Broncos Hire Former Super Bowl-Winning Offensive Coordinator
After two previous reports foreshadowed the move, the Denver Broncos officially announced that Pete Carmichael has been hired as a senior offensive assistant. The team also confirmed that Jim Leonhard has been hired as defensive backs coach, but he'll also serve as the defensive pass game coordinator.
Leonhard brings the competency and expertise of a defensive coordinator to the table for the Broncos, replacing the coveted young coach Christian Parker, who recently defected to Philadelphia to join Vic Fangio. Leonhard, a former Broncos safety (2012), brings a lot more experience to the table.
With the Carmichael hire being official, head coach Sean Payton drops one more piece in place in his effort to put the band back together. Carmichael spent 15 years with Payton in New Orleans, and the two achieved a lot together.
Working in tandem with Payton, first as QBs coach, then as offensive coordinator, the New Orleans Saints were prolific. Over Carmichael's tenure, the Saints ranked No. 1 in the NFL in points (27.1/game), touchdowns per game (3.2), yards per game (385.3, third-down percentage (44.4), and total first downs (5,369). Wrap your brain around that.
Over that stretch, Carmichael helped field an offensive unit in New Orleans that also ranked near the top of the NFL in passing yards per game (271.5/1st), completions (6,149/1st), completion percentage (68.6/1st), passing touchdowns (499/2nd), and interceptions (190/6th).
I can hear it now. "But Carmichael and Payton had Drew Brees," you say. Totally true. The coaching duo benefited greatly from having a future Hall-of-Famer under center, and right now, the Broncos are lacking that cerebral quarterback.
But Russell Wilson, if the Broncos manage to reconcile with him, is also viewed by many as destined for the Hall of Fame. He may not be on the same level as Brees as a pure passer and pocket quarterback, but if that's the path the Broncos end up taking, Carmichael's arrival can only help Payton field an offense closer in image to the one that dominated the league for a decade-plus in New Orleans.
Carmichael had a close working relationship with Brees. Together, Payton and Carmichael helped Brees become the league leader or tie for the passing yardage title an NFL-record seven times.
Brees also paced the league in completion percentage four times, and his 491 touchdowns over 15 seasons is a Saints all-time record. His Hall-of-Fame resume includes AP Offensive Player of the Year honors (twice), 13 Pro Bowl nods, and five-time All-Pros (one first team).
If the Broncos part ways with Wilson and go back to the QB well in the NFL draft, Carmichael's hand-in-glove experience working with Payton for all those years should, in theory, help that next signal-caller assimilate the scheme faster and hit the ground running. The Broncos currently hold the No. 12 overall pick in this year's draft, and they're expected to use it on a quarterback.
While it seems that Joe Lombardi will retain his title as offensive coordinator, Carmichael will be the de facto leader and conduit to Payton, kind of like Mike Westhoff as assistant head coach and his special teams involvement with coordinator Ben Kotwica. Instead of moving Lombardi to a different role, Payton will get to have his cake and eat it, too, with Carmichael overseeing things as his senior advisor.
Welcome to the fold, officially, Pete Carmichael.
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