Franchise savior Peyton Manning steering clear of Broncos job speaks volumes about task at hand for Russell Wilson and Greg Penner
At various times between Peyton Manning's retirement and Russell Wilson's acquisition, the former has been connected to rejoining the Denver Broncos in various capacities.
Some have hoped he would become the team's owner and general manager. Manning even acted on the former, as he was part of a bidding group with the hopes of owning the team earlier this year.
However, with the Penner group eventually winning the bidding war for the team, that opportunity passed No. 18 by. Now, with the newly vacant head coaching job up for grabs, he has another chance to get on the gridiron or at least stand next to it on Sundays.
Russell Wilson's next head coach has a massive job ahead of him. Will the team turn their form around in 2023?
In an interview with TMZ, Peyton Manning was asked point-blank whether he wanted to coach the team. He said, "I don't think so" twice with a smile on his face, firmly declining the idea.
The question comes as the Denver Broncos face finishing the year with just four wins.
With both remaining games coming against two playoff teams (Kansas City Chiefs and Los Angeles Chargers), fans are bracing for a slide from 4-11 to 4-13. It would be the team's lowest win total since 2010 under Josh McDaniels, who swept Denver this season as head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders.
It would also be tied for the lowest win total since 1982, when the Broncos went 2-7 in a shortened year. The last time the team won four games or fewer in a full season was in 1971.
Put simply, Denver is in a dark place and has a lot of work to do. For the last several years, the team has been operating without an owner after Pat Bowlen passed away soon after the team won Super Bowl 50. Since then, the Broncos have been running on a philosophy that defense trumps all else.
However, in 2022, the team made the switch to an offensive-first mindset with Nathaniel Hackett. They also traded for and signed Russell Wilson to a mega deal that runs through the 2028 season. Many believed the team had a quality roster on both offense and defense, needing just a quarterback as the final piece.
Instead, the team slipped into their comfort zone at the bottom of the AFC West. It will be the fourth time in six years the team has finished in last place in the division.
What happens next for the Russell Wilson-led Denver Broncos?
The Denver Broncos have already fired their head coach and are mounting a search for the next one.
Fans are hoping for someone with a veteran track record who will not be learning on the job. Over the last half-decade, the team has hired three rookie head coaches and all three have struggled with late-game management.
The #Broncos should just make Russell Wilson the interim head coach until the end of the season.
He's been practicing it since Week 1.
https://t.co/fce04dItvT
Once they get the head coach situation figured out, the Broncos will then need to find a way to boost the receiving corps that, until this season, seemed airtight.
Fans are hoping for a big free agent signing, but the team needs to be careful, as they've already tied up a lot of assets with Russell Wilson. They also have limited draft capital after the trade, so they need to make the most of their picks.
At running back, Denver had what it thought to be two solid options heading into the year. However, second-year budding star Javonte Williams missed most of the season due to injury. Backup veteran Melvin Gordon was thought to be a solid substitute, but an inexplicable series of fumbles led the team to cut ties with him.
Russell Wilson's offensive line also needs plenty of work, as he has been under pressure or sacked seemingly every other dropback.
The guy who has been in charge of clock management for the Broncos is now the interim head coach, he is 15 minutes late to his first press conference. That says A LOT.
That said, for all their offensive troubles, the Denver Broncos have been beyond solid on defense. The unit has been one of the best in the league consistently since 2014, meaning that minimal changes will be required in that department.
Will the Denver Broncos get back on track before Russell Wilson begins his final decline? Is Wilson already unsalvagable? Candidates and potential candidates will be asked these questions and will need to have a plan in place.
Most agree it would be nothing short of a miracle if the Broncos' team gets flipped on its head in one offseason, but the team will need to try.