Broncos hire Packers OC Nathaniel Hackett as next HC

Nathaniel Hackett Adam Wesley/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin

Broncos hire Packers OC Nathaniel Hackett as next head coach

By Victor Barbosa | Last updated 1/27/22

After spending much of the last two-plus weeks meeting with potential candidates, the Denver Broncos made their final decision on who would be their next head coach on Thursday morning.

Nathaniel Hackett first spoke to the #Broncos on Jan. 15 in Green Bay and then had a second interview Monday at team headquarters that went roughly 8 hours. After a cross-country search and interviews with 10 candidates, Hackett emerged as the clear favorite. https://t.co/iAUdPXSSFz
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) January 27, 2022

After missing the playoffs for the sixth straight year in 2021 following a 7-10 campaign, the Broncos fired head coach Vic Fangio after a three-season run. In addition to the Minnesota Vikings, another NFC North squad in the Chicago Bears had eyes on Hackett earlier this month, as did the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Hackett has been the Packers offensive coordinator since 2019 and prior to that, he served in that role for the Buffalo Bills in 2013 and 2014, and the Jacksonville Jaguars from 2016 through 2018. Other candidates who Denver was considering for the head-coaching gig were New England Patriots assistant Jerod Mayo, Philadelphia Eagles defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon and Packers quarterbacks coach/passing game coordinator Luke Getsy, among others.

The Broncos haven't made the postseason since winning Super Bowl 50 in 2016, but boast a roster filled with young talent including running back Javonte Williams and wide receivers Courtland Sutton and Jerry Jeudy.

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