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Broncos fire coach days after AFC Championship Game loss

Originally posted on Larry Brown Sports
By Matt Wadleigh | Last updated Jan 27, 2026 7:39 PM ET

The Denver Broncos saw their playoff run come to a crushing end with a 10-7 loss to the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship Game at Empower Field in Denver, Colo.

Now, head coach Sean Payton is making a change as offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi has been fired, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.

The #Broncos fired OC Joe Lombardi, per me and @TomPelissero.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 27, 2026

Lombardi just finished his third season as the Broncos OC, although Lombardi and Payton go way back.

Lombardi was with the New Orleans Saints in various roles beginning as an offensive assistant in 2007. He then became the quarterbacks coach from 2009 until 2013 before leaving to become the Detroit Lions’ OC.

Payton then brought Lombardi back to New Orleans to be the QBs coach again from 2016 until 2020, but he was hired by the Los Angeles Chargers to be the OC in 2021.

On the other hand, QBs coach Davis Webb has been a popular head coach candidate this cycle, and he recently interviewed with the Buffalo Bills and Las Vegas Raiders.

However, the Bills hired Joe Brady, taking them out of the running for Webb. He also interviewed for the Baltimore Ravens OC job, so the young Broncos QBs coach has received lots of interest.

The Broncos offense ranked in the middle of the pack in several categories, including 14th in points per game and 17th in passing yards per game.

This article first appeared on Larry Brown Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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