ENGLEWOOD, Colo — The Broncos and Denver connection with the San Francisco 49ers includes Kyle Shanahan, John Lynch and Christian McCaffrey.
The Kansas City Chiefs have a connection with Taylor Swift by way of their fine football connection between Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce.
While the migration west of former Saints’ coaches and players began a year ago, it has been highlighted again with the recent Broncos’ hires of former New Orleans’ offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael Jr. and college scout Cody Rager. To date, those are the only significant offseason moves the Broncos have made since playing their final game Jan. 7 at Las Vegas – where the 49ers and Chiefs will meet next week in Super Bowl LVIII (58).
In all the Broncos have 19 of Payton’s former coaches, players and personnel executives from his days with the New Orleans Saints.
Coaches (11)
- Pete Carmichael Jr., senior offensive assistant
- Joe Lombardi, offensive coordinator
- Zach Strief, offensive line
- Declan Doyle, tight ends
- Dan Dalrymple, strength & conditioning
- Joe Vitt, senior defensive assistant
- Michael Wilhoite, outside linebackers
- John Morton, passing game coordinator
- Logan Kilgore, offensive quality control (Saints’ training camp player in 2014)
- Mike Westhoff, special teams, assistant head coach
- Chris Banjo, special teams assistant (Saints player 2016-18)
Personnel (2)
- Beau Lowery, Vice President of player health & performance
- Cody Rager, Vice President of player personnel
Players (6)
- Michael Burton, fullback*
- Lil’Jordan Humphrey, receiver*
- Wil Lutz, kicker*
- Chris Manhertz, tight end
- Adam Trautman, tight end*
- Dwayne Washington, special teams*
*Eligible to become unrestricted free agents on March 13.
Note: Broncos’ tight end Lucas Krull and practice squad defensive lineman Jordan Jackson were 2022 rookies with the Saints, but Payton was not coaching that season.
No, Broncos’ owner Greg Penner is not considering replicating the Superdome as he contemplates whether to build the team a new stadium. But the Superdome will be a homecoming for many when the Broncos’ play the Saints in New Orleans in the 2024 regular season.
Given how the bulk of former Saints players may soon become former Broncos because of free agency, the Denver Saints term is pretty much restricted to Payton’s coaching staff. And it’s hardly unusual for a head coach to surround himself with former assistants he trusts.
Look at the 49ers’ Kyle Shanahan. He grew up in Denver as his dad Mike Shanahan was a Broncos’ offensive assistant and head coach for 21 years. Besides hiring former Broncos’ safety John Lynch as the 49ers’ general manager, Kyle’s coaching staff includes Klay and Klint Kubiak – sons of longtime Broncos’ coach Gary Kubiak -- former Denver quarterback Brian Griese, former Broncos’ running backs coach Bobby Turner and former Broncos’ running back Anthony Lynn.
San Francisco star running back Christian McCaffrey is a son of former Broncos’ star receiver Ed McCaffrey, who played for Mike Shanahan and Gary Kubiak in 1994 with San Francisco and from 1995-2003 with the Broncos.
Borrowing from a former team is commonplace in the NFL. Broncos’ general manager George Paton brought two of his former Vikings’ front-office executives, Kelly Kleine Van Calligan and Reed Burckhardt, to Denver. Chiefs’ head coach Andy Reid brought his former Philadelphia Eagles’ strength coaches, statistical analyst and many of his position coaches to Kansas City.
If it worked for this year’s two Super Bowl coaches, it can work for Payton in Denver. Now about that Broncos’ quarterback.
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