John Harbaugh

Not only did the newly minted New York Giants head coach have two picks in the top 10 after trading Dexter Lawrence to Cincinnati recently, but then the draft started and perhaps the single most talented player in the 2026 class fell right into his lap. That, of course, is Ohio State’s Arvell Reese. He may well play on the edge, but the Giants also have Kayvon Thibodeaux, Abdul Carter and Brian Burnes. So the Giants can trade Thibodeaux and collect more premium draft capital or they can play Reese as a chess piece off the ball early in his career. Then Harbaugh landed Miami right tackle Francis Mauigoa at No. 10, bolstering the offensive line and providing a long-term bookend with left tackle Andrew Thomas. If you want to turn a team around quickly, you’ve got to be good up front. Harbaugh, no surprise, leaned into that on both sides of the ball in the first round.

NFL draft 2026 tracker: Picks, instant reaction and more live coverage

Whichever 2027 QB the Jets draft next spring

Former Broncos GM Darren Mougey had a busy night, selecting Texas Tech OLB David Bailey at No. 2 overall, Oregon TE Kenyon Sadiq at No. 16 and then trading back into the first round to also get WR Omar Cooper Jr. at No. 30. That is one heck of a haul. It����ap good news in the present day, but it����ap really good news for whichever quarterback the Jets take next spring. That����ap when it looks like this rebuild project really, actually starts to get evaluated. Sure, Geno Smith will probably throw the ball to Sadiq a lot this fall, but those are the kind of players who make life easier on a young quarterback. That guy is coming, probably very early in the 2027 first round.

Former Broncos secondary coach Christian Parker

Parker got the job as Dallas’ defensive coordinator, knowing that the unit needed a world of help. It started in free agency and the trade market and now the Cowboys have also doubled up in the first round of the draft. They traded a pair of fifth-round picks to slide up one spot and nab Ohio State safety Caleb Downs — on the shortest of lists as the best player in the class — at No. 11 overall, then took outside linebacker Malachi Lawrence out of UCF at No. 23 overall. Downs is ready-made. Lawrence … we’ll see, but he’s got a ton of talent, he’s long and he’s fast. He’ll have a chance to see early time opposite Rashan Gary. Parker’s depth chart looks considerably different after just one day of the draft.

Losers

Matthew Stafford

When the Los Angeles Rams came onto the clock at No. 13 overall, Stafford could have looked at the board and seen players like Sadiq and WR Makai Lemon and thought, yeah, those guys would really help. Same with any number of tackles. Instead, the Rams took who they hope someday will be his successor. That����ap quarterback Ty Simpson out of Alabama. Teams can say as many times as they want that they’re happy to have their veteran — particularly when that veteran is the reigning MVP — but at some point, you want to see what the young guy has. Maybe that’ll be three years from now. But maybe it won’t be.

A.J. Brown’s Philadelphia landlord

Just kidding, Brown probably owns a house. But his days in the City of Brotherly Love are almost certainly numbered. Somebody somewhere might already be pumping out Patriots jerseys with his name on the back. As if there wasn’t enough smoke around the possibility that Brown gets dealt to New England -- it won’t happen until after June 1 for reasons related to Brown’s contract — the Eagles picked Lemon at No. 20 in the first round. That after they also traded for receiver Dontayvian Wicks just before the draft and also signed Hollywood Brown. The other Brown can probably start looking for real estate in Massachusetts.

Patrick Mahomes

The Chiefs star quarterback is working back from a torn ACL. When he returns, he will certainly be happy to have CB Mansoor Delane and DL Peter Woods on the other side of the line of scrimmage. But to not get any help in the first round on the offensive side of the ball? That����ap got to be at least a little disappointing somewhere in there. The Chiefs hardly ever pick in the top 10 and they pressed that positioning even more by trading up three spots to grab Delane. There were receivers aplenty -- Cooper and Denzel Boston among them — and RB Jadarian Price available late in the first round, but Brent Veach and company went with Woods instead. No qualms with either pick. Just, no help for Mahomes, either.

Hey Parker, so I’m quite, um, whelmed by the Broncos’ moves on Day 1 of free agency. We need to get Bo Nix more weapons. George Pickens would be amazing, but I feel like that’s a pipe dream. Are we looking at Romeo Doubs, Calvin Austin III or Jauan Jennings? Dallas Goedert? How about Deebo Samuel? He seems like he’d fit that joker position for Sean Payton.

— Mike, Denver

Hey Mike, you’re certainly not the only one. It didn’t figure to be a spending bonanza for the Broncos, but even given what Sean Payton, George Paton and Greg Penner said earlier in the offseason, it����ap been a slow start.

Now, that doesn’t necessarily mean ineffective. They’ve retained a bunch of their own guys, which means they think their roster is in a good spot. It����ap good to have a group of players that you want back.

Still, this was the first time since George Paton became the general manager in 2021 that Denver didn’t sign at least one external free agent on Day 1. It����ap perfectly fair to say it����ap been slower than many expected.

The Broncos came out of the 2025 season recognizing they needed more offensive playmaking. They’ve retained tight ends Adam Trautman and Nate Adkins (along with Evan Engram) and, of course, have a two-year deal in place with running back J.K. Dobbins.

But if you thought you needed more playmaking and you retain the group you had, then conventional wisdom would be that you still need more playmaking.

Of course, if the Broncos get a full, healthy season from Dobbins, that issue is partially resolved. Dobbins ardently believes that����ap going to happen. He’s also never played a full season.

