Former Super Bowl-winning offensive coordinator hired by the Broncos
The Denver Broncos formally announced that Pete Carmichael has been hired as a senior offensive assistant, following two earlier reports that hinted at the hiring. The group also announced that Jim Leonhard has been brought on as the defensive pass game coordinator in addition to his role as defensive backs coach.
Leonhard replaces coveted young coach Christian Parker, who recently defected to Philadelphia to join Vic Fangio, with the skills and knowledge of a defensive coordinator, bringing a wealth of experience to the Broncos. Leonhard, a former safety for the Broncos (2012), has far more experience.
In an attempt to reunite the team, head coach Sean Payton adds one more piece after the official hiring of Carmichael. In their fifteen years together in New Orleans, Carmichael and Payton accomplished a great deal.
What are the Broncos’ next moves? Keep up with all the news and analysis! Simply enter your email address to receive daily updates on breaking Broncos news by subscribing to our free newsletter!
The New Orleans Saints were successful when they collaborated with Payton, first as offensive coordinator and later as quarterbacks coach. Throughout Carmichael’s coaching career, the Saints led the NFL in points scored per game (27.1), touchdowns scored (3.2), yards per game (385.3), third-down conversion rate (44.4), and total first downs (5,369) attained. Try to visualize that.
Aside from ranking close to 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), Carmichael was a part of an offensive team in New Orleans during that time.
Now that I can hear it. “But Carmichael and Payton had Drew Brees,” you’re saying. Absolutely accurate. Having a future Hall of Fame quarterback under center helped the coaching tandem immensely, and the Broncos don’t have that intelligent quarterback at the moment.
But many believe Russell Wilson is destined for the Hall of Fame, should the Broncos be able to work things out with him. While he may not possess Brees’ level of skill as a pocket quarterback and pure passer, Carmichael’s arrival will undoubtedly aid Payton in assembling an offense more akin to the one that ruled the league in New Orleans for more than ten years.
Brees and Carmichael worked closely together. Payton and Carmichael worked together to assist Brees in setting league records for passing yardage or tying for the title seven times.
Brees set an all-time record for the Saints with 491 touchdowns over 15 seasons. He also led the league in completion percentage four times. His Hall of Fame career boasts two AP Offensive Player of the Year awards, thirteen Pro Bowl selections, and five All-Pro selections (one on the first team).
Carmichael’s glove-to-glove experience working with Payton for all those years should theoretically help that next signal-caller assimilate the scheme faster and hit the ground running if the Broncos part ways with Wilson and return to the QB well in the NFL draft. With the No. 12 overall pick in this year’s draft, the Broncos are anticipated to select a quarterback.
Similar to Mike Westhoff’s role as assistant head coach and his special teams work with coordinator Ben Kotwica, Carmichael will serve as Payton’s de facto leader and conduit, even though it appears that Joe Lombardi will continue to hold the title of offensive coordinator. Rather than having Lombardi take on a new role, Payton will get to eat and enjoy his cake.
