The 2022 season was the Denver Broncos' 53rd in the National Football League (NFL), their 63rd overall, their second under the leadership of general manager George Paton, and their first and only season under head coach Nathaniel Hackett. This was also their first season under the ownership of the Walton-Penner Family Group, replacing the Pat Bowlen Trust that had existed following the death of longtime owner Pat Bowlen in 2019. The group was headed by former Walmart chairman S. Robson Walton and his son-in-law, current Walmart chairman Greg Penner, with Penner becoming CEO and operating head of the franchise.
Despite a 2–1 start, the Broncos failed to improve on their 7–10 record from 2021 or make the playoffs for the first time since 2015, as they made a blockbuster trade to land former Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson. The team's defense ranked near the top in several categories; however, injuries, poor offensive performances and numerous penalties plagued the team, ranking at or near the bottom of the league in several offensive categories, including last in scoring. The Broncos did not score 30 or more points until their final game of the season. The Broncos suffered their sixth consecutive losing season and missed the playoffs for the seventh straight season. Following a 51–14 loss at the Los Angeles Rams on Christmas Day, Hackett was fired on December 26, two weeks before the end of the season, after a 4–11 start. This was the second time the Broncos fired a head coach in the calendar year of 2022.
The Broncos finished their disastrous season with a 5–12 record, tying a franchise record for losses in a season, with a 4–12 record that was previously set in 2010. The Broncos also finished the season with 22 players on injured reserve, the second most in the league. Several analysts and observers argued that Hackett's coaching was a major reason for Wilson's decline and Denver's woeful underachieving in 2022.
Coaching changes Off-season On January 9, one day after the Broncos' 2021 regular season finale, head coach Vic Fangio was fired after compiling a record in three seasons and two consecutive last-place finishes. On January 27, the Broncos finalized a deal for Nathaniel Hackett to become the 18th head coach in the franchise's history, replacing Fangio. This was Hackett's first head coaching job, after previously serving as the Buffalo Bills' offensive coordinator from 2013 to 2014, the Jacksonville Jaguars' quarterbacks coach/offensive coordinator from 2015 to 2018 and the Green Bay Packers' offensive coordinator from 2019 to 2021. Hackett became the Broncos' sixth different head coach since 2008.
In the month after Hackett's hiring, the Broncos underwent the following coaching changes:
2022 Denver Broncos coaching staff changes Position Previous coach 2022 replacement Source Offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur, 2020–2021 Justin Outten Offensive line coach Mike Munchak, 2019–2021 Butch Barry Passing game coordinator/quarterbacks coach Mike Shula, 2019–2021 Klint Kubiak Assistant offensive line coach Chris Kuper, 2019–2021 Ben Steele Assistant special teams coach Chris Gould, 2017–2021 Mike Mallory Linebackers coach Reggie Herring, 2015–2021 Peter Hansen Outside linebackers coach John Pagano, 2020–2021 Bert Watts Offensive quality control coach Chris Cook, 2021Justin Rascati, 2019–2021 Ramon Chinyoung Senior defensive assistant None Dom Capers Tight ends coach Wade Harman, 2019–2021 Jake Moreland Assistant defensive backs coach None Ola Adams Running backs coach Curtis Modkins, 2018–2021 Tyrone Wheatley Defensive coordinator Ed Donatell, 2019–2021 Ejiro Evero Defensive line coach Bill Kollar, 2015–2021 Marcus Dixon Special teams coach Tom McMahon, 2018–2021 Dwayne Stukes Defensive quality control coach Nathaniel Willingham, 2019–2021 Andrew Carter Note: Bill Kollar remained on the Broncos' coaching staff as a defensive consultant.
In-season On December 26, one day after an embarrassing 51–14 loss to the Los Angeles Rams, and as a result of the team's offensive struggles, head coach Nathaniel Hackett was fired after a 4–11 start. Jerry Rosburg, who was hired in Week 3 to assist Hackett following a series of game management errors in the team's first two games, was named the team's interim coach for the last two games of the season. Rosburg served as the Baltimore Ravens' special teams coach from 2008–2018. Hackett became the fifth head coach in NFL history to not last a full season, and his tenure was the shortest for a non-interim coach in franchise history. That same day, offensive line coach Butch Barry and special teams coach Dwayne Stukes, both in their first season with the Broncos, were also fired.
Front office changes On February 3, Darren Mougey, who served as the Broncos' Director of Player Personnel in 2021, was promoted to assistant general manager. Mougey previously served as a Broncos' scouting assistant from 2012 to 2020.
