Nathaniel Hackett is the first coach in Broncos history to be fired before his second seasonChristopher Hanewinckel/USA TODAY Sports
The Broncos fired first-year coach Nathaniel Hackett yesterday, one day after his team suffered a 51-14 Christmas Day blowout by the Rams "in a nationally televised embarrassment," according to a front-page piece by Parker Gabriel of the DENVER POST. The firing ends the "shortest tenure in franchise history," as Hackett is the first coach in Broncos history "to be fired before his second season." He also is just the "fifth full-time NFL head coach to fail to hold his job for an entire year." The sense among team officials just two weeks ago was that Broncos GM George Paton, CEO Greg Penner and the rest of ownership "would wait until the regular season ended to make a final decision" on Hackett. However, Sunday's loss "changed everything," moving the team to 4-11. Meanwhile, Penner "reiterated his support" for Paton yesterday despite Paton having orchestrated both the trade for embattled QB Russell Wilson and the "process that led to Hackett’s hiring" (DENVER POST, 12/27).
BLOWOUT WAS THE LAST STRAW: In Colorado Springs, George Stoia in a front-page piece wrote Sunday's loss "was the tipping point" for Hackett, as the Broncos "were not only embarrassed on the field, but off it with teammates fighting each other" and LB Randy Gregory throwing a punch postgame. It was "clear Hackett had lost control of his team," which sparked the decision. Penner "likely never imagined he would be in this situation" when the new ownership group purchased the team in August (Colorado Springs GAZETTE, 12/26). In Denver, Mark Kiszla wrote fans eventually will "look back on this Christmas Day massacre as a gift that allowed the healing of an ailing football franchise to begin." The "pressure now squarely falls" on Paton to find a new coach "who actually embraces the adult responsibility of coaching up" Wilson and holding players accountable. Kiszla: "If Paton can’t demonstrate that building a winning culture is more complicated than throwing money at holes in the roster, he will be on the hot seat at this time next year" (DENVER POST, 12/26).
BRING IN HARBAUGH?: In Colorado Springs, Paul Klee suggests the Broncos should look to hire Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh, writing to the team, "Dig deep. Be bold. Hire big Jim." It is "going to take the fattest check ever awarded to a Colorado coach" to lure Harbaugh away from "a more attractive position than the Broncos'." But "thankfully, Broncos ownership has the deepest pockets in amateur or professional sports." The team should give Harbaugh "all the power here: president of football operations and head coach" (Colorado Springs GAZETTE, 12/26). SI.com's Albert Breer also wrote in favor of the Broncos hiring Harbaugh, whose "record was exemplary in San Francisco (44-19-1), with internal strife, not losses, leading to his exit." Breer: "I don’t know if Harbaugh’s ready to leave Michigan. ... But I do know he’s long felt there is unfinished business for him in the NFL. And he’d be one of my first calls" (SI.com, 12/26).