I agree with your assessment of weapons and the idea of adding a dangerous pass-catcher, whether a receiver or a tight end.

The issue: Where are you going to find one? Working through your list, George Pickens would indeed be massive, but now that he’s been franchise tagged, that would require trading Dallas a premium pick and then signing him to a massive extension. Romeo Doubs agreed to sign with New England on Tuesday. Denver had interest in him, but never felt like the favorites. Calvin Austin and Jauan Jennings are still available as of this writing. So, too, are Deebo Samuel and Dallas Goedert, though age is a factor with both of those guys.

Several of the other tight ends still available fit the Engram profile as a receiver-first move player, so doubling up there doesn’t quite square. I was intrigued by Cade Otton and Charlie Kolar for their all-around abilities — certainly some projection involved there, especially with Kolar — but Otton went back to Tampa Bay and Kolar got a strong deal at $8 million per year with the Los Angeles Chargers. There, he’ll play for Jim Harbaugh after playing for John Harbaugh in Baltimore.

Denver could see if Goedert, 31, has another productive year or two left in the tank. Maybe there’s a receiver still out there on the free agent market that they like.

At this point, it����ap also worth looking forward to the draft and considering the trade market.

At receiver, there have been persistent rumors about the availability of Philadelphia’s A.J. Brown, Jacksonville’s Brian Thomas Jr., Miami’s Jaylen Waddle and others. Thomas makes the most sense from a money perspective, but I’ve heard they’re not actually interested in trading him and Tuesday afternoon, they seem to be reiterating that to national reporters. There had been back-and-forth reporting on that in recent days. Miami, similarly, has repeatedly said Waddle is a player to build around.

The combined acquisition cost and $29 million guaranteed for 2026 with Brown is a steep hill to climb for anybody and Payton and Paton have rarely carried two expensive receivers on their rosters.

On the draft front, it����ap a deeper receiver class than running back or tight end, but there are interesting players at all three positions. The search continues.

I’ve seen lots of WR draft and free-agent recommendations for the Broncos, but not much analysis of the type of WR they need. Is there a WR style you think the Broncos lack today and who would fit that need? For example, Courtland Sutton and Pat Bryant are big receivers capable of winning contested catches. Marvin Mims Jr. and Troy Franklin are speedsters who seem to lack shiftiness. To me, they lack shifty route runners. Who do you think could fill that need? Thanks!

— Chad, Austin

Hey Chad, thanks for writing and good question. Payton likes receivers that can play in multiple spots, but he also has specific roles that he wants filled.

Denver, the past couple of seasons, has waited until the later waves of free agency and then looked for bigger guys who can run and block. Payton often points back to Devery Henderson and Robert Meachem from his years in New Orleans as sort of the archetypes. The Broncos haven’t found that guy so far in Payton’s time in Denver.

Two years ago, they tried with Josh Reynolds. Last year, it was Trent Sherfield. Neither stuck a whole season. They could be in the market for a similar body type this year.

I agree with you that a pure route-runner would be a value add, too. Payton, though, doesn’t normally look for those smaller, shiftier players to operate in the slot. He likes big, power slots.

In my mind, then any search for a receiver is in one of two buckets: That big, physical player or a guy who elevates the room across the board. The former is maybe still out there in free agency. It����ap hard to see the latter being a free agent at this point, so a trade or the draft are more realistic routes.

It����ap worth continuing to point out that Denver likes its receivers and has either spent a Day 2 pick, traded up or both in each of the past three drafts to select Marvin Mims Jr., Troy Franklin and Pat Bryant.

It wouldn’t be a surprise at this point if they followed a similar path this spring, though let����ap not count them out at No. 30 overall in the draft, either.

Hi Parker, I’m amazed at all the new metrics and stats that are now available. I recently saw one that measured tight ends and missed blocks rates. It showed that some of the TEs I’ve seen linked to the Broncos, like Cade Otten was rated poorly. How does the Broncos staff use these advanced stats? Sean Payton seems like an old-school guy and might rely on feel or the eye test. Thanks.

— Gene Ryan, Green Valley, Ariz. (by way of Aurora)

Hey Gene, thanks for writing and great question. The amount of information out there these days is staggering. The stuff that����ap publicly available or accessible via subscription has changed a ton in the past few seasons. Now imagine what kinds of systems NFL teams are building.

This is one of the areas where artificial intelligence is booming in football, just like it is across any number of other industries. I was talking with a front office executive of another team at the combine last month about the ways in which they’re building models and tools in-house that can be used across football operations. It could be draft prep, pro scouting, salary cap management, film study or any number of other things.

The Broncos are working on all those kinds of things, too, like every team in football is.

Payton last year marveled at some of the stuff Denver’s technology could do. That will only continue to ramp up into the future and, I’d imagine, when the Broncos move into a new, state-of-the-art building this summer.

Having all of that at your fingertips might help you sniff out something you want to know about a player who has been playing in a different system. Can he move the way you want, even if he’s not moving the way you’d teach? Is he getting to where he needs to go and not finishing a block? Or can he not get there? Is he good only at certain things, or is he used only in certain ways? So on and so forth.

That����ap all good stuff, but the Broncos and other teams around the league also have to see it with their own eyes. Extra data is good, but teams aren’t going to commit to somebody based on analytics alone.

Hi Parker. Longtime subscriber and appreciator of the Post’s Broncos coverage. You guys do a fantastic job.

