Broncos hire offensive coordinator with more Packers ties
The Denver Broncos have hired Green Bay Packers tight ends coach Justin Outten as their new offensive coordinator, per multiple reports.
In case the Denver Broncos needed any more Green Bay Packers ties…
The team has reportedly hired Green Bay Packers tight ends coach Justin Outten to be the new offensive coordinator, a role he will mostly hold in title.
What do I mean by that? Well, head coach Nathaniel Hackett confirmed at his introductory press conference that he will be the one calling plays, making him the de facto “offensive coordinator”.
However, Hackett also confirmed that there will be a very collaborative approach to things, so Outten isn’t going to just be there as a figurehead.
More Packers ties for Denver Broncos new OC Justin Outten
Outten has been working for the Packers for the last three years now as the team’s tight ends coach. Prior to joining the Packers’ staff, he worked as an assistant with the Atlanta Falcons from 2016-18, so he’s spent quite a bit of time with current Packers head coach Matt LaFleur, who was with the Falcons under Kyle Shanahan in 2015-16.
Interestingly enough, most of Outten’s background is with the offensive line and he was once a center for Syracuse back in the day.
It’s clear at this point that Outten was not necessarily the “top” target at offensive coordinator for the Denver Broncos and new head coach Nathaniel Hackett. He was certainly on Hackett’s shortlist of candidates, but the Broncos seemingly wanted to bring in Packers offensive line coach/run game coordinator Adam Stenavich for this particular role, but the Packers blocked it and promoted him themselves.
Still, Outten brings over some continuity and an understanding of the scheme that Hackett will be installing. That is, of course, of paramount importance.
At this point, it’s impossible to know who the Denver Broncos will be bringing in as the team’s next quarterback. It certainly can’t hurt to have someone who was around Aaron Rodgers if Rodgers is the ultimate Plan A for George Paton and company.
Even if they don’t bring in Rodgers, it’s imperative that the Broncos have an offensive staff that is all on the same page and can work with any type of quarterback, whether they are a superstar or rookie coming in.
Hopefully, we will all get the chance to hear from Justin Outten at some point in the near future to hear him talk about his role with the Broncos, his offensive philosophy, and what kind of impact he will be making on the franchise.
Additionally, the Broncos hired Klint Kubiak as their quarterbacks coach and passing game coordinator, so Hackett is building a staff that will really resemble a lot of the others being constructed by the “QB collective” (Shanahan, McVay, LaFleur) elsewhere in the league.
Hackett noted that he wanted to work for Matt LaFleur so he could learn and be immersed in the offense that has been taking the league by storm, and bringing guys like Outten and Kubiak to Denver is indicative that we’ll see the Denver Broncos with a similar offensive philosophy and collaboration going forward.