1849550307161686274

Joseph’s focused on the task at hand. He’ll turn his attention to any potential head coach interviews after the season ends.

If the Broncos do end up losing Joseph, they have an excellent in-house candidate to replace him in defensive backs coach/passing game coordinator Jim Leonhard, a former college coach who had drawn interest from NFL teams as a DC candidate before landing in Denver this offseason.

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Full list of 22 ex-Saints now with Sean Payton’s Broncos

Broncos coach Sean Payton has brought 14 coaches/staff members and eight players who used to be Saints with him to Denver.

If the Denver Broncos look familiar to New Orleans Saints fans tonight, there’s a good reason for that.

Since becoming the Broncos’ head coach in 2023, Sean Payton has brought many former Saints with him to Denver. Not only players, but many coaches as well. There are currently 14 coaches and execs on Payton’s staff who previously spent time in New Orleans, plus eight players.

Here’s the full list.

Ex-Saints now Broncos coaches/staff

  1. Mike Westhoff (assistant head coach)
  2. Pete Carmichael (senior offensive assistant)
  3. Joe Vitt (senior defensive assistant)
  4. Joe Lombardi (offensive coordinator)
  5. John Morton (pass game coordinator)
  6. Michael Wilhoite (OLBs coach)
  7. Jim Leonhard (DBs coach)
  8. Declan Doyle (tight ends coach)
  9. Chris Banjo (assistant special teams coach)
  10. Logan Kilgore (offensive quality control coach)
  11. Zach Strief (offensive line coach)
  12. Dan Dalrymple (head strength and conditioning coach)
  13. Cody Rager (V.P. of player personnel)
  14. Beau Lowery (V.P. of player health and performance)

Ex-Saints now Broncos players

  1. WR Lil’Jordan Humphrey
  2. WR A.T. Perry (practice squad)
  3. TE Adam Trautman
  4. TE Lucas Krull
  5. FB Michael Burton
  6. LB Kwon Alexander (practice squad)
  7. K Wil Lutz
  8. DL Jordan Jackson

All of these former Saints are set to return to the Caesars Superdome when the Broncos travel to New Orleans to face the Saints on Thursday Night Football in Week 7. They should feel right at home.

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Full list of 22 ex-Saints now with Sean Payton’s Broncos

Broncos coach Sean Payton has brought 14 coaches/staff members and eight players who used to be Saints with him to Denver.

Just call them the Denver Saints.

Since becoming the Broncos’ head coach in 2023, Sean Payton has brought many former Saints with him to Denver. Not only players, but many coaches as well. There are currently 14 coaches and execs on Payton’s staff who previously spent time in New Orleans, and eight players.

Here’s the full list.

Ex-Saints now Broncos coaches/staff

  1. Mike Westhoff (assistant head coach)
  2. Pete Carmichael (senior offensive assistant)
  3. Joe Vitt (senior defensive assistant)
  4. Joe Lombardi (offensive coordinator)
  5. John Morton (pass game coordinator)
  6. Michael Wilhoite (OLBs coach)
  7. Jim Leonhard (DBs coach)
  8. Declan Doyle (tight ends coach)
  9. Chris Banjo (assistant special teams coach)
  10. Logan Kilgore (offensive quality control coach)
  11. Zach Strief (offensive line coach)
  12. Dan Dalrymple (head strength and conditioning coach)
  13. Cody Rager (V.P. of player personnel)
  14. Beau Lowery (V.P. of player health and performance)

Ex-Saints now Broncos players

  1. WR Lil’Jordan Humphrey
  2. WR A.T. Perry (practice squad)
  3. TE Adam Trautman
  4. TE Lucas Krull
  5. FB Michael Burton
  6. LB Kwon Alexander (practice squad)
  7. K Wil Lutz
  8. DL Jordan Jackson

All of these former Saints are set to return to the Caesars Superdome when the Broncos travel to New Orleans to face the Saints on Thursday Night Football in Week 7. They should feel right at home.

