Denver Broncos fire head coach Nathaniel Hackett

The Denver Broncos have fired first-year head coach Nathaniel Hackett, following a dismal loss to the Los Angeles Rams on Christmas Day.

The Broncos were thrashed 51-14 by the reigning Super Bowl champions in Hackett’s final game, leaving with a poor 4-11 record for the 2022 season.

The 42-year-old was hired in January after serving three seasons as the Green Bay Packers‘ offensive coordinator under Matt LaFleur. Coupled with the signing of Russell Wilson in a blockbuster trade from the Seattle Seahawks, Denver was primed to make a huge leap after a unsuccessful few years.

However, it’s been a rough season for the pair and the partnership never got going. At one point this season, the Broncos featured the No. 1 scoring defense and the No. 32 scoring offense. 

The sacking means Hackett becomes the shortest head coaching tenure in the Broncos’ history. An interim head coach hasn’t yet been named, with just two games of the regular season left to play.

Early contenders to replace Hackett include former Saints leader Sean Payton, Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn and Eric Bieniemy , currently the offensive coordinator for the Chiefs.

Under new owners, they will be desperate to get their next appointment right once and for all.