Tag: Rex Ryan

Broncos coaching staff update: DC interviews, OC drops out

Vance Joseph and Kris Richard are DC candidates, Ronald Curry is no longer an OC candidate, and Klint Kubiak has left to join the 49ers.

Fans waiting to see the Denver Broncos’ finalized coaching staff under new head coach Sean Payton will probably have to wait at least until next week.

On the defensive coordinator front, Vance Joseph has been released from his contract with the Arizona Cardinals, and he is expected to interview with the Broncos today. Joseph is also expected to interview with the Philadelphia Eagles for their DC opening.

Denver also recently interviewed Kris Richard for its DC position, according to NFL Network, but Rex Ryan is considered the favorite to get the job.

Meanwhile, on the offensive side of the ball, Ronald Curry is expected to remain with the New Orleans Saints after drawing interest from the Broncos as an offensive coordinator candidate.

In addition to seeking a new OC, Denver will also need to hire a new quarterbacks coach after Klint Kubiak left to join the San Francisco 49ers. The Broncos seem unlikely to fill all of their open positions this weekend, so the process is presumably set to drag into another week.

In the third phase of the game, Denver is expected to add Ben Kotwica as the new special teams coordinator. Mike Westhoff will presumably join him in a senior special teams role.

We are tracking all of the team’s coaching changes on this page.

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Mike Westhoff hints on Twitter that he might be joining Broncos

Mike Westhoff might be on the verge of reuniting with Sean Payton to coach the Broncos’ special teams units.

Calling all Twitter sleuths! There’s a mystery to solve on the coaching front.

Mike Westhoff posted an interesting tweet on Thursday that has Broncos Country buzzing.

“Last ride in #jacksonhole before heading to @_DenverColorado
to meet up with an old friend. #figureitout #nflcoach #specialteams #author,” Westhoffed captioned a photo of himself at a ski resort in Wyoming.

He’s going to Denver to meet an “old friend,” and his tags included “NFL coach” and “special teams.” It’s easy to connect the dots to the Broncos.

Westhoff served as the New Orleans Saints’ special teams coach from 2017-2018 under Sean Payton. He also coached special teams with the New York Jets from 2001-2012, overlapping with Rex Ryan (who is a top candidate for Denver’s defensive coordinator opening).

Former Broncos safety Nick Ferguson would approve of the hire.

Westhoff, 75, hasn’t coached in the NFL since 2018, but reports emerged last week that Denver was considering asking the coach to come out of retirement. It’s unclear if Westhoff would serve as special teams coordinator or in a senior assistant-style role. Regardless of what his official title is, Westhoff will likely be able to help the Broncos’ improve on special teams.

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Broncos interviewed former Saints coach Kris Richard for DC opening

It isn’t much of a surprise, but the Broncos have interviewed former Saints coach Kris Richard for their defensive coordinator opening:

It isn’t much of a surprise given all of the obvious connections here, but the  Denver Broncos have interviewed former New Orleans Saints coach Kris Richard for their defensive coordinator opening, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. Rapoport adds that Richard is seen as more of a runner-up to ESPN analyst Rex Ryan, who is viewed as the favorite for this role on Sean Payton’s new coaching staff.

Richard was hired by Payton as the Saints defensive backs coach in 2021, and he was promoted to co-defensive coordinator status in 2022 while sharing that title with Ryan Nielsen. But they both left Dennis Allen’s staff in 2023 when Nielsen was hired away by the Atlanta Falcons, with Allen choosing to install Joe Woods as defensive coordinator.

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Report: Rex Ryan a ‘top candidate’ for Broncos’ defensive coordinator job

Rex Ryan is a ‘top candidate’ for the Broncos’ defensive coordinator job, according to NFL Network.

Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton might turn to a big, albeit surprising, name to fill the team’s defensive coordinator position.

Rex Ryan, who interviewed for the DC job before the Super Bowl, has emerged as “a top candidate” for Denver’s opening, according to a report from NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo.

This would be a surprising hire given that Ryan hasn’t coached in the NFL since 2016 when he was fired by the Buffalo Bills. As a head coach, Ryan went 15-16 in Buffalo after going 46-50 in six seasons with the New York Jets before that.

Ryan has been working for ESPN since then. His overall results as a head coach were underwhelming, but his defenses often ranked among the NFL’s best. As KUSA-TV’s Mike Klis has pointed out, Ryan’s defenses ranked in the top 10 in nine of his 12 seasons as a defensive coordinator or head coach.