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Peter Schrager dubs Broncos DC Vance Joseph his Coach of the Week

NFL analyst Peter Schrager heaped a ton of praise on Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph following Week 5.

The Denver Broncos have a winning record thus far in the 2024 season, in many aspects due to their stifling defense. And NFL Network analyst Peter Schrager has taken notice of the elite group.

“I give out a coach of the week award every week. It could be a head coach, a special teams person, it could be an assistant coach at any level, and I am so excited to give Vance Joseph the award for coach of the week this week,” Schrager said on Good Morning Football this week.

“The Denver Broncos defense is the best in the league, and they were rocking those Orange Crush uniforms and they absolutely dominated the Raiders.”

Schrager went on to praise the Broncos’ defense for their success across the 2024 season.

“Looking at this unit this season, they are allowing 14 points per game this season. That’s good for second in the league,” Schrager said. “They have 19 sacks, 75 quarterback pressures and 41 quarterback hits, all good for top three in the league entering Monday Night Football.”

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Later on in his segment, Schrager lauded the humility of the defensive coordinator.

“Vance, personally, the story is so cool. He was the head coach of the Broncos, got unceremoniously fired, worked elsewhere, got the job with Sean Payton to be defensive coordinator, has no ego, says ‘Sure, I’ll be defensive coordinator.’ They give up 70 in a game to the Dolphins last season, and everybody says ‘Get rid of Vance Joseph!’

“They have since been one of the most dominant units in the league [since then]. Vance Joseph, love the focus, love the way this team is performing and we love the fact that your story tells you that you do not shut the door on a guy who’s done it his entire career.”

Well-deserved praise for Joseph and Denver’s defense.

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Wisconsin upcoming opponent fires offensive coordinator after 1-3 start

Some big news before next weekend

Purdue has fired offensive coordinator Graham Harrell after a 1-3 start to the 2024 season, the latest loss a 28-10 defeat at the hands of Nebraska.

Head coach Ryan Walters makes this significant move ahead of the Boilermakers’ upcoming matchup against the struggling Wisconsin Badgers.

Harrell joined the program with Walters in 2023. He previously held offensive coordinator positions at North Texas (2016-2018), USC (2019-2021) and West Virginia (2022).

Purdue averaged just 21.8 points per game during the first four games of the young season. It began with a 49-0 win over Indiana State, then followed with point totals of 7, 21 and 10 respectively in its next three losses. The team is 1-3 through four weeks and ranked No. 89 overall in ESPN SP+. Its offense is down at No. 84 in the nation.

Walters has his own issues to fix on the defensive side of the football — Purdue has allowed point totals of 66, 38 and 28 over the last three weeks as well. This change will likely be one of many to come as the Boilermakers continue to struggle in the post-Jeff Brohm era.

Wisconsin will host Purdue at noon ET, 11 a.m. CT on Saturday. It is a must-win for the Badgers if they have any chance at bowl eligibility. Purdue’s coaching change should shake things up entering the contest. For the Boilermakers, the on-field product can’t get much worse.

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Why Sam Darnold’s success has Wade Phillips feeling like a proud dad

Wade Phillips dropped in to remind everyone that Sam Darnold’s resurgence has been guided by offensive coordinator Wes Phillips.

Sam Darnold appears to have revitalized his career, and nobody’s happier to see it happen than San Antonio Brahmas coach Wade Phillips.

Darnold, 27, has completed 72% of his passes for 476 yards with four touchdowns against two interceptions through two games in Minnesota, helping the Vikings begin the season with a 2-0 record.

Phillips took to Twitter/X on Tuesday to remind football fans who has been coaching Darnold up in Minnesota.

“For those who don’t know — Wes Phillips is Sam Darnold’s offensive coordinator,” Phillips tweeted on Tuesday.

Wes, of course, is Wade’s son. The younger Phillips has been the Vikings’ offensive coordinator since 2022.

