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5 best seasons for first-year head coaches in Broncos history

By Travis Wakeman

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - SEPTEMBER 5: Head Coach Wade Phillips of the Denver Broncos looks on during pregame warmups prior to the start of NFL football game against the New York Jets September 5, 1993 at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Phillips was the head coach of the Broncos from 1993-94. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - SEPTEMBER 5: Head Coach Wade Phillips of the Denver Broncos looks on during pregame warmups prior to the start of NFL football game against the New York Jets September 5, 1993 at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Phillips was the head coach of the Broncos from 1993-94. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /
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Jan 17, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Broncos defensive coordinator Wade Phillips against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the AFC Divisional round playoff game at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /

4. Wade Phillips, 1993

Reeves would coach the Broncos for 12 seasons, taking the team to three Super Bowls. But things began to fall apart in 1992, starting with the choice of selecting quarterback Tommy Maddox in the first round of the draft.

That seemed to drive a final wedge between Reeves and John Elway and after an 8-8 season, Reeves was fired. He was replaced by Wade Phillips, who had served as Reeves’ defensive coordinator from 1989 to 1992.

Phillips would last just two seasons as the team’s head coach but he was able to guide the Broncos to the playoffs in 1993 following a 9-7 record. He just had a problem with the Raiders.

The Broncos lost both games to their hated division rivals in the regular season with each of those games being decided by a field goal. The season finale between the two teams went to overtime.

One week later, the Broncos and Raiders met again in the Wild Card round and a shootout ensued in the first half but Denver was unable to keep up with them in the second half. The Raiders won the game 42-24, beating Phillips and the Broncos three times that season.

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