Ryan has already been “doing research on candidates to fill other defensive coaching positions in case he gets the nod from Payton,” according to Klis.

Ryan, 60, comes from an accomplished football family. His father, the late Buddy Ryan, was the defensive coordinator for the famous 1985 Chicago Bears squad that won Super Bowl XX. Buddy also won Super Bowl III as a defensive line coach with the New York Jets.

Rex’s twin brother, Rob, has coached with 10 NFL teams, including a stint as the New Orleans Saints’ defensive coordinator under Payton from 2013-2015. He also won two Super Bowls as an assistant with the New England Patriots.

Rex Ryan won Super Bowl XXXV as a defensive line coach with the Baltimore Ravens in 2001 and later went on to become Baltimore’s defensive coordinator. The Ravens’ defensive success under Ryan helped him land a head coach job with the Jets in 2009.

If he’s going to match the Super Bowl win totals of his father and brother, Ryan will need to return to the NFL and win another ring. Payton might be poised to give him that opportunity.

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Broncos want to interview Vance Joseph for DC job

The Broncos have asked the Cardinals for permission to interview Vance Joseph for their defensive coordinator position.

After missing out on Vic Fangio, the Denver Broncos might ask another former head coach to return as a defensive coordinator.

Broncos coach Sean Payton has asked the Arizona Cardinals for permission to interview Vance Joseph for Denver’s DC opening, according to KUSA-TV’s Mike Klis.

Potentially returning to Denver would be a lateral move for Joseph, and it seems to be a possibility given Jonathan Gannon, the Cards’ new head coach, is expected to run Arizona’s defense.

Joseph, 50, served as the Broncos’ head coach from 2017-2018. He struggled as an HC, going 11-21, but the Cardinals’ defense ranked 12th in scoring under Joseph in 2020 and 11th in 2021 before slipping to 31st in 2022.

Denver is seeking a new defensive coordinator after Ejiro Evero left in a lateral move to join the Carolina Panthers. In addition to Joseph, the Broncos have six other known DC candidates, including Mike Zimmer and Rex Ryan.

We are tracking Denver’s coaching staff changes on this page.

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Sean Payton could be looking to hire Rob Ryan’s brother Rex as Broncos DC

Sean Payton could be looking to hire Rob Ryan’s brother Rex as Broncos defensive coordinator. The ESPN analyst is reportedly a ‘top candidate’ in Denver:

Sean Payton must have enjoyed working with Rob Ryan so much that he’s looking to team up with Rex Ryan. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports that the more-illustrious Ryan is a “top candidate” for the Denver Broncos defensive coordinator opening. The better-haired Ryan worked with Payton as New Orleans Saints defensive coordinator from 2013 to 2015, and the experience didn’t exactly go swimmingly.

Rex Ryan, meanwhile, has worked as an ESPN analyst after being dismissed by the Buffalo Bills back in 2016; before that, he was known as the charismatic head coach of the New York Jets, a position he earned by thriving as a defensive coordinator. He hasn’t worked in that capacity since 2008, but the Broncos defense is rich with talent and he could enjoy rare autonomy on that side of the ball with Payton focusing his efforts on getting Denver’s offense off the ground.

What has this got to do with the Saints? Beyond the obvious Payton-and-Ryan connection, a couple of former New Orleans assistants have also been linked to the Broncos’ work-in-progress coaching staff, including former co-defensive coordinator Kris Richard. If Ryan is hired as Payton’s defensive coordinator over Richard, he may have to look for an opening as a position coach elsewhere around the league. There could be other ripple effects here if Payton and Ryan can cut a deal, so we’ll see if those developments reach New Orleans.

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Broncos are 6th-worst team in offseason NFL power rankings

Touchdown Wire’s offseason NFL power rankings have the Broncos ranked No. 27, sixth-worst in the league.

Following the conclusion of the 2022 NFL season with Super Bowl LVII on Sunday, Mark Lane of Touchdown Wire released his latest power rankings going into the 2023 offseason.

Lane has the Denver Broncos ranked No. 27, or sixth-worst in the NFL. Here is his commentary on the Broncos:

The Broncos absolutely sold out for quarterback Russell Wilson in 2022 and coach Sean Payton in 2023, which has left their cupboard bare. Ejiro Evero had Denver’s defense playing respectably near the end of the season. If the Broncos go with Rex Ryan, they will be relying on a guy who hasn’t coached since 2016 to have innovating schemes to attack modern offenses.