Thinking about the Broncos’ enviable secondary depth, I was wondering: if Denver extends Ja’Quan McMillian (they should) and also keeps Riley Moss, could Jahdae Barron be converted full-time to safety? Does he have the skillset to play there, for if/when Brandon Jones is let go after his contract expires?

— George, Seattle (Not a “12”)

Hey George, thanks for the nice note and for subscribing. We really appreciate it. Interesting question, too.

In the exact situation you outline, yeah, it����ap a possibility. The Broncos believe Jadhae Barron can play inside, outside or safety and do so at a high level.

From right here and right now, that doesn’t feel like the most likely scenario, but you never know.

There are several machinations in play when it comes to the Broncos’ secondary over the next year and they essentially count as good problems to have because Denver has quality depth that a lot of teams don’t.

The first step is McMillian. He’s on the tender now, so they can either extend him now or during the season or risk him hitting the free agent market next spring.

It����ap a little early to say categorically that the Broncos have to choose between paying McMillian and Moss, but the way the roster is currently constructed and with a potential Bo Nix extension looming out there as early as the summer of 2027, it����ap reasonable to wonder if they can play with both corners, the nickel and at least one safety on big contracts long-term.

Nothing has to happen right away. They can keep everybody right where they are through this season if they want. But each move made in the secondary is going to have a ripple effect over the next few months.

A fascinating group to watch.

Payton paid no mind to the Broncos putting together a 14-3 regular season and playing for the AFC Championship at home when he fired three coaches to start the offseason, including offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi

Then he lost Pete Carmichael Jr. to Buffalo and could well lose secondary coach Jim Leonhard to the Bills. Or perhaps Baltimore.

All eyes have been on Denver quarterbacks coach Davis Webb, who looks to be in line for promotion to offensive coordinator and perhaps even to be the first assistant coach to work for Payton and also call plays for him.

All the while, nobody’s talking about Vance Joseph.

The Broncos defensive coordinator two months ago looked like as sure a bet as any to get a head coaching job this cycle. If Payton or virtually anybody else in the Broncos’ building had been told at the start of December that 10 head coaching jobs would come open, Joseph would have seemed like an automatic.

Indeed, nearly a third of the league’s head coaching jobs became available when what began as a potentially mild coaching carousel turned nutty.

Now eight are filled and only Arizona and Las Vegas — two jobs Joseph was tied to early in the process — remain open, though the Broncos defensive coordinator doesn’t look to be in contention for either.

It����ap a shame.

Joseph orchestrated back-to-back top-flight defenses and is regarded widely as a terrific leader. He says — and certainly he’s communicated to teams in the interview process — he’s learned from the things he failed at when he was Denver’s head coach from 2017-18. He’s got glowing public endorsement from Payton, particularly this year.

“It����ap not a matter of if, it����ap when and who,” Payton said Jan. 9. “I think it����ap going to happen and I know when that time comes, there’ll be 110 people on the other side of those doors super excited for him.”

The coaching hires this time around featured an interesting mix. There are bounce-backs with extensive track records in John Harbaugh (New York Giants) and Kevin Stefanski (Atlanta), defensive first-timers like Jeff Hafley (Miami) and Jesse Minter (Baltimore). A homecoming in Pittsburgh with Mike McCarthy and offensive minds young and old — Joe Brady in Buffalo, the former, Todd Monken in Cleveland, the latter. Despite that mix of professional backgrounds, there’s been a striking lack of diversity. Tennessee’s Robert Saleh, a Lebanese American who became the first Muslim head coach in NFL history when he got the New York Jets job in 2021, is the lone minority hire so far.

Reporting from around the league suggests the final two openings could go to young offensive minds with Seattle OC Klint Kubiak tied to the Raiders job — Broncos assistant Davis Webb withdrew from consideration Thursday — and Los Angeles Rams OC Mike LaFleur tied to Arizona.

Joseph’s chances may have been impacted by the Broncos playing as long as they can. Payton lamented the hiring cycle timeline on Tuesday while saying he thought his coaches did a good job navigating interest from around the league.

“It’s still difficult because preparing for one of those interviews requires time — like, quite a bit of time,” Payton said. “Then, preparing for an opponent in the playoffs requires every waking minute. I don’t know that I have the solution, but I think it’s a challenge that we battle as a league.”

There is at least one silver lining for Joseph and for the Broncos.

For Joseph, a couple of these jobs look like dead ends anyway. Payton talks often about not just landing a head coaching job but finding the right one. Joseph, 53, in all likelihood, has a maximum of one more chance to be a head coach. Inheriting the roster and quarterback situations in, say, Cleveland or Arizona sounds like bad business.

For the Broncos, of course, it will be disappointing to see the league pass Joseph over and terrific to have him back for a fourth year. His players will be thrilled. Payton should be, too.

Denver will see some turnover on defense but has the core of the group returning and now steeped in his system.

“We were the best defense in the league this year,” said inside linebacker Alex Singleton, an impending free agent who has made it clear he ideally wants to play for Joseph, wherever the coach lands, going forward. “We held a team under 200 yards in the AFC Championship Game. That����ap what we expect every week. I think we can do that every game next year.”

Other teams’ decision-making is shaping up to benefit the Broncos. The NFL’s a cold world and the word “deserve” means about as much as “almost.” It counts for essentially nothing.

This one’s a head-scratcher all the same.

