It’s not uncommon for a head coach to hire the person who will eventually replace them. But there’s something a bit ironic about Nathaniel Hackett hiring a coach specifically because he has trouble managing the game only for that person to be the one to replace him after less than one season.
Following a disastrous 4-11 stint to start his first season as head coach, the Broncos fired Hackett on Monday. The move was a long time coming and felt inevitable as the team continued to struggle despite its big free-agent and trade haul in the offseason, including quarterback Russell Wilson.
The Broncos were plagued with strange problems early on, including Hackett’s severe inability to manage the clock and seemingly poor ability to create an effective offensive game plan despite being an NFL offensive coordinator for so long. He hired Jerry Rosburg in September to sit in the booth during games and “advise Hackett on his decision-making.”
It appears that the Broncos were convinced enough that Rosburg’s decision-making abilities were better than Hackett’s and they named him the interim head coach for the remainder of the season.
“Broncos players were just informed that senior assistant coach Jerry Rosburg, whom Nathaniel Hackett hired during the season to aid him in clock management strategy, is now taking over as the Broncos’ interim head coach, effective immediately,” said ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Monday.
Sources: Broncos players were just informed that senior assistant coach Jerry Rosburg, whom Nathaniel Hackett hired during the season to aid him in clock management strategy, is now taking over as the Broncos’ interim head coach, effective immediately. pic.twitter.com/WJ8BFXlg3k
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 26, 2022
The 66-year-old Rosburg spent 10 seasons with the Baltimore Ravens aiding coach John Harbaugh in much the same way he did for Hackett. Now, instead of being the guy telling the head coach what to do, he’s going to get his chance to take the role for himself. At least for a brief period of time.
