Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton announced 15 additions to his coaching staff on Saturday — eight with ties to his tenure in New Orleans, including offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi.
Lombardi was fired after two seasons as the Los Angeles Chargers’ offensive coordinator.
Lombardi spent 12 seasons with the Saints as an offensive assistant (2007-08) and quarterbacks coach (2009-13; 2016-2020). He also was the OC for the Detroit Lions in 2014-15.
Vance Joseph, as previously reported, returns to Denver as defensive coordinator after serving as the Broncos’ head coach from 2017-18. He spent the next four seasons as the Arizona Cardinals’ DC.
Payton reached back to his time as the Saints’ head coach (15 active seasons 2006-2021) to relationships formed with seven former New Orleans staffers and one player, Chris Banjo.
A 10-year NFL defensive back, Banjo played in New Orleans from 2016-18. He appeared in 13 games as a safety last season for Arizona. Banjo begins his coaching career as Denver’s assistant special teams coach.
In addition to Lombardi and Banjo, those with ties to Payton in New Orleans are assistant head coach Mike Westhoff, tight ends coach Declan Doyle, pass game coordinator John Morton, offensive line coach Zach Strief, outside linebackers coach Michael Wilhoite and head strength and conditioning coach Dan Dalrymple.
Dalrymple joined Payton’s initial Saints staff in 2006 and spent 16 seasons there through 2021.
Denver also announced the hirings of special teams coordinator Ben Kotwica, wide receivers coach Keary Colbert, inside linebackers coach Greg Manusky and Paul Kelly as assistant to the head coach.
Payton has retained Marcus Dixon as defensive line coach and Christian Parker as defensive backs coach. Korey Jones remains the assistant strength and conditioning coach.
–Field Level Media