At 31 years old, the Broncos pass game coordinator and quarterbacks coach has become a top head coaching candidate. He is viewed as the new Sean McVay, a wonder kid capable of running an offense and a franchise.

As the Broncos prepare to host the Patriots in the AFC Championship Game, it is time to acknowledge two truths: Payton had onions to hire a coach in his 20s, and Webb has never been more important than this week.

Webb stopped playing in 2022 and joined Payton’s staff in 2023. Everything about his hiring hinted that he was a meteor in the business. After the interview, Payton was looking over his notes and wondering why he even let Webb leave the building. He phoned him on his way to DIA and just like that the former top college prospect had a headset.

Webb has been on the fast track ever since. During the past preseason, Payton allowed him to call plays. It went well to no one’s surprise. That Bo Nix posted 53 passing touchdowns and 25 wins in his first two seasons is a credit to Payton’s play calling, but Webb deserves a tip of the cap.

He is a buffer. He is brilliant. And this game plan demands his best work, steeling Jarrett Stidham for the biggest challenge of his career, or any career for that matter. Webb is only two years older than Stidham. But his football knowledge belies his age. He has been keeping notebooks of plays for decades.

It is why he ran the Buffalo Bills’ quarterback room in his final season as a backup, becoming good friends with Josh Allen. So of course he is a candidate there. And with the Las Vegas Raiders.

He has the ability to digest loads of information and make it practical and useful for his pupils. That is critical for Stidham. He is cramming for the test. And while his confidence is real, Webb is a person he can confide in, letting him know what plays he likes, what makes him comfortable.

The Broncos are attempting to reach their ninth Super Bowl. If Payton pulls it off with a backup quarterback, it becomes his magnum opus.

And it will have happened only because he had the guts to hire a backup quarterback a few weeks after he signed Stidham as a free agent.

Pasties, anyone: New England passes the eye test as a good team. But let’s not pretend they navigated Pikes Peak to reach the NFL’s Final Four. They faced the easiest strength of schedule since the 1999 Rams. It is why winning on the road at Denver — something they have never done in the playoffs — remains daunting, even without Bo Nix starting.

Center of attention: The pushback for Andruw Jones’ election to the Hall of Fame was surprising. I voted for him. Yes, his .254 batting average is unsightly. But Jones deserved the honor for this reason: He is one of three center fielders with 400-plus home runs and 10 Gold Gloves. The other two? Ken Griffey Jr. and Willie Mays. There are no qualifiers needed when explaining Jones’ entrance to Cooperstown.

Avs issues: The Avs have finally had their first hiccup with four losses in their past five games. This was always going to happen. And as much as it is annoying, it is necessary. Adversity helps focus expectations, providing a reminder that nothing has come easily for the Avs since winning the Stanley Cup. They will be fine. Now, if injuries surface, especially during the Olympics, it is time for fingernails to disappear.

Big Blue: Count me among the minority. I don’t see John Harbaugh as the perfect fit with the New York Giants. A blue blood name with a blue blood franchise. An adult in the room. The dots connect. Perhaps too easily. The Giants dissolved last year because they could not hold a lead. No one has been worse at protecting leads over the last few years than Harbaugh. And he had Lamar Jackson. Harbaugh can work. But let me see how his offensive coordinator does with Jaxson Dart before this is celebrated as the second coming of Bill Parcells or Tom Coughlin.

The Pro Football Writers of America on Thursday announced Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph as the 2025 Assistant Coach of the Year, voted on by members of the PFWA. It’s a nod to Joseph’s three-year build of the Denver defense into one of the best units in the NFL. The Broncos finished second in the NFL in yardage per game this season and third in total points allowed.

Joseph was also named a finalist for the AP Assistant Coach of the Year award on Thursday, as his trophy case grows in anticipation of a potential head-coaching job.

“Man, I’m super excited when I saw that news,” head coach Sean Payton said Thursday. Broncos OLB Nik Bonitto was also named a finalist for the AP Defensive Player of the Year voting.

“Vance has been outstanding,” Payton continued, “and a big reason we’re here.”

Under Joseph, the 2025 Broncos tied the 1985 New York Giants for the fifth-most sacks in NFL history (68), with a dominant pass-rush and exotic blitzes that often put corners like Ja’Quan McMillian (four sacks) and ILB Justin Strnad (4.5 sacks) in position to finish off quarterbacks. Three Bronco defenders — Bonitto, defensive tackle Zach Allen and cornerback Pat Surtain II — were named 2025 Pro Bowlers.

Joseph interviewed with five teams two weeks ago during Denver’s bye week: the Cardinals, Ravens, Raiders, Titans and Giants, and the Falcons also requested an interview. The defensive coordinator is unable to interview with any teams as long as Denver remains active in the playoffs, though, and Tennessee (Robert Saleh), Atlanta (Kevin Stefanski) and New York (John Harbaugh) have already resolved their vacancies.

The Miami Dolphins, Cleveland Browns, Buffalo Bills and Pittsburgh Steelers also have current HC vacancies.

Then, of course, came the Bo Nix injury revelation that quickly washed all that away.

As Denver pivots to backup quarterback Jarrett Stidham with Nix’s season-ending ankle fracture, there are plenty more areas of optimism and concern heading into next weekend’s AFC Championship. Here’s The Denver Post’s stock report from a wild win over Buffalo.

Stock up

Nik Bonitto: On Tuesday, Denver’s star pass-rusher all but shrugged off his lack of sack production down the stretch of another Pro Bowl season.