Elsewhere in the AFC West, the defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs are ranked No. 1, followed by the Los Angeles Chargers (No. 6) and Las Vegas Raiders (No. 30).

The Indianapolis Colts are ranked No. 32 (last). To view the complete offseason NFL power rankings, visit Touchdown Wire.

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Broncos coaching staff update: Mike Zimmer buzz and more

The Broncos appear to have six candidates for their DC job, and three more coaches might be on their way out. Here’s the latest.

Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton is busy assembling his coaching staff at Dove Valley, and there might be some developments this week.

After losing Ejiro Evero, Payton has interviewed six defensive coordinator candidates, according to KUSA-TV’s Mike Klis. In his report yesterday, Klis mentioned four names specifically, and we can probably guess the other two.

Klis said the Broncos have interviewed Sean Desai, Kris Richard and in-house candidate Christian Parker. Klis also said he has “heard some noise” about Mike Zimmer, who has coached with Payton in the past. That tracks with Albert Breer’s Monday story that said Zimmer has been connected to Denver.

That’s four candidates. So who are the other two?

Rex Ryan interviewed with the Broncos last week, and NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported Sunday that Philadelphia Eagles linebackers coach Nick Rallis “is a potential candidate” for Denver’s defensive coordinator job.

It appears that Desai, Richard, Parker, Zimmer, Ryan and Rallis are the candidates to replace Evero. The Broncos were previously connected to Vic Fangio and Brian Flores, but they both took jobs elsewhere.

Elsewhere on the coaching front, Denver might lose a few coaches this week. Offensive quality control coach Ramon Chinyoung has already left to join the Dallas Cowboys, according to Klis.

Broncos quarterbacks coach Klint Kubiak is also drawing strong interest from the Houston Texans, according to GallerySports.com’s John McClain. Kubiak has been in hot demand this offseason, and he seems unlikely to remain in Denver.

Meanwhile, Broncos wide receivers coach Zach Azzanni has already interviewed with the Buffalo Bills, and he’s set to talk to the New York Jets today, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. There’s still a possibility that Azzanni could remain in Denver, but he will have options.

Payton is expected to begin announcing additions to the coaching staff this week. We are tracking the changes on this page.

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Former Jets head coach Rex Ryan interviews for Broncos’ defensive coordinator job

Rex Ryan with Sean Payton in Denver?

Is Rex Ryan set to return to the sidelines in the NFL? The former Jets and Bills head coach threw his name into the mix in Denver as he interviewed with new Broncos head coach Sean Payton for the defensive coordinator position, per Jay Glazer of FOX Sports.

Ryan, who led the Jets to two appearances in the AFC Championship Game, would certainly be a very intriguing hire for Payton. Ryan is still one of the top defensive minds in football. That mind with the talent of Denver’s defense would be a very fun pairing to watch. Ryan has not coached in the NFL since his two-year stint from 2015-2016 with the Bills. He currently is an analyst with ESPN.

Should Ryan join the Broncos, it would mean the Jets will face their former head coach as the Jets are scheduled to visit Denver again this season. Wouldn’t that be exciting?

 

Report: Broncos interviewed Rex Ryan for DC job

Broncos coach Sean Payton interviewed Rex Ryan for Denver’s defensive coordinator opening last week, according to Jay Glazer.

As the Denver Broncos search for an Ejiro Evero replacement at defensive coordinator, the team has been linked to some big names.

First, Broncos coach Sean Payton spoke with Vic Fangio about a potential return to Denver (Fangio ultimately decided to join the Miami Dolphins). After that, the Broncos set up an interview with another high-profile candidate in Brian Flores (who chose to join the Minnesota Vikings).

Now there’s word that Denver spoke with yet another big name: Rex Ryan interviewed with Payton last week, according to a report from Jay Glazer of Fox Sports. Ryan, 60, had two different stints as a head coach in the NFL and now works as an analyst for ESPN.

Rex’s brother, Rob Ryan, served as the New Orleans Saints’ defensive coordinator under Payton from 2013-2015.

Rex Ryan won Super Bowl XXXV with the Baltimore Ravens as an assistant and eventually worked his way up to assistant head coach/defensive coordinator in Baltimore. He then became the head coach of the New York Jets in 2009, going 46-50 in six seasons, reaching the AFC Championship game twice.

After that, Ryan coached the Buffalo Bills, going 15-16 from 2015-2016 before being fired. He last coached in the NFL in 2016 and he has been working in television since then.

Payton also interviewed Sean Desai for the DC position last week. We are tracking all of Denver’s coaching changes on this page.

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