Denver Broncos Fire Coach In Shocking Move Just Days After AFC Championship Loss

The Broncos aren’t playing around.

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The Denver Broncos are moving on from offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi in a stunning turn of events.

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According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero, the Broncos have fired Joe Lombardi. The surprise announcement comes less than 48 hours after they fell 10-7 to the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship Game.

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Lombardi had spent three seasons as the Broncos’ offensive coordinator under Sean Payton. The longtime assistant also worked under Payton in New Orleans from 2007 to 2013 and 2016 to 2020, winning a Super Bowl 44 ring in the 2009 season.

The move to fire Lombardi is surprising for two reasons. One, he did an excellent job unlocking the potential of quarterback Bo Nix. Denver would have likely won the AFC Championship Game if Nix hadn’t been sidelined with a broken bone in his ankle.

Secondly, Payton is traditionally loyal to his assistants. And if anything else, Payton should take the blame for drawing up a dull game plan for Jarrett Stidham in the 10-7 loss to New England.

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Denver Broncos Could Lose More Assistants After Joe Lombardi’s Firing

Sean Payton (Image Credits: Imagn)
Earlier today, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that Broncos passing game coordinator Jim Leonhard is a front-runner to become the new Buffalo Bills’ defensive coordinator. On Tuesday, the Bills promoted OC Joe Brady to HC.

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On top of Leonhard, the Broncos could also lose quarterbacks coach Davis Webb. The latter interviewed with the Bills and Las Vegas Raiders. It’s also possible that Lombardi was fired with the idea that Payton would promote Webb to offensive coordinator.

It’ll be interesting to see how the remaining NFL coaching hires play out. But the firing of Lombardi is certainly a stunner, and it doesn’t look good on the Denver head coach by any means.