The Denver Broncos have fired offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi after missing out on the Super Bowl.
The news comes just days after the Broncos were defeated 10-7 by the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship game on Sunday afternoon.
The Broncos were without starting quarterback Bo Nix for the game and it proved costly as the Denver offense struggled to break down the resolute Patriots.
As a result, according to NFL Insider Ian Rapoport, that performance has cost Lombardi his job.
The decision marks a brutal end to Lombardi’s tenure in Denver, coming less than 48 hours after the team fell one game short of a trip to Santa Clara.
Lombardi, who followed head coach Sean Payton from New Orleans to Denver, was unable to find a rhythm in the season’s biggest game.
The Broncos fired offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi after missing out on the Super Bowl
The dismissal comes two days after the Broncos lost in the AFC Championship game
The dismissal comes as a shock to many, especially after Payton held a standard end-of-season press conference earlier on Tuesday.
During that briefing, Payton gave no indication that a coaching shake-up was imminent.
However, the tone shifted rapidly on Tuesday evening when NFL Network confirmed Lombardi had been let go.
The move is seen as a ‘ruthless’ attempt by Payton to upgrade an offense that sputtered when it mattered most.
With Bo Nix sidelined, the Broncos’ inability to find the end zone against New England became the final straw for the front office.
Speculation is already mounting that the Broncos may have fired Lombardi to clear a path for Davis Webb.
By promoting Webb to the coordinator role, Denver could potentially ‘entice him from leaving’ for a head coaching vacancy elsewhere.
Sean Payton gave little indication there would be a firing during Tuesday’s press conference
Webb is currently considered a top candidate for the Las Vegas Raiders head coaching job.
The Broncos have yet to officially confirm the dismissal, but the news has already sent shockwaves through the league.
Lombardi’s departure highlights the high-stakes nature of the NFL, where a three-point loss can result in immediate unemployment.
The search for a new coordinator begins immediately as the Broncos look to reload for the 2026 season.
