Mile High Report
The Broncos finally have continuity and stability at their two biggest leadership positions.
This is set to be a big year for both Bo Nix and the Denver Broncos. Not just because Nix finished top three in Rookie of the Year voting and the Broncos made the playoffs for the first time in eight years.
But also, because this will be the first time in over a decade that Denver has returned both their starting quarterback and head coach from the previous season.
It’s a stat that almost must be seen to believe.
Ever since John Fox and Peyton Manning returned in the 2014 season, the Broncos have been onboarding either a new head coach or a new quarterback (sometimes both) heading into the season.
It’s not a coincidence that Denver’s record and performance has been as rocky and sputtered along under .500 for most of that stretch.
Just listen to how Bo Nix and Sean Payton talk about coming back into the same situation and how valuable continuity is – something Bo hasn’t had in his career since high school.
“Honestly, it felt weird because it hasn’t been since high school. I’m just used to learning different things, so it’s good not to have to learn an entire new system this year and have the same play caller and have the same quarterback coach. [Also], the same guys you’re throwing it to. The same center and the same line. Being the same, it’s going to be — it’s hard to even explain. You’re going to see it in ways that you can’t even understand. It’s just a natural thing to go out there and just pick up right where you left off and not have to restart.”
Sean Payton has noticed as well, saying that Bo looks just that much more comfortable today than this time last year, and it shows with how he operates in the huddle and with teammates.
So, we know continuity is something Payton and Nix recognize and value, but just how valuable is it historically in the NFL?
Since 2000, there have only been two teams who haven’t had a returning head coach and still won the Super Bowl, the 2002 Buccaneers with Jon Gruden and 2015 Denver Broncos with Gary Kubiak. Aside from a few dark horse examples like Trent Dilfer, Brad Johnson and Nick Foles, or stars switching teams like Brady and Stafford, the Super Bowl winning quarterbacks of the last 25 years have been established starters paired with their head coach for multiple seasons: Belichick & Brady, Dungy & P. Manning, Payton & Brees, Coughlin & E. Manning, McCarthy & Rodgers, Harbaugh & Flacco, Carroll & Wilson, Reid & Mahomes, and recently Sirianni & Hurts.
Having head coach/quarterback obviously doesn’t guarantee success as an organization,...
