The Nathaniel Hackett era in Denver was quite brief.
The Broncos fired their first-year head coach on Monday, a day after Denver’s miserable 51-14 Christmas loss to the Rams on Sunday that dropped them to 4-11.
“Following extensive conversations with [general manager] George [Paton] and our ownership group, we determined a new direction would ultimately be in the best interest of the Broncos,” team owner and CEO Greg Penner said in a statement. “This change was made now out of respect for everyone involved and allows us to immediately begin the search for a new head coach.
“We recognize and appreciate this organization’s championship history, and we understand we have not met that standard. Our fans deserve much better, and I can’t say enough about their loyalty during such a challenging stretch for our team.”
The team also fired special teams coordinator Dwayne Stukes and offensive line coach Butch Barry, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Penner, who purchased the team from Pat Bowlen’s estate in August after the Hackett hire, said he will be leading the coaching search and that he has “confidence” in Paton. The Broncos have not made the playoffs since winning the Super Bowl seven seasons ago.
Hackett, 43, was hired by the Broncos last January after he was the Packers offensive coordinator for three seasons from 2019-’21.
His success with Aaron Rodgers, combined with the blockbuster trade for Russell Wilson and subsequent $245 million contract, led to massive expectations in Denver. But Wilson has had a brutal first year with the Broncos, throwing for 12 touchdowns in 13 games.
The Broncos’ 15.5 points per game is the fewest in the NFL this season, and their 316.6 yards per game is 26th in the league. Their offense constantly let down a defense that, despite Sunday’s blowout, has allowed the fifth-fewest yards per game (314.3) in the NFL and is tied for sixth-fewest points allowed (20.3).
There were ominous signs from the get-go for Hackett, whose Broncos tenure got off to an inauspicious start when he decided to try a 64-yard field goal instead of going for it on fourth-and-5 with 20 seconds remaining in a season-opening 17-16 loss to the Seahawks in Seattle. Brandon McManus missed the kick.
Hackett was then booed in his first home game as the Broncos struggled with clock management, with fans sarcastically counting down the clock during a 16-9 win over the Texans.
After eking out an 11-10 win over the 49ers to get to 2-1, things fell apart with four straight losses, two of which came in overtime. They then lost five straight coming out of their Week 9 bye.
Denver’s season reached its nadir on Sunday, when backup quarterback Brett Rypien got shoved during a sideline argument with his offensive line, and defensive end Randy Gregory appeared to throw a punch at Rams offensive lineman Oday Aboushi after the game.
The team was unravelling under Hackett’s watch, and Broncos brass had seen enough.