The Broncos are surpassing expectations as they’ve rattled off three straight wins to match the Chargers’ 8-5 record to draw even with them in the AFC West. While the players are taking care of business, their success is in no small part due to the coaching staff put together in Sean Payton‘s second head coaching tenure, as well. That fact hasn’t gone unnoticed in league circles. 
According to Mike Klis of 9NEWS, the team’s winning ways could result in a good amount of turnover on the coaching staff. Klis points out that the team hasn’t had a coordinator hired away for a head coaching job since former defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio left to coach the Raiders in 2015. Similarly, no one has left the front office for greener pastures since 2005, when then-director of pro personnel Rick Smith left to become the Texans general manager.
This year, Klis has identified a few staffers who could get offered bigger jobs. First, he notes that defensive coordinator (and former head coach) Vance Joseph‘s work has been impressive enough to perhaps earn him a second look at a head coaching gig. While the loss would sting the Broncos, Denver could possibly benefit from the compensatory picks they would receive for letting go of a minority coordinator.
Davis Webb has only been coaching for two years, barely removed from the end of his playing career, but he has been impressive as a quarterbacks coach helping Payton coach Russell Wilson through a bounce back season last year and rookie quarterback Bo Nix to an 8-5 record and potential Offensive Rookie of the Year consideration. Webb’s success could lead to some extremely early coordinator looks for the 29-year-old.
Another former player turned coach, defensive back coach and pass game coordinator Jim Leonhard could certainly be getting some defensive coordinator looks. Following the end of his playing career as a crafty safety, Leonhard went back to his alma mater to coach defensive backs at Wisconsin. After only a year coaching the position, he was promoted to defensive coordinator and seemed destined for the head coaching job after Paul Chryst was fired. He was passed over for the gig and, after a year as an analyst at Illinois, rejoined the ranks of the NFL with the Broncos. It’s only been a year, but Leonhard could be a popular name when jobs open up.
Lastly, Klis gives credit to assistant general manager Darren Mougey. Hired as a scouting intern 12 years ago, Mougey has quietly climbed the ranks in the personnel department, working alongside former general manager John Elway and current general manager George Patton. His impact and longevity over the years could put him in a prime position once interviews start for open general manager jobs.
I think Goodell and the owners need to consider putting some restrictions on “poaching” from teams that are involved in a rebuild. These teams need some stability and continuity if they are going to continue to improve.
I don’t exactly expect them to do that, but on the viewers’ end, it would help for a more stable experience watching the team. They sort do it already, with teams being to block interviews for jobs that aren’t promotions. Joseph has done a fantastic job leading a defense with only one star player to being one of, if not arguably the, best in the league. I don’t know how much Leonhard contributes directly to that, but he’s definitely earned some consideration given how high his profile has been and his current success.
Webb, to me, needs more time. He’s well thought of, but one year with a rookie coaching under one of the all time offensive minds begs for a longer evaluation to see long term results.
Klis is just making noise, as usual. None of these guys will depart in 2025. Vance had a really poor defense last year, after getting canned by Arizona for fielding poor defenses every year. Webb is coaching possibly the most experienced rookie QB of all-time. Never even heard of Mougey before, but Patton has been on somewhat of a hot seat for 2-3 years. Leonard has only been in the NFL coaching ranks for 1 year, nobody in the right mind is handing him a DC job this quickly.
I agree about Klis, who’s one of the worst reporters that I’ve personally read, but I could see interest in Joseph or possibly Leonhard. Teams had interest in them before; they could see this as validation. Teams don’t seem to care about longevity-even three years in one spot really isn’t that much experience, but organizations want to hire guys as coaches after only one. I could see one year of great defense (I’d say a year and a half, basically everything after that disastrous Dolphins game) reestablishing interest in a candidate.
That said, Klis still is awful. This report, like all of his others is based entirely on his own speculation.
It’s probably time to mandate coaches serving out their signed contracts, with a limit for maximum years for which teams can sign anyone below head coach. That way the cycles would at least be predictable, whether three or four year. It would improve the product on the field.