Former Pittsburgh Steelers offensive line coach Mike Munchak has officially joined the Denver Broncos’ coaching staff.
The Denver Broncos made the right decision picking Vic Fangio to be their head coach, even though it meant passing up on another very strong candidate in Pittsburgh Steelers offensive line coach Mike Munchak.
Munchak, who has some family ties to Denver, was expected to get the job after the team’s first four head coaching interviews.
Those interviews were before the Chicago Bears’ playoff game and the Broncos’ interview with Fangio, who obviously blew them away.
Even after Fangio’s interview, Munchak was considered one of two finalists for the job in Denver and ultimately he didn’t get it. That didn’t mean the end of the Broncos’ pursuit of him, however.
Munchak has officially signed on with the Broncos, but not as a head coach. Munchak reached an agreement with the Broncos to be their next offensive line coach according to Mike Klis.
Munchak has a reputation for being the best offensive line coach in the NFL today.
According to his Steelers bio, the offensive lines he has coached have allowed the fourth-fewest sacks of any team in the NFL since he joined them in 2014.
He’s coached up a number of Pro Bowl and All-Pro linemen in his career, including David DeCastro, Maurkice Pouncey, and Alejandro Villanueva with the Steelers in 2018 (all Pro Bowl selections).
As a matter of fact, that trio with Pittsburgh was named to the Pro Bowl in consecutive seasons (2018/19).
The offensive line in Denver is certainly going to get a jolt from Munchak’s presence, and this is as impressive of a hire as you will see from a new (first-time) head coach. How did Fangio manage to hire on the guy who was considered his main competition for the head coaching gig to be one of his assistants?
Incredible work by everyone involved.
With Munchak coming in comes news that the Broncos have also been granted permission to interview Rich Scangarello for their offensive coordinator position. Scangarello has been the quarterbacks coach of the 49ers the past two seasons, and the Broncos’ initial request was blocked by San Francisco.
It would be interesting to know why that has suddenly changed.