| 2022 Denver Broncos season | |
|---|---|
| Owner | Rob Walton[a] |
| General manager | George Paton |
| Head coach | Nathaniel Hackett (fired on December 26, 4–11 record) Jerry Rosburg (interim; 1–1 record) |
| Home field | Empower Field at Mile High |
| Results | |
| Record | 5–12 |
| Division place | 4th AFC West |
| Playoff finish | Did not qualify |
| Pro Bowlers | CB Patrick Surtain II |
| AP All-Pros | S Justin Simmons (2nd team) CB Patrick Surtain II (1st team) |
| Uniform | |
 | |
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.
Despite a surprising 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. Hackett was fired on December 26, two weeks before the end of the season, after a 4–11 start.[1] This was the second time the Broncos fired a head coach in the calendar year 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.[2][3][4][5]
Cite error: There are <ref group=lower-alpha> tags or {{efn}} templates on this page, but the references will not show without a {{reflist|group=lower-alpha}} template or {{notelist}} template (see the help page).
- ^ Gabriel, Parker (December 26, 2022). "After "embarrassing game," floundering Broncos fire head coach Nathaniel Hackett". The Denver Post. Retrieved December 26, 2022.
- ^ "The Broncos Had to Fire Nathaniel Hackett Because They Can't Fire Russell Wilson".
- ^ "Denver Broncos: Time To Pull The Plug On Disastrous Nathaniel Hackett Hire".
- ^ "Woody Paige: Good riddance to the Nathaniel Hackett error".
- ^ "The Broncos No Longer Have A Nathaniel Hackett Problem".