The Denver Broncos and Sean Payton have finalized a majority of their coaching staff for the 2023 NFL season. Who are some of the most noteworthy names on Payton’s staff this upcoming season?
Denver Broncos coaching staff being finalized
After being named the Denver Broncos head coach in early February, Sean Payton has finalized a majority of his coaching staff for this upcoming season.
Denver Broncos offensive coaching staff
The offense last season was disastrous for Denver in 2022. This season, they’ll need to find their footing with Russell Wilson and others inside of a new scheme.
Sean Payton will be calling the plays for the Broncos’ offense this season, but he’ll still have an offensive coordinator on staff. Joe Lombardi will be the titled offensive coordinator under Payton’s direction this upcoming season. Lombardi previously spent 12 seasons with Payton in New Orleans and served as the Los Angeles Chargers offensive coordinator for the last two seasons.
As it pertains to quarterback coach and who will work with Wilson this season, Davis Webb will take on the responsibility. Webb was drafted by the New York Giants in the 2017 NFL Draft and has spent time with the Cleveland Browns, New York Jets, and Buffalo Bills before returning to the Giants in 2022. The 28-year-old will now work with Wilson and the Broncos’ quarterback room every day.
After long-time wide receiver coach Zach Azzanni reunited with Nathaniel Hackett in New York with the Jets, former Broncos receiver Keary Colbert will now be coaching that position group in 2023. Colbert, a former USC standout began his coaching career in 2010 as a graduate assistant at his alma mater. Since 2010, he’s developed valuable experience coaching with stints at Alabama, Georgia State, a five-year stint back at USC, and more recently with the Florida Gators as their receiver coach.
At the tight end position, Declan Doyle reunites with Sean Payton in Denver. He’ll be widely responsible for helping maximize the talent of soon-to-be second-year tight end Greg Dulcich and helping further develop Albert Okwuegbunam.
Zach Strief, one of Payton’s former players will take over coaching the offensive line. Last season, Denver’s offensive line struggled after being decimated by injuries, having a revolving door of starting lineups — leading to Russell Wilson and Broncos quarterbacks being sacked a total of 63 times in 2022.
How the team addresses the various needs on the offensive line this season will be telling regarding how the Broncos’ offense may play and Strief will have a lot of pressure on him to help that unit succeed.
John Morton will work under Payton as the team’s passing game coordinator. He previously coached with Payton in New Orleans in 2015 and 2016. Paul Kelly will also join Payton’s staff as the Assistant to the Head Coach. Kelly has spent the last 11 seasons in an executive position with the Washington Commanders.
The team has yet to announce who their running backs coach and offensive assistants will be in 2023.
Denver Broncos defensive coaching staff
With Vance Joseph returning to Denver as their defensive coordinator, his staff will look to maximize what the defensive side of the ball was able to achieve last season.
Christian Parker returns for the Broncos this season as their defensive backs coach. He’s been an instrumental part of the secondary’s success and development of players like Justin Simmons, Patrick Surtain, Damarri Mathis, Ronald Darby, and others who have high regard for Parker’s coaching.
Marcus Dixon returns as Denver’s defensive line coach in 2023, meaning that only he and Parker are the only two holdovers from the Nathaniel Hackett regime. Dixon was instrumental with the Broncos’ defensive line last season, working with Dre’Mont Jones, D.J. Jones, DeShawn Williams, and helping develop rookies Matt Henningsen and Eyioma Uwazurike.
The Broncos will have two new linebacker coaches this season after Sean Payton moved on from Bert Watts and Peter Hansen. Greg Manusky and Michael Wilhoite will coach inside linebackers and outside linebackers respectively.
Manusky, a long-time NFL coach who has previous experience as a defensive coordinator will work with Josey Jewell and the inside linebacker position that could see Alex Singleton and Jonas Griffith returning alongside Justin Strnad. He spent 2022 as the inside linebacker coach for the Minnesota Vikings.
Wilhoite played six seasons in the NFL and spent the last four seasons beginning his coaching career, working under Sean Payton for two seasons with the New Orleans Saints in 2019 and 2020.
Other notable Broncos coaches
Last week it was announced long-time coach Mike Westhoff would serve as the assistant head coach to Sean Payton. Ben Kotwica was also announced as the team’s special teams coordinator. Former Arizona Cardinals special teams player and defensive back Chris Banjo is transitioning from playing to coaching and will assist Kotwica on special teams.
Denver’s strength and conditioning coach in 2023 will be Dan Dalrymple who spent ample time with Payton in New Orleans. Korey Jones will remain on staff from last year as an assistant.
Payton’s staff is composed of a wide variety of diverse coaching backgrounds, experience, and opportunity that will hopefully help guide the Broncos to more wins this upcoming season.