One of the shortest coaching tenures in NFL history came to an end on Monday as Denver Broncos fired head coach Nathaniel Hackett after just 15 games following Sunday’s ugly, 51-14 loss to the 5-10 Los Angeles Rams, which dropped his squad to just 4-11 on the year.
Hackett is a veteran NFL playcaller who was previously the offensive coordinator for the Green Bay Packers from 2019-21. Senior assistant Jerry Rosburg will take over as interim coach for the final two games of the season, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
It’s a strange choice, to say the least. The 67-year-old retired from coaching in 2019 after spending a decade as the special teams coordinator for the Baltimore Ravens. He also held the same role with the Atlanta Falcons and Cleveland Browns.
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
Rosburg came out of retirement earlier this season to join Hackett’s staff as an assistant, specifically to work on clock management situations. Ironically, the staffer Hackett hoped would help deliver better results on the field will now replace him as the head coach for the remainder of the season.
That irony was not lost on NFL fans, who had a lot of jokes about the move.
is this about all the losing? i'll hang up and listen
— pourmecoffee (@pourmecoffee) December 26, 2022
This seems like a joke, so I had to check if this was a fake account.
But it’s real. pic.twitter.com/aJrpdIjaDR
— Windy City Gridiron (@WCGridiron) December 26, 2022
Tanking for Wembanyama. Smart.
— Talkin’ Jake (@TalkinJake) December 26, 2022
— Hard Rock Sportsbook (@HardRockSB) December 26, 2022
Clock management strategy?
— Black Prez (@BlackPrez) December 26, 2022
Atleast they have a top draft pick to rebuild for next year!
— Leppy (@LeppyFN) December 26, 2022
he’s the guy who was in charge of clock management?? he might actually be worse LMFAO
— zac (@zacpburner) December 26, 2022
Should’ve pulled a Colts, and gave it to Atwater or Manning
— Trevor Parrott (@TrevSauce32) December 26, 2022
— Marielle (@marielle922) December 26, 2022
— Chris Infante (@Infante54) December 26, 2022
"It's Clock Commander time."
– Clock Commander https://t.co/C1brkPzyx7— Sickos Committee (@SickosCommittee) December 26, 2022
Rosburg after taking Hackett's job: https://t.co/OtIhtOtuI0 pic.twitter.com/8WmkZz3bLM
— Tom Grossi (@tomgrossicomedy) December 26, 2022
he looks like liam neeson playing nathaniel hackett. https://t.co/Lvp4Svg43R
— Joshua Brisco (@jbbrisco) December 26, 2022
They made the clock management guy head coach I’m dead 😭😭😭😭☠️☠️☠️ https://t.co/FhcGcFDdsX
— #JacobSzn (@jacobsports12) December 26, 2022
Jerry Rosburg vs. Andy Reid next week should be pay-per-view television. https://t.co/s7Bpqp5YL6
— Ryan Day (@ryaneatscake) December 26, 2022
Audible response: “Yeesh!” https://t.co/ziuaOIt7YY
— Mike Kaye (@mike_e_kaye) December 26, 2022
this is insane lol https://t.co/sPVt1pkSb4 pic.twitter.com/zw2ceW0RIQ
— a wolf in wolf's clothing (@MostCrucified) December 26, 2022
Jerry when he heard the news: pic.twitter.com/3jKrCuKJEI https://t.co/62g5uZWjyG
— 𝖊 𝖑 𝖑 𝖊 (@ElleGenerico) December 26, 2022
— Adrian Franke (@adrianbb89) December 26, 2022
The interim for Hackett ends up the clock management coach he hired when the Broncos kept fumbling late-game situations earlier this season. That's rough. https://t.co/cp7oWOiJG9
— Benjamin Solak (@BenjaminSolak) December 26, 2022
The John Harbaugh Coaching Tree. https://t.co/1MCDeI7OLy
— Jonas Shaffer (@jonas_shaffer) December 26, 2022
