Broncos in-house candidates to replace Fangio, others if changes made

Broncos in-house candidates if coaches are getting fired

2. Zach Azzanni (WR coach) replaces Pat Shurmur as offensive coordinator

As far as offensive coordinator replacements go, the Denver Broncos would have a number of options if they decided to move on from Pat Shurmur at some point in the season.

Although they came as sort of a package deal, the Broncos could give play-calling duties to quarterbacks coach Mike Shula, who was an offensive coordinator at three previous stops (New York Giants, Carolina Panthers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers).

However, Shula calling plays would not be my personal first choice.

Curtis Modkins, the Broncos’ running backs coach, has also been an offensive coordinator at multiple NFL stops (Buffalo, San Francisco).

However, as qualified as those two gentlemen would be in this kind of a scenario, my choice would be wide receivers coach Zach Azzanni.

The Broncos apparently didn’t realize what they had in Brandon Staley, who was an outside linebackers coach for Vic Fangio in Chicago and Denver from 2017-19 before getting a defensive coordinator gig with the Los Angeles Rams in 2020 and head coaching gig with the Los Angeles Chargers in 2021.

Staley’s rapid ascent is not exactly normal but you also can’t help but wonder if the Broncos may have another gem on their hands in wide receivers coach Zach Azzanni.

Azzanni was the passing game coordinator for the Florida Gators in 2010 in addition to being their receivers coach. He was offensive coordinator for Western Kentucky in 2011 and became the passing game coordinator for the Tennessee Volunteers in 2015-16.

Azzanni’s prior experience as a passing game coordinator and even one year as an offensive coordinator along with the fact that he’s done a tremendous job the last four seasons with the Broncos’ receivers makes him an intriguing potential option if Shurmur is let go in-season.