In a blow to the pro-tanking contingent, the 1-5 Denver Broncos are reportedly considering a massive in-season coaching move. Appearing on Monday’s edition of the Pat McAfee Show, its titular host passed along “rumblings” within league circles that Denver could make a change at defensive coordinator, firing the embattled Vance Joseph.
What’s more, McAfee named fellow ESPN analyst and former NFL head coach Rex Ryan as Joseph’s would-be replacement. “That name has been on the radar for a potential return to defensive coordinating, and potentially to the Denver Broncos — allegedly,” McAfee said, choosing his words carefully. “This is not from anybody within ESPN.
This is just what people are hearing around the league. They’re hearing, ‘Hey, they’re thinking about making a chance and they’re thinking about going big.'” McAfee also explained what Ryan’s motive could be for a return to the sidelines.
“For him to get back into coaching, he’s probably gonna have to do a coordinator job,” he said. “And with what he makes TV-wise and how his life is versus the business side of potentially getting back into coaching, it’s like, well, the Denver Broncos have the wealthiest owner in all of the NFL. They can pay a little bit more for the coach’s salary because there’s no coach’s salary cap. “So I guess we should potentially think about maybe Rex Ryan returning, and him and Sean Payton being on the same coaching staff is a hilarious thing to chat about and think about. I think that would change the team around. I think that would change the dynamics. I think they would be good.”
McAfee isn’t known as a news-breaker and fans will take his “reporting” with a grain of salt, but he was a longtime NFL punter who remains intimately connected to the inner workings of the sport. Not to mention, Ryan himself was interviewed for the Broncos’ DC job which eventually went to Joseph and has spent much of the year ruing that decision.
“This is an absolute disaster,” Ryan said after Denver’s 70-20 loss to Miami in Week 3. “Nobody saw this coming. This defense literally was supposed to be a top-five defense in the league — and maybe number one with the right guy running it. “I’m sitting here like, ‘Are you kidding me?’ That could have been me there. Maybe they should have ponied up a little bit.”
As for the incumbent, Joseph is the ringleader of a historically ineffective outfit that currently ranks dead last in several categories, including total yards, rushing yards, and points allowed. But he’s coming off a solid showing in last Thursday’s 19-8 loss to the Chiefs, holding Patrick Mahomes to one touchdown and a 25% red-zone percentage. “It was [a] significant [step forward], and it was significant against one of the better offenses we’ve seen,” Payton said Monday of the defense.