“No stress on my end, as far as stuff like that,” Bonitto told The Post.

No stress necessary, indeed. Bonitto got back in swing with a 1.5-sack effort against the Chargers in Week 18, and Denver’s game-wrecker was every bit the force of nature that the Broncos needed on Saturday. The only piece missing in the 26-year-old Bonitto’s season — besides an All-Pro nod — was consistent effort in the run game, as he’ll sometimes be neutralized by one-on-one blocks on the outside. Against Buffalo, though, Bonitto chased down Bills MVP Josh Allen for about 12 yards in the second quarter and smacked the ball away for a forced fumble.

Josh Allen rightfully will get most of the blame for this but it is also one heck of a play by Nik Bonitto. Covered a lot of ground to get to Allen and play the ball.

— Parker Gabriel (@ParkerJGabriel)

In the third quarter, Bonitto got to Allen again for his second forced-fumble of the day. He’s in full playoff mode.

Malcolm Roach: Speaking of difference-making pass-rushers. Roach had one total sack across four years and 41 games at the start of his career in New Orleans; this season, the Broncos’ defensive tackle now has 5.5 across 13 games (regular season and playoffs). He’s become a legitimate force on the interior, and one that has major implications for Denver’s future.

DT Malcolm Roach has taken a massive leap as a pass-rusher this year. Has big implications for the future. Now has 5.5 sacks in 13 games (reg + post) this year.

Incredibly athletic play here to spin off his man and chase down Josh Allen in the second quarter Sat

— Luca Evans (@bylucaevans)

Roach’s development has helped keep All-Pro DT Zach Allen fresh this year and limit his reps, and Roach has shown the athleticism and pass-rush ability to play next to Allen or Eyioma Uwazurike when starting DE John Franklin-Myers leaves in free agency in 2026. Denver’s three-year, $29.25 million extension for Roach in November is looking like a steal.

Johnny Mo: Let’s lay this out. On a short week of preparation for an AFC divisional-round matchup with Buffalo, Payton brought in an outside consultant and then picked his brain for a goal-line play that involved throwing a touchdown to a second-year reserve offensive lineman.

“Nothing he does,” receiver Marvin Mims told The Post Saturday, “surprises me.”

There, of course, was a long level of trust with that consultant. John Morton is officially back in a consulting role with Denver, after serving as Payton’s passing-game coordinator from 2023 to 2024 before taking a job with the Detroit Lions (and then fired recently). This could be a soft launch to Payton’s staff in 2026, as 30-year-old Davis Webb could be headed for a coordinator or even head-coaching job elsewhere. In any case, it’s objectively hilarious that Morton would earn a Super Bowl ring if this Broncos team made it that far.

Special-teams demons: Broncos ST coordinator Darren Rizzi did not end up getting the New York Giants’ head-coaching job, an unfortunate casualty of the post-John Harbaugh coaching carousel. But Rizzi’s doing a bang-up job in Denver, with a special-teams unit that’s become lethal.

All-Pro teamer Devon Key had two monster tackles against Buffalo on Saturday, doing what he does best on kickoffs. Kicker Wil Lutz banged home four field goals, including the eventual game-winning chip-shot. And punter Jeremy Crawshaw delivered one of Saturday’s most clutch plays, with a 55-yard boot to pin Buffalo at their own 7-yard-line on their final offensive drive of overtime.

Continued excellence here will be paramount without Nix on Sunday.

Stock down

WR depth: Maybe, after all, Denver should’ve gotten a wideout at the trade deadline.

After rookie Pat Bryant went down with a concussion on the Broncos’ first drive against Buffalo and second-year WR Troy Franklin exited in the second quarter with a hamstring injury, the perpetually underutilized Marvin Mims Jr. and veteran Lil’Jordan Humphrey stepped up with massive touchdown grabs against the Bills. Even Mims, though, admitted at his locker postgame that neither his fourth-quarter score or Humphrey’s second-quarter touchdown was “the look you want.”

Bryant has now had two concussions in the span of a month. Franklin’s sudden exit with the hamstring was somewhat ominous. If Denver’s down both on Sunday, Mims will need big-time touches. The Broncos could also look to elevate veteran Elijah Moore or sign practice-squad mainstay Michael Bandy to the active 53-man roster. But they’re alarmingly thin here.

Courtland Sutton: In related news, Denver’s No. 1 WR just wasn’t good enough against the Bills, despite some moments. Sutton got going in the fourth quarter and overtime, with a 25-yard grab on a 3rd-and-11 play from Nix on the final drive of regulation. But he went without a catch for three quarters, and several difficult grabs slipped through his hands.

The Broncos paid Sutton big money this offseason to make those kinds of plays in high-leverage situations, the kind he’s been making all year. But he finished with just four catches for 53 yards in nine targets against the Bills, and Denver needs more consistency from him against New England.

Backfield trust: Backup RB Jaleel McLaughlin averaged over 5 yards a carry for the fifth straight game, and rookie RJ Harvey did some exquisite things in the passing game against Buffalo. Overall, though, Payton showed an utter unwillingness to trust his backfield against one of the league’s worst rushing defenses in the Bills.

Nix ran 12 times. McLaughlin and Harvey combined for 10 carries. In fairness, McLaughlin did fumble in the red zone in the first quarter, but Denver still recovered the ball. The overall distribution showed that Payton has almost no faith in any Bronco as a bell-cow back at the moment. He might need one Sunday, though, to support Stidham.

