Broncos enlist ex-offensive coordinator with a Super Bowl victory under their belt.
Following prior indications of the move, the Denver Broncos have officially announced the hiring of Pete Carmichael as a senior offensive assistant. Additionally, they’ve confirmed Jim Leonhard’s appointment as the defensive backs coach, with an added responsibility of serving as the defensive pass game coordinator.
Leonhard brings substantial expertise akin to a defensive coordinator, stepping in for the highly regarded young coach Christian Parker, who recently joined Philadelphia under Vic Fangio’s leadership. Having previously played for the Broncos in 2012, Leonhard brings valuable experience to the table.
With Carmichael’s official hiring, head coach Sean Payton continues to solidify his coaching staff with familiar faces. Carmichael’s 15-year tenure with Payton in New Orleans yielded significant achievements for the duo.
Collaborating with Payton, first as QBs coach and then as offensive coordinator, the New Orleans Saints exhibited prolific performance. Throughout Carmichael’s tenure, the Saints led the NFL in various metrics such as points per game, touchdowns per game, yards per game, third-down percentage, and total first downs, highlighting their remarkable offensive prowess.
During this period, Carmichael’s influence contributed to the Saints’ offensive excellence, with high rankings in passing yards per game, completions, completion percentage, passing touchdowns, and interceptions.
While it’s true that Carmichael and Payton benefited from having Drew Brees as their quarterback, the potential acquisition of Russell Wilson by the Broncos could align them with a quarterback destined for similar greatness.
Carmichael’s past collaboration with Brees, which led to numerous passing records and accolades, underscores his ability to maximize quarterback talent. Should the Broncos opt for a new quarterback, Carmichael’s experience working alongside Payton could facilitate a smoother transition for the new signal-caller, particularly if they draft a quarterback, as speculated.
Although Joe Lombardi is expected to remain as the offensive coordinator, Carmichael will effectively serve as the conduit to Payton, similar to Mike Westhoff’s role as assistant head coach and his involvement in special teams. This setup allows Payton to maintain continuity while leveraging Carmichael’s expertise in guiding the offense.