Roster changes Future contracts All players listed below were signed to reserve/future contracts from January 10–12, unless noted otherwise. Each player was officially added to the active roster on March 16—the first day of the 2022 league year. Position Player Notes TE Shaun Beyer waived May 13 RB Damarea Crockett placed on injured reserve August 2 WR Travis Fulgham waived August 16 OT Drew Himmelman waived May 13 G Zack Johnson waived May 13, re-signed May 16, waived August 30 DE Jonathan Kongbo waived August 30, assigned to the practice squad on August 31,promoted to the active roster on October 6, waived October 11,promoted to the active roster on December 31 DE Marquiss Spencer designated as waived/injured on August 22 OT Casey Tucker signed January 20, designated as waived/injured on August 23 LB Barrington Wade designated as waived/injured on August 25
Free agents Unrestricted Position Player 2022 team Notes QB Teddy Bridgewater Miami Dolphins signed with the Dolphins on March 14 CB Bryce Callahan Los Angeles Chargers signed with the Chargers on May 4 OT Cameron Fleming Denver Broncos signed July 27 CB Mike Ford Atlanta Falcons signed with the Falcons on April 8 CB Kyle Fuller Baltimore Ravens signed with the Ravens on May 24 RB Melvin Gordon Denver Broncos re-signed April 27, waived November 21 CB Nate Hairston Minnesota Vikings signed with the Vikings on March 28 NT Justin Hamilton Washington Commanders originally an , signed with the Commanders on June 14 S Kareem Jackson Denver Broncos re-signed April 11 LB Josey Jewell Denver Broncos re-signed March 15 LB A. J. Johnson None C Brett Jones None LB Micah Kiser Las Vegas Raiders signed with the Raiders on March 21 OT Bobby Massie None LB Natrez Patrick Detroit Lions originally an , signed with the Lions on May 16 TE Eric Saubert Denver Broncos re-signed May 4 G Austin Schlottmann Minnesota Vikings originally an , signed with the Vikings on March 16 WR Diontae Spencer None originally an DE Shamar Stephen None LB Stephen Weatherly Cleveland Browns signed with the Browns on April 18 NT DeShawn Williams Denver Broncos originally an , re-signed March 18 LB Kenny Young Las Vegas Raiders signed with the Raiders on May 9 Note: Unrestricted free agents who were originally Restricted free agents (RFA) had three accrued seasons whose contracts expired at the end of the previous season, and did not receive a qualifying offer before the start of the 2022 league year on March 16.
Restricted and exclusive-rights Position Player Tag 2022 team Notes OT Calvin Anderson RFA Denver Broncos re-signed March 13 TE Andrew Beck RFA Denver Broncos re-signed March 13 LB Jonas Griffith ERFA Denver Broncos assigned tender on March 13, placed on injured reserve November 18 RB Adrian Killins ERFA None S P. J. Locke ERFA Denver Broncos assigned tender on March 13, re-signed April 11 LB Malik Reed RFA Pittsburgh Steelers assigned tender on March 17, re-signed April 11,traded to the Steelers on August 30 QB Brett Rypien ERFA Denver Broncos assigned tender on March 13, re-signed April 11
Signings Position Player 2021 team(s) Notes LB Dakota Allen Jacksonville Jaguars signed November 22, placed on injured reserve December 19 CB Blessuan Austin Denver BroncosSeattle Seahawks signed April 27, waived August 29 RB Tyler Badie None signed off the Baltimore Ravens' practice squad on December 29 CB Essang Bassey Denver BroncosLos Angeles Chargers claimed off waivers from the Chargers on February 14, waived September 1,promoted to the active roster on September 14 G Ben Braden Green Bay Packers signed March 14, released August 15 OT Tom Compton San Francisco 49ers signed March 17, placed on the physically unable to perform list August 23,activated from the physically unable to perform list November 15,placed on injured reserve December 22 LS Mitchell Fraboni None signed October 24, placed on injured reserve November 17 DE Elijah Garcia None signed off the Los Angeles Rams' practice squad on December 7 DE Randy Gregory Dallas Cowboys signed March 18, placed on injured reserve October 4,activated from injured reserve on December 17,placed on season-ending injured reserve December 31 T Christian DiLauro None promoted from the practice squad on December 19 RB JaQuan Hardy Dallas Cowboys signed August 10, waived August 29 S Anthony Harris Philadelphia Eagles promoted from the practice squad on November 8, waived December 6 DE Jonathan Harris Denver Broncos promoted to the active roster on November 15 CB Lamar Jackson None promoted from the practice squad on December 31 QB Josh Johnson New York JetsBaltimore Ravens signed March 18, released August 30,assigned to the practice squad on August 31 DT D. J. Jones San Francisco 49ers signed March 14 CB Donnie Lewis None signed April 27, designated as waived/injured on August 29 RB Marlon Mack Indianapolis Colts signed October 24, placed on injured reserve January 3 CB Ja'Quan McMillian None promoted from the practice squad on January 3 RB Latavius Murray Baltimore Ravens signed October 4 RB Devine Ozigbo None claimed off waivers from the New Orleans Saints on August 22, waived August 30, assigned to the practice squad on August 31 CB Darius Phillips Cincinnati Bengals signed September 1 WR Trey Quinn None signed April 27, waived August 23 S J. R. Reed Los Angeles RamsNew York Giants signed March 21, waived August 30 LB Joe Schobert Pittsburgh Steelers signed August 15, released August 23 RB Stevie Scott III None signed August 10, waived August 23 WR Darrius Shepherd None signed August 4, waived August 30,assigned to the practice squad on August 31,released from the practice squad on October 11 T Will Sherman None promoted from the practice squad on January 3 LB Alex Singleton Philadelphia Eagles signed March 18 WR Freddie Swain Seattle Seahawks signed December 14 TE Eric Tomlinson Baltimore Ravens signed March 15, released August 30, re-signed August 31 OT Billy Turner Green Bay Packers signed March 24, placed on injured reserve November 15 CB K'Waun Williams San Francisco 49ers signed March 23
Departures Position Player Notes WR Tyrie Cleveland waived November 15 RB Melvin Gordon waived November 21 WR Kendall Hinton released August 30, assigned to the practice squad on August 31,promoted to the active roster on October 10 S Jamar Johnson waived August 16 P Sam Martin released August 29 LB Andre Mintze waived May 16 G Netane Muti waived August 30, assigned to the practice squad on August 31 CB Michael Ojemudia waived December 27 NT Mike Purcell released August 30, re-signed August 31 WR Seth Williams waived August 30
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