The Payton-Vance Joseph relationship: Boy, there would’ve been some uncomfortable conversations if the Broncos lost on Saturday. There already were, on the sideline. With Buffalo pinned at its own 12-yard line and facing a 3rd-and-5 in overtime, quarterback Josh Allen managed to escape and find a wide-open Dalton Kincaid for a first down.

Payton turned on the sideline, yelled at defensive coordinator Vance Joseph, and smacked his clipboard at him.

This happened multiple times across Buffalo’s final drive, which seemed on the brink of putting the Broncos out of business before Ja’Quan McMillian came up with the interception of a lifetime. Overall, Joseph’s defense generated five turnovers but looked often helpless against James Cook on the ground (24 carries for 117 yards) or Kincaid (six catches for 83 yards and a score). It very nearly wasn’t good enough.

Has it really come to this? That we have to pray for Denver Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph to get a second chance as an NFL head coach?

The cycle got thrown for a loop with the firing of John Harbaugh. But even as the Super Bowl-winning coach finalizes a deal with the New York Giants, eight vacancies remain. And you are telling me that Joseph, with the resume he has put together over the past three seasons, is not deserving of one?

Hogwash.

Joseph has shown himself more than capable after creating a brotherhood of bullies with the Broncos defense. The group ranks first in sacks (68), yards per play (4.6) and red zone touchdown percentage (42.6), and third in points per game (18.3). He blends humility with knowledge, and his refusal to point fingers inspires devotion from players. Just throw on the film and watch how hard guys run to the ball, and execute their assignments.

Joseph has talked in some capacity with nearly every team that has an opening. The knee-jerk response is that he was horrible in his first chance. The record said as much. He only lasted two seasons with the Broncos, compiling an 11-21 record. He was drinking out of a firehose and not allowed to hire his staff, leaving many to backstab or undermine him.

He has the seven-year itch. He is ready after padding his resume in Arizona and Denver since 2018.

Yet, his candidacy does not seem to be taken seriously in a league where offensive minds are valued more by owners.

Baltimore is the best job, and the idea of Joseph fixing the Ravens’ defense with Davis Webb calling plays for Lamar Jackson is tantalizing. Same goes for the Titans, and possibly the Raiders, depending on your view of Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza as the No. 1 overall draft pick.

Joseph fits in a lot of places, especially if he brings Webb with him. He is not getting his due. Or the respect he deserves. In the end, Arizona could be the landing spot. Ownership appreciated his work as the defensive coordinator under Kliff Kingsbury and how he held things together behind the scenes. He would likely be given three years to get the Cardinals back on track.

Patience helps. But not as much as a quarterback. He would have to mend fences with Kyler Murray, or eat dead money and find a different answer.

Joseph deserves another opportunity. And if he does not land a job in this cycle, there is no defense of that.

Iron Mike: Mike Tomlin’s resignation sent seismic shockwaves through the NFL. I’ve written multiple times in this spot that this was likely his last year with the Steelers. He did not feel appreciated, but the truth is, he hadn’t won a playoff game since the 2016 season. He is a culture builder, a leader. He will benefit from a year off in broadcasting and return fresh with a new perspective on offense.

Seaton leaving: is not a surprise. Despite what CU fanboys scream, Seaton regressed last season, missed multiple games with an injury and did not put on good game tape against Utah. To regain his first-round status, Seaton needs better coaching. And, obviously, more money. But that has led to a potential odd destination. Mississippi State? Sure, the Bulldogs can pay him, but they are an SEC also-ran. Would he really choose his old CU line boss and current Bulldogs coach Phil Loadholt over a powerhouse? That seems like a miscalculation.

Receiver in the backfield: Even before Saturday’s anticipated chill and windy weather, it was obvious the Broncos need to run to win. The Bills’ rush defense stinks. As much as I want Jaleel McLaughlin to carry the load, Marvin Mims Jr. represents a secret playmaker. When the Bills crack, they become the San Andreas Fault. They have allowed more long touchdown runs than anyone. This is where Mims in the backfield could go off. One 35-yard burst could change the game. Sean Payton will write “Run It” on his playsheet. Now, do us all a favor and do it. ]]> 7396463 2026-01-16T15:24:55+00:00 2026-01-16T15:26:39+00:00 /2026/01/07/broncos-vance-joseph-head-coach-interview-baltimore-ravens/ Thu, 08 Jan 2026 04:12:04 +0000 /?p=7387474 The Broncos have multiple assistants interviewing for one of the most coveted job openings in the NFL.

The Baltimore job came open Tuesday when the organization fired 18-year veteran head coach John Harbaugh. It created the most surprising opening of the seven in the NFL so far this cycle and certainly the only with a perennial MVP candidate at quarterback in Lamar Jackson.

Joseph also had Thursday interviews with Las Vegas and the New York Giants. Joseph has already had an initial interview with Tennessee on Wednesday and is also slated to speak with Arizona. Atlanta also requested an interview with him, but it’s unclear whether that conversation will actually materialize.

Joseph’s slate could potentially get even busier after an eighth NFL job opened Thursday when Miami fired coach Mike McDaniel. Joseph served as defensive coordinator for the Dolphins in 2016 before getting Denver’s head coaching job, which he held from 2017-18. That means he knows the club and knows owner Stephen Ross well.

