Could the Denver Broncos and Las Vegas Raiders make a swap?

Denver Broncos former ST coordinator Tom McMahon has interviewed with the Raiders. Could the rival teams make a special teams swap?

As Nathaniel Hackett works to fill his staff as the new head coach of the Denver Broncos, special teams coordinator is one job that is still vacant, though it has been reported that the team is eyeing Rams assistant special teams coordinator Dwayne Stukes for the position. Of course, the Broncos will not be able to interview with Stukes until after the Super Bowl next weekend.

In a shocking turn of events, former Broncos special teams coordinator Tom McMahon is finding himself the object of interest from other teams, interviewing with the Carolina Panthers earlier this month and with the Las Vegas Raiders earlier this week.

Overall, the Denver Broncos were on the lower spectrum of special teams rankings, ending the season sitting at 22nd (per Lineups). However, from a statistical standpoint, the Broncos boasted some of the least impressive statistics when it came to special teams.

Since 2018, the Broncos have allowed six returns for scores on kick returns, a league-high. In 2021, the special teams unit allowed an average of 39.4 yards per return, another league-high (per Broncos Wire).

Aside from the offensive woes of the Denver Broncos in recent years, special teams performance has been another heel of the team, but with the departure of Tom McMahon, should improve significantly.

It is surely surprising to Broncos Country that McMahon is getting interviews after how poorly his unit with the Broncos performed during his tenure. It is especially surprising that a divisional opponent is considering him.

However, it would not be the only Broncos retread on their staff. New Raiders head coach Josh McDaniels worked with McMahon in his brief stint with the St. Louis Rams between his time with the Broncos and his ultimate reunion with the New England Patriots.

Surely, Tom McMahon would be a large downgrade from Raiders special teams coordinator Rich Bisaccia, who served as the interim head coach with Jon Gruden’s departure during the 2021 season, leading the Raiders to a playoff berth.

Players spoke very highly of Bisaccia and many batted for him to be retained as the Raiders head coach. Ultimately that did not happen, and he is not expected to be with the team in 2022.

Though he has not been linked to the Denver Broncos in any way, Bisaccia is currently available, and it would be a huge get for the Broncos if they could bring him in as the next special teams coordinator. If they did decide to interview him, we could see an AFC West special teams swap, if the Raiders did decide to hire Tom McMahon.

With the Broncos not yet requesting an interview with Bisaccia and he now being in talks with the Green Bay Packers, this is unlikely to happen. However, this would have been a phenomenal acquisition for the Denver Broncos–a special teams coordinator who ended the season deserving of Coach of the Year consideration.

Also, for rivalry’s sake, at the very least, it would have served as some comedic relief for the Denver Broncos and Las Vegas Raiders to swap special teams coordinators, one of the league best for one of the worst.