The Broncos are not stopping at Nathaniel Hackett. Two of the one-and-done coach’s assistant hires — special teams coordinator Dwayne Stukes and offensive line coach Butch Barry — are also out, Mike Klis of 9News reports (on Twitter).
Brought over after a year as the Rams’ assistant special teams coach, Stukes was in his second year on the coordinator level. His first, however, came back in 2011 — a one-year stint as the Buccaneers’ ST coordinator. Hackett opted not to bring back respected O-line coach Mike Munchak this offseason, hiring Barry instead.
[RELATED: Broncos Fire Hackett, Name Jerry Rosburg Interim HC]
Despite going into his first season as a head coach, Hackett surrounded himself with inexperienced coordinator options. Hackett hired two ex-Rams staffers — Stukes, DC Ejiro Evero — and brought in former Packers tight ends coach Justin Outten to be his top lieutenant on offense. As of Monday night, Outten remains with the team.
Stukes, 45, has been an NFL assistant since 2006. He rose to the ST coordinator tier for one season, but after the Bucs fired Raheem Morris following the 2011 season, he became an assistant ST coach for a few franchises. Stukes moved to the Bears, Giants and Rams in this role. Collecting a Super Bowl ring for being the special teams lieutenant in Los Angeles, Stukes was on Sean McVay‘s staff for one year. The team ranks seventh in punt-return yards, though primary return man Montrell Washington has fumbled five times, but last in kick-return yards. The Broncos ranked eighth in opposing kick-return yards but 30th in punt-return yards allowed.
Although Munchak wanted to stay in Denver for a fourth season, Hackett sought Barry for schematic reasons. Shifting back to a zone-blocking scheme, the Broncos hired Barry, who worked with Hackett with the 2020 Packers. Barry, who had been the Bucs’ assistant O-line coach from 2015-18, was in an analyst role during his one season in Green Bay. Munchak, who has family in the Denver area and left the Steelers to join Vic Fangio‘s staff in 2019, did not coach this season.
The team announced Mike Mallory will coach its special teams to close out the season, while Ben Steele will lead the offensive line. Mallory spent the past eight years with the Jaguars — as ST coordinator and assistant ST coach — and Steele was the Vikings’ assistant O-line coach last season. Both were Hackett hires this offseason.
The Broncos have dealt with injuries across their O-line. Garett Bolles was lost for the season in October, and the team’s preferred right tackle options — Billy Turner and Tom Compton — missed much of the season as well. Compton missed almost all of it, returning from an offseason back procedure but only playing in one game. Both Compton and center Lloyd Cushenberry are both out for the season, heading to IR. The team used its last injury activation last week. While Pro Football Focus has viewed second-year guard Quinn Meinerz as an ascending player, slotting him in the top five among guards, it ranks the Broncos’ O-line 16th. Denver ranks 23rd in rushing and has allowed by far the most sacks (57) in the league this season.
They need to get rid of Hackett minions. Clean house, regroup and get it right this time.
They almost certainly will be cleaning house, but they have to pick their spots for now. Some guys have to be left to coach the last games.
It was just reported that the official Broncos housecleaner has been fired as well…
….and how is Justin Outten still here?!!
The decision to get rid of Munchak-who likely can be credited for making Bolles’ extension possible-was not something I liked even before the season started. Granted, there were great schematic differences between that regime and Hackett’s, but Munchak deserved an immense amount of credit for what he did in both Pittsburgh and Denver. He is extremely well respected (minus that sideline incident in Tennessee). That was an idiotic move, in my opinion, especially since he wanted to return. What a wasted move.
STUKES!!!!
Got it Lars
The Broncos need to seriously re-vamp their conditioning department. Facility, R&D, staff, whatever.
Sporting goods guy at the local Walmart probably has a good chance to be VP of jock sniffing.
The Nuggets and Avalanche provide a satisfactory distraction while this mess is being cleaned up.
None of these firings are going to matter when you’re stuck with a terrible, past his prime QB for the next 4-5 years.
But yeah let’s blame the ST coach.
The guy who needs to go is GM Paton. The contracts and coaches he has brought on have been a disaster.