Jerry Rosburg named Broncos coach after Nathaniel Hackett firing

Nathaniel Hackett’s midseason hire is going to finish the year by replacing his boss.

On Monday, the same day Denver parted ways with Hackett after less than a year on the job, Broncos senior assistant Jerry Rosburg was named the team’s interim head coach, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

The 67-year-old Rosburg, a former special teams coordinator for the Ravens, was hired by Hackett in September to assist with time management issues that hindered the franchise early into Hackett’s tenure. For instance, the first-year head coach opted to kick a 64-yard field goal in a Week 1 matchup against the Seahawks, in lieu of allowing his offense — which boasts the Broncos’ $245 million quarterback, Russell Wilson— to go for a first down.

The Seahawks spoiled Wilson’s return to Seattle with a 17-16 win over the Broncos, with Hackett admitting a short time later he fumbled the call.

“Looking back at it, we definitely should’ve gone for it,” Hackett told reporters after the loss.

“One of those things you look back at it and say of course we should go for it, we missed the field goal. But in that situation we had a plan. We had a plan, we knew the 46 [yard line] was the mark.”

The Broncos, who began the season with sky-high expectations, have continued to spiral and hit a new low on Sunday with an embarrassing 51-14 loss to the Rams.

Although speculation has already begun as to who will fill Hackett’s position permanently, Denver’s defensive coordinator, Ejiro Evero, appears to be a name to watch. In fact, Broncos GM George Paton is said to have told players the team offered the interim coach post to Evero, “who decided with two weeks left it was best for the team if he keeps working with the defense,” per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.

Pelissero added Monday that Evero “will be a candidate for head-coaching jobs — including in Denver.”

The Broncos will face the Chiefs and Chargers in their final games of the season.