Proud dad moment.

Wade coached in the NFL from 1976-2019, including two stints with the Denver Broncos. After serving as defensive coordinator from 1989-1992, Philips was Denver’s head coach from 1993-1994. He later returned to the Broncos as defensive coordinator in 2015 and helped the club win Super Bowl 50.

Phillips now coaches the Brahmas in the UFL and his son, Wes, is enjoying success in Minnesota, his fourth stop in the NFL.

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Ex-Broncos assistant coach has Saints’ offense flying

Former Broncos QBs coach Klint Kubiak is now the offensive coordinator of the highest-scoring offense in the NFL.

It’s tough to watch a player leave your team and find success elsewhere. The same can happen with coaches.

At a time when the Denver Broncos‘ offense is struggling to move the ball and score points, the New Orleans Saints are flying. Through two weeks, the Saints have scored 91 points, an average of 45.5 points a game. The Broncos, meanwhile have scored 26 points through two weeks, an average of 13 points per game.

The New Orleans attack is being led by offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak, the son of former Broncos coach Gary Kubiak. The younger Kubiak has “completely renovated” the Saints’ offense. Also on staff in New Orleans are ex-Denver offensive coaches Rick Dennison and Clancy Barone.

Kubiak, 37, was a passing game coordinator with the San Francisco 49ers in 2023 after holding that title plus quarterback coach duties with the Broncos in 2022. He was an offensive assistant in Denver from 2016-2018 before a three-year run with the Minnesota Vikings.

Klint was initially hired to join Gary’s staff with the Broncos in 2016, and he later followed his dad to Minnesota. There was no nepotism involved when Denver re-hired Klint in 2022 as part of Nathaniel Hackett’s staff.

Sean Payton arrived in 2023 and cleared out nearly all of Hackett’s staff, including Kubiak. Payton joined the Broncos with a reputation as an offensive genius, but he hasn’t been able to kickstart Denver’s offense thus far. Kubiak, meanwhile, is off to a great start with the Saints.

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Broncos had an amazing injury rate turnaround under Beau Lowery

“We went from 32nd in the league in games missed by players on your roster to first in the league by fewest,” Sean Payton said.

When Sean Payton joined the Denver Broncos in 2023, he cleared out most of the team’s staff, including the old strength and performance staff.

One under-the-radar addition that Payton brought in was Beau Lowery, who was hired as the team’s vice president of player health and performance. Last spring, Denver general manager George Paton said he believed the addition of Lowery could prove to be a “game changer” for the Broncos.

Paton was right.

After a terrible year of injuries in 2022, Denver had a much better injury rate under the new staff in 2023. Was it a coincidence? Payton doesn’t think so.

“I think the one thing, and this is a credit to Beau and the people all involved in the weight room, athletic training room and people that are treating our players — we had a big goal of how do we reduce the injuries?” Payton said this spring. “Shoot, the first training camp I had with you guys, we had someone get hurt and it was like, ‘Man, here it goes again.’ I don’t know if it’s ever happened before, but we went from 32nd in the league in games missed by players on your roster to first in the league by fewest. So we went from 100 and some to 30 and some in one year.”

Payton believes that the additions of Lowery and strength and conditioning coach Dan Dalrymple directly correlated to that reduced number of injuries.

“I think he’s a real good communicator and he’s passionate about what he does,” Payton said of Dalrymple. “We’re so much further along relative to recovery and strength and conditioning now. We’re able to get all the — each practice, we’re able to see workloads for players.

“He’s very adaptable. I would say a strong quality is he’s a real good staff member. He can relate to the players and he’ll push them. There are a lot of leadership qualities that I saw when we were together at Miami of Ohio 20 years ago.”

The Broncos currently have two players on the season-ending IR list. Fans in Denver will hope that the team’s lower injury rate in 2023 was a sign of a new normal and not a one-off healthy season.

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