The Denver Broncos continue to shape their coaching staff under Nathaniel Hackett, adding another pal of Packers QB Aaron Rodgers.
The Denver Broncos continue to add to their coaching staff under new leader Nathaniel Hackett. Everyone knew upon Hackett’s arrival that the rumors revolving around Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers would do the exact opposite of slow down.
They are just ramping up.
The Denver Broncos don’t appear to be worried about the rumor mill getting out of control, either.
As a matter of fact, if you didn’t know any better, you might think they were actually adding fuel to that fire.
Broncos bring in Ben Steele as an assistant on offense
Per source, Broncos adding Ben Steele, a Colorado product from Palisades and Mesa State, to their offensive staff. A former TE, Steele caught Aaron Rodgers' first professional TD pass in 2005 preseason game. Steele was Vikings asst OL coach in 2021 under OC Klint Kubiak. #9sports
— Mike Klis (@mikeklis) February 8, 2022
Steele has been working in recent years with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Atlanta Falcons. Most recently, he was an assistant offensive line coach with the Minnesota Vikings and their offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak, who was recently hired by the Denver Broncos as quarterbacks coach and passing game coordinator.
You love to see the connection to Kubiak here, but does this hire not seemingly have Aaron Rodgers written all over it?
As Mike Klis pointed out, Steele was the guy who caught the very first touchdown pass of Aaron Rodgers’ NFL career. It was a preseason pass, but still.
Apparently, Rodgers and Steele have remained friends through the years.
This hire is not entirely random outside of an obscure Aaron Rodgers connection, of course. Steele has Colorado ties and he has very recent ties to Klint Kubiak.
Still, it’s Nathaniel Hackett putting together this coaching staff, not necessarily Klint Kubiak. The Broncos could have kept Chris Kuper around as an assistant offensive line coach, at least as far as we know.
Because of the fact that Hackett is the one in charge of hiring the coaching staff, you can’t help but wonder if Aaron Rodgers — who apparently has wanted some input on coaching decisions in the past — is having any input in these moves.
Of course, that’s purely speculation, but the fact that Steele was not on the Green Bay Staff with Hackett last year, or at any point, and only has ties to Klint Kubiak?
That makes you wonder.
Even if it ultimately has nothing to do with Aaron Rodgers, it certainly gives us something fun to talk about.
As of right now, the timeline regarding Aaron Rodgers will end sometime before free agency in mid-March. The franchise tag deadline is March 8.
By that point, we’ll know what’s going on with the Packers and free agent wide receiver Davante Adams, but frankly, I hope we have some clarity with Rodgers’ situation well before March 8, even looking at sometime shortly after the Super Bowl is over.
Last year at this point, we already knew that Matthew Stafford was going to be playing for the Los Angeles Rams. The fact of the matter is, we have about a month’s time before we know what Aaron Rodgers decides about his future, and because so many teams’ futures hang in the balance, it would be shocking if we didn’t know sooner rather than later.
Rodgers understands that his decision impacts not only the Packers but other teams and as Melvin Gordon stated in a recent interview, the Denver Broncos’ locker room thought there was a decent chance Rodgers was coming to the Mile High City last year.
Rodgers is under no obligation to leave the Packers, but he has the ability to force a trade this offseason whereas last year, there was a standoff that the Green Bay Packers simply won.
This year, that option is in Rodgers’ hands. He still made it so the Packers could trade him and get something in return, but his future is in his own hands with a no-trade clause and the whole nine yards.
It’s been a pretty crazy 10 months with all that has transpired since the start of the 2021 NFL Draft and Aaron Rodgers. Plenty has been happening beneath the surface and behind the scenes.
4 Broncos players that could follow Ed Donatell to the Vikings
The Denver Broncos have a new coaching staff in place, and some free agents could follow former coaches to new teams in the 2022 offseason.
Now, we’re probably just a month away from knowing for sure what will happen regarding the MVP and his future.