At just 30 years old, Webb is a fast-riser in the industry. If he doesn’t land a head coaching job this cycle he is likely to be one of the most popular offensive coordinator candidates as the coaching carousel spins over the coming weeks.

Webb is familiar with the Giants, in particular, because he was drafted by the club in the third round of the 2017 draft. That year, he served as Eli Manning’s backup. He returned to the Giants in 2022 and spent most of the season on the practice squad. He started the final game of the season that year, attempted 40 passes and then within a matter of weeks was hired by new Broncos head coach Sean Payton to coach quarterbacks.

Since then, his career trajectory has only trended further and further upward.

Broncos special teams coordinator Darren Rizzi is also expected to interview for the New York Giants’ head coaching job.

All initial head coaching interviews are conducted virtually. Because the Broncos played Sunday and have a bye through the Wild Card round, initial interviews can take place between Wednesday and the conclusion of the Wild Card games.

After that, subsequent interviews cannot take place until either after Denver is eliminated from the playoffs or, if the Broncos make the Super Bowl, the week following the AFC championship game.

“I saw Jim before we played Denver. Jim’s a heck of football coach,” Schottenheimer told reporters in Texas. “You talk about a great football player, man. We had some great years together in New York. Again, I would not say we’ve stayed in touch. This business is hard. You get going a million miles (an hour). You gotta speak to what Sean and what that entire staff has done there. Vance Joseph is a guy I have a ton of respect for.

“Jim’s an excellent coach.”

Owner Steve Bisciotti said Tuesday he relieved Harbaugh of his duties after the Ravens were one of the league’s most disappointing teams this season. They went 8-9 and missed the playoffs after entering Week 1 as one of the Super Bowl favorites. Baltimore’s season ended Sunday night when Tyler Loop missed a last-second field goal, allowing Pittsburgh to hold on for a 26-24 victory in the game that decided the AFC North title.

NFL coaching carousel 2026: Tracking who’s been fired and who’s been hired

“This was an incredibly difficult decision, given the tremendous 18 years we have spent together and the profound respect I have for John as a coach and, most importantly, as a great man of integrity," Bisciotti said in a statement. "Throughout what I firmly believe is a Hall of Fame coaching career, John has delivered a Super Bowl championship to Baltimore and served as a steadfast pillar of humility and leadership.”

Harbaugh went 193-124 including the postseason. He led the 2012 Ravens to a Super Bowl title and reached the AFC championship game on three other occasions. This season was only the sixth time Baltimore missed the postseason under Harbaugh. That����ap the same number of times the Ravens won the AFC North with him at the helm.

But most of Baltimore’s postseason success came in his first few seasons. The Ravens went to the AFC title game three times in his first five years as coach, culminating in their run to a Super Bowl title as a wild card, when Harbaugh beat his brother Jim’s San Francisco 49ers for the title.

At that point, Harbaugh was 9-4 in the postseason, but after that he was just 4-7. After three straight seasons without a playoff berth, Lamar Jackson arrived in 2018 and led Baltimore to a division title. But Harbaugh’s lone trip to an AFC title game with Jackson was wasted two seasons ago when Baltimore lost at home to Kansas City.

“Well, I was hoping for a different kind of message on my last day here, someday, but that day has come today,” Harbaugh said in a statement. “It comes with disappointment certainly, but more with GRATITUDE & APPRECIATION. Gratitude to the owner and organization who was willing to bring in a head coach who made his mark with special teams success. A difficult thing to do … and Appreciation for all the moments, all these years, that are etched into eternity.”

This season was a mess pretty much from the start, when Baltimore looked great for much of its opener at Buffalo before blowing a late lead. Indeed, squandering significant advantages became a troubling trend for the Ravens in Harbaugh’s last few seasons. The Ravens have blown 10 double-digit leads in the second half in the last six seasons. No other team has done that more than seven times.

After a hamstring injury sidelined Jackson, Baltimore stumbled to a 1-5 start in 2025. Harbaugh and the Ravens worked their way back into contention and eventually reached Sunday’s winner-take-all matchup as a favorite to beat the Steelers. But despite Derrick Henry’s early dominance on the ground and Jackson’s sensational fourth quarter, another season ended in excruciating fashion.

If this departure was a result of that loss — which is not necessarily clear — then the missed kick at the end could have quite a domino effect throughout the league. If he wants to coach next season, Harbaugh may well be the most sought-after person on the market, and the Baltimore job might the best available, given the short-term possibilities with Jackson at quarterback and the organization's reputation for stability.

Of course, Harbaugh was a big part of that stability. He's been the coach for over half the Ravens' existence. When Baltimore has had to make changes on the staff, it's often gone pretty well. Mike Macdonald was so good as defensive coordinator in 2023 that he became Seattle's head coach. Todd Monken took over as offensive coordinator in '23, and Jackson immediately won his second MVP.

Now the Ravens are in the middle of a shakeup. It wasn't that hard to see coming, given how much they underperformed this season — plus what seemed like a possible disconnect with Jackson. It was hard to tell just how injured the star quarterback was — and Harbaugh's optimism on the topic didn't always come to fruition. Week 18 was the first time since early November that Jackson had a full week of practice.

Harbaugh said late in the season he had an “A-plus” relationship with Jackson, and Jackson said he wanted to be in Baltimore.

AP Pro Football Writer Rob Maaddi contributed to this report.

