Broncos new defensive coordinator candidate won’t win many fans over

Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton is in need of a defensive coordinator, and he has reportedly interviewed a candidate who may not be a popular pick.

The Denver Broncos got the biggest name they could get to e their new head coach in Sean Payton. Even with the expectations much higher heding into the season, Payton still needs to form his coaching staff, with defensive coordinator being the most notable vacancy.

The team already has interviewed some interesting candidates — Vance Joseph, the team’s former head coach from 2017-18, and Rex Ryan, who hasn’t coached since his firing as Buffalo Bills head coach in 2016. If you thought the search couldn’t get any more interesting, a new candidate has entered the competition.

According to NFL Network national insider Ian Rapoport, the Broncos are interviewing former Detroit Lions head coach and last year’s offensive play-caller for the New England Patriots, Matt Patricia. The two sides met in Denver on Wednesday.

Broncos interview Patriots offensive play-caller Matt Patricia for DC opening

An offensive play-caller interviewing for a defensive coordinator opening? Well, that will certainly get people talking. We joke, of course, as Patricia does have defensive coaching experience.

Patricia has dabbled in coaching the offense and defense of the Patriots. Notably, he became the team’s defensive coordinator from the 2012 season until the end of the 2017 campaign. In 2018, Patricia was hired to become the head coach of the Lions. Patricia failed to live up to the standard set by his predecessor Jim Caldwell, going 13-29-1 in his three years as head coach. He was fired midway through the 2020 season.

In 2021, Patricia returned to New England as a senior football advisor. But this past season, when offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels left to become the Las Vegas Raiders head coach, Patricia was named offensive play-caller by Bill Belichick.

New England’s offense took a dip in production in 2022, averaging just 314.6 yards of total offense (26th in NFL) and 21.4 points (16th) per game. Perhaps most notably, quarterback Mac Jones’ numbers cratered as compared to his rookie year, throwing for just 2,997 yards, 14 touchdowns and 11 interceptions in 2022. Patricia was replaced as play-caller by Bill O’Brien, who is returning to New England as their new offensive coordinator.

Fans and the NFL world are waiting to see how Payton forms the Broncos into his image. The offense is expected to take a jump in production, considering Payton’s track record throughout his lengthy coaching career. But who will he hire to be his defensive coordinator? It will be important, considering they have to play quarterbacks like Patrick Mahomes and Justin Herbert twice a year each.

There are three names to keep an eye on for the position, and Patricia is one of them.