Nathaniel Hackett, a former Packers assistant, was fired as Broncos’ head coach
Nathaniel Hackett’s run as the head coach of the Denver Broncos lasted only 15 games. On Monday, Hackett was fired as the former Green Bay Packers assistant coaching coach. This was just one day after his team had been beaten 51-14 by Los Angeles Rams on Christmas Day.
Hackett’s Broncos were 4-11 and might have been the NFL’s most disappointing team in 2022.
Hackett worked under Matt LaFleur for three years as an offensive coordinator in Green Bay, before he was offered a position as a head coach in Denver. The Packers’ offensive success and his experience in the LaFleur/Shanahan/McVay coaching tree made Hackett a hot commodity during the coaching cycle.
Things turned quickly south.
The Broncos began with a 2-1 record, but they then lost nine of their next ten games.
Denver is scoring an NFL-worst average of 15.5 points per match this season. Russell Wilson, who was traded by the Broncos for large assets, has thrown just 12 touchdown passes and nine interceptions in 2022. Wilson threw three picks Sunday.
The Packers replaced Hackett’s job as the top offensive assistant with offensive line coach Adam Stenavich.
It’s unclear if there would be mutual interest in Hackett returning to the Packers. LaFleur called firings an “ugly” part of the coaching business and passed on answering if he’d be willing to bring Hackett back to Green Bay when asked on Monday.
Hackett signed a 4-year contract in January to join the Broncos.
For the last two weeks, Jerry Rosburg, senior assistant, will be Denver’s interim coach.