Patriots, Jaguars vying for top seed. The Broncos received a massive belated Christmas gift on Monday courtesy of Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh, who relinquished all gamesmanship and said point-blank that Los Angeles would rest star quarterback Justin Herbert. Denver would have to absolutely implode to lose Sunday’s matchup. In such an event, though, New England (13-3) and Jacksonville (12-4) would be set up to seize that vaunted No. 1 seed in the AFC. The Patriots are playing a 7-9 Dolphins team that’s been mathematically eliminated; the Jaguars face 3-13 Tennessee, one of the worst teams in the NFL. Denver can’t afford to get too cute here.

Fernando-mania. The Raiders are the NFL’s hottest current mess. They’ve lost 10 straight. The Pete Carroll experiment seems all but destined to end after one unceremonious year. 48-year-old minority owner Tom Brady was captured by TMZ getting a little close with 25-year-old influencer Alix Earle on New Year’s Eve. Las Vegas continues to be in the news for plenty of reasons beyond the actual on-field product. The good news? Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza is only solidifying his case as a legitimate No. 1 pick, with a 14-of-16 line for 192 yards and three touchdowns in a drubbing of Alabama at the Rose Bowl on Thursday. Raiders general manager John Spytek has to be licking his chops.

Rivers done, again. The great season-saving Philip Rivers Experiment is over, as the 44-year-old will now step back into retirement after three losses in Indianapolis. What a valiant effort it was, though: Rivers has a higher QBR (39.3) in three starts in 2025 than the Dolphins’ Tua Tagovailoa or the Raiders’ Geno Smith have this season. The Colts announced rookie QB Riley Leonard will start in Week 18, with Indianapolis (8-8) removed from playoff contention. Rivers, though, expressed nothing but gratitude for the opportunity.

“I got three bonus games that I never saw coming,” , “and couldn’t be more thankful that I got an opportunity.”

Around the NFC

Teach me how to Purdy. It’s time to officially crown San Francisco as serious NFC contenders. The 49ers were a distant afterthought in their own division a couple months back, floating at 6-4 behind Seattle and the Rams. Suddenly, the Niners have ripped off six wins in a row with the return of starting quarterback Brock Purdy, who’s playing with rarely-before-seen levels of confidence. Case in point: hitting a nasty Dougie after a touchdown against the Bears last Sunday in a 24-of-33, 303-yard, five-total-TD performance. As , heaven “forbid a white guy has a little bit of motion.”

Packers get secondary help. Green Bay’s seen an unexpected influx of Cowboys into their building in 2025. First came Micah Parsons. Now, former All-Pro Trevon Diggs is joining the fray after Dallas cut bait and waived him this week. The cornerback is far from the same player who led the NFL with 11 interceptions in 2021, torched for four touchdowns and a 157.2 quarterback rating in eight games this season. But there’s still talent in there, and perhaps Diggs will be motivated by a fresh start.

Can Stafford seize an MVP? The race for the league’s top award is still wide-open entering Week 18. Support for the Rams’ Matthew Stafford, long the season favorite, has faltered significantly after he threw three interceptions in Monday’s 27-24 loss to the Falcons. The stats don’t lie, though: Stafford’s 42 touchdown passes are nine more than any other NFL quarterback entering the final regular-season game of the year. If Stafford gets back on track against the 3-13 Cardinals Sunday, consider the Most Valuable Player discussion wrapped up.

Game of the Week

Baltimore at Pittsburgh

It’s a Sunday Night doozy. Lamar Jackson vs. Aaron Rodgers for sole possession of an AFC North title — and a playoff berth. Loser’s bounced out of the bracket entirely. Jackson confirmed this week he’ll play after missing last Saturday’s win with a back contusion, in what’s been an overall-frustrating year for the MVP due to injuries and roster instability.

There could be major long-term ramifications on the line for both organizations in Pittsburgh on Sunday.  A Ravens loss could bring an end of an era to the John Harbaugh-Jackson partnership in Baltimore, with trade rumors swirling around Jackson for the better part of a strange season. A Steelers loss could bring an end to the Mike Tomlin era in Pittsburgh, with rampant speculation (okay, there’s speculation literally every year) around Tomlin’s job security. Sunday should, in general, bring a unique new chapter in a historic NFL rivalry.

Baltimore 24, Pittsburgh 20

Lock of the Week

Tennessee at Jacksonville

There aren’t a ton of playoff teams with a ton left to play for in Week 18. The Jaguars are one of them. And they just so happen to be facing the 3-13 Titans. Tennessee’s been playing much-improved offensive ball across the last month, as rookie Cam Ward has six touchdowns and zero interceptions in his last three starts. Still, the Jaguars should be motivated to put this one to bed early to preserve a shot at the one-seed and get their starters some second-half rest.

Jaguars 31, Titans 20

Upset of the Week

Washington at Philadelphia

Don’t look now, but the reigning champs should be squarely back in the thick of the Super Bowl discussion. Philadelphia’s offense is still a sludge. But Vic Fangio’s defense is playing as well as any unit in the league: the Eagles have surrendered just 14.5 points a game across their last eight weeks.

That being said, this could be a classic end-of-year stunner. Philadelphia’s resting quarterback Jalen Hurts against the Commanders, despite a shot at the No. 2 seed if they’d beat Washington. That’d signal the Eagles will sit other key starters; Washington’s suffered through a brutal season with Jayden Daniels banged up, but backup Marcus Mariota has done some solid work at times. This could be an ugly, meaningless upset.

Commanders 16, Eagles 13