The Denver Broncos fired offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi on Tuesday, Jan 27, 2026, two days after a 10-7 loss to the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship Game. Head coach Sean Payton also confirmed that wide receivers coach Keary Colbert and cornerbacks coach Addison Lynch were let go. The decision follows a second-half offensive collapse in which the Broncos managed just 32 yards and one first down after halftime. Payton framed the moves as part of an effort to address an offense he said “didn’t do enough” to reach the Super Bowl.
Key takeaways
- The Broncos dismissed OC Joe Lombardi on Jan 27, 2026, plus position coaches Keary Colbert and Addison Lynch.
- Denver gained 32 yards in the second half of the AFC Championship Game and had only one first down after halftime.
- The Broncos lost 10-7 to the New England Patriots in the AFC title game, with no possession in the third or fourth quarter longer than 17 yards.
- Denver’s defense ranked first in sacks and red-zone defense, and allowed 4.46 yards per play, the NFL best in the regular season.
- The offense finished the regular season 14th in scoring (23.6 PPG), 10th in offensive EPA, and 12th in QBR, but 29th in three-and-outs (25% of drives).
- J.K. Dobbins suffered a season-ending foot injury on Nov 6 but still led the team in rushing by 232 yards and had 21 runs of 10+ yards.
- Internal OC candidates include Zach Strief and quarterbacks coach Davis Webb; Payton has said he will continue as the game-day playcaller.
Background
The Broncos hired Sean Payton as head coach in 2023 and brought Joe Lombardi on as offensive coordinator; Lombardi had worked with Payton for about 12 years across two New Orleans Saints stints. Payton has retained playcalling duties since arriving in Denver, positioning the OC as a planning partner and in-game communications support rather than the primary playcaller. Over the 2025 regular season Denver built its identity around a dominant defense, leading several categories that carried the team through tight games. The Broncos won 11 regular-season one-score contests, the most in NFL history, and added a divisional-round overtime win over the Buffalo Bills to reach the AFC title game.
Offensive inconsistency, however, was an ongoing theme. The unit ranked midpack in key metrics but posted a high rate of three-and-outs and struggled to sustain extended drives at times. Injuries also affected the run game: J.K. Dobbins suffered a season-ending foot injury on Nov 6 versus the Raiders, yet still finished as the club’s leading rusher. Internally, coaches and front-office staff have debated scheme, personnel usage and in-game decisions during a season that ultimately fell short of a Super Bowl berth.
Main event
The coaching staff changes were announced on Tuesday following a snowy AFC Championship Game in which the Broncos’ offense collapsed after halftime. With Bo Nix unavailable due to injury, backup Jarrett Stidham started and Denver produced only 32 yards in the second half, a stretch that included one first down and no possession longer than 17 yards. The Broncos managed only a potential field goal attempt late that was blocked, leaving the team short of the tying points.
Payton issued a prepared statement thanking the dismissed coaches for their contributions and acknowledged his long working relationship with Lombardi, who had been on Payton’s staff in New Orleans and in Denver since 2023. Payton told reporters he would begin by examining his own decisions, and singled out the offense’s first-half inefficiencies and field position as key issues. He also flagged the running game as an area requiring urgent offseason study and said he has already met with run game coordinator and offensive line coach Zach Strief.
Internally the Broncos are weighing several internal names for the OC role. Strief, promoted to assistant head coach last offseason, and quarterbacks coach Davis Webb are often discussed within the organization, along with senior offensive assistant Pete Carmichael, who has prior OC experience with the Saints. Because Payton remains the playcaller on game day, the incoming OC role is framed as a high-profile planning and communication position but not the primary playcaller, which affects candidate fit and long-term retention considerations.
Analysis & implications
The move to fire Lombardi reflects an attempt to shift accountability and reset a key part of the staff after a game in which the offense stalled at the worst possible moment. While Lombardi held the OC title, the playcaller remained Payton, which complicates attribution for schematic and play-call outcomes. That shared responsibility may mean the change is designed as much to alter the weekly planning process and run-game schematic as it is to change in-game play calling.
Denver’s elite defense masked offensive shortfalls through a season of narrow victories, but postseason football often magnifies a unit’s weaknesses. The second-half performance in the AFC title game — 32 yards and one first down after halftime — underscored a lack of sustainable drives and red zone scoring chances. With a defense that can keep games close, building a more reliable ground attack and fewer three-and-outs will be central to postseason viability going forward.
Personnel and schematic decisions in the offseason will be critical. The loss of Dobbins for the year exposed depth issues, and despite his absence he led the team in rushing, highlighting how the running game underperformed after his injury. If Denver pursues internal continuity by promoting Strief or Webb, continuity could preserve certain philosophies while changing personnel and execution; an external hire could signal a broader philosophical shift. Payton’s continued control of playcalling, however, suggests any OC hire will need to work closely inside an established voice in-game, which limits radical departures on gameday operation.
Comparison & data
| Metric | Broncos regular season rank/value |
|---|---|
| Sacks (team) | No. 1 |
| Red-zone defense | No. 1 |
| Third-down defense | No. 2 |
| Scoring defense | No. 3 |
| Yards per play allowed | 4.46 (No. 1) |
| Points per game (offense) | 23.6 (No. 14) |
| Offensive EPA | No. 10 |
| QBR (team) | No. 12 |
| Three-and-outs | 25% of drives (No. 29) |
The table shows a stark contrast between Denver’s defensive dominance and a middling offense that nonetheless produced many narrow wins. The defense’s league-leading metrics helped the Broncos survive close games, but offensive efficiency measures and drive-sustainability statistics point to structural issues. Translating regular-season defensive advantages into postseason success will require an offense that can sustain longer drives and convert more red-zone opportunities.
Reactions & quotes
Broncos head coach Sean Payton provided the team statement and spoke to reporters about accountability and next steps before staff changes were announced.
I want to thank these coaches for playing an important role in elevating our program over the last three seasons.
Sean Payton, Denver Broncos (prepared statement)
Payton also addressed the team’s shortcomings and his approach to moving forward.
I think the big thing, that first half, momentum and field position didn’t yield what it needed to yield, we needed more than that. It’ll start there.
Sean Payton, postgame comments
League observers and analysts noted that firing an OC who does not call plays often signals a desire to change weekly preparation and staff dynamics as much as game-day playcalling.
Changing an OC in a system where the head coach calls plays typically reflects a desire to alter day-to-day planning and execution rather than in-game play-calling.
League analyst (paraphrase)
Unconfirmed
- Whether Davis Webb will remain with the Broncos long term if he does not secure a head coaching job elsewhere remains unconfirmed.
- There is no official confirmation that Zach Strief will be promoted to offensive coordinator; discussions are internal at this stage.
- It is unconfirmed if Payton will ever cede playcalling duties in future seasons.
Bottom line
The Broncos’ dismissal of Joe Lombardi and two position coaches is a clear attempt to address offensive shortcomings exposed in a 10-7 AFC Championship loss to the Patriots. While the defense gave Denver a path to the title game, the offense’s inability to sustain drives and convert critical opportunities led to staff accountability moves. Because Payton continues to call plays, the next OC will likely be chosen for weekly planning acumen and alignment with Payton’s vision rather than as an immediate change to in-game play calling.
Offseason decisions on run-game structure, personnel additions and the OC hire will determine whether Denver can convert defensive strength into deeper postseason runs. The Broncos enter a period of targeted changes with the expressed aim of improving drive sustainability and red-zone offense ahead of the 2026 season.
Sources
- ESPN — sports media report