Former longtime Ravens assistant Jerry Rosburg named Broncos interim coach after team fires Nathaniel Hackett
Former longtime Ravens special teams coordinator Jerry Rosburg will be the Denver Broncos’ interim head coach for the final two games of the regular season, the team announced Monday.
Rosburg, who retired as Baltimore’s special teams coordinator and assistant head coach in June 2019 after 11 seasons under coach John Harbaugh, replaces Nathaniel Hackett, who was fired Monday after just 15 games. Rosburg, who has never been a head coach but was a candidate for Chicago Bears’ head coaching vacancy in 2013, was brought out of retirement by Denver to help Hackett with game management in the first month of the season.
Broncos owner and CEO Greg Penner said he’ll lead the search for a new coach with assistance from general manager George Paton, in whom he expressed confidence while announcing Hackett’s dismissal.
The Broncos scheduled a news conference for Tuesday, when they’re expected to name Rosburg their interim head coach for games at the Kansas City Chiefs next weekend and at home against the San Diego Chargers in Week 18.
On Sunday, the Broncos (4-11) were blown out by the equally downtrodden Los Angeles Rams, 51-14, when Russell Wilson threw three interceptions and was sacked six times. The game featured a sideline spat between backup QB Brett Rypien and guard Dalton Risner, and pass rusher Randy Gregory threw a punch at a Rams player after the game.
In 2019, Harbaugh described Rosburg — known around the team’s facility for his strict adherence to schedules and his practice-field tirades against sloppy play — as his best friend for the past 25 or 30 years.
“He’s been the best associate head coach and the best friend that a head coach can have,” he said. “Without Jerry Rosburg here, there’s no way we would have had the success that we’ve had.”
Rosburg began his coaching career at Fargo Shanley High School in North Dakota. He coached with Harbaugh at the University of Cincinnati from 1992 to 1995 and joined the Ravens staff as soon as his friend became head coach in 2008. He also worked for the Cleveland Browns (2001 to 2006) and Atlanta Falcons (2007) as their special teams coordinator.
During his time in Baltimore, Rosburg helped guide the Ravens to top-five finishes in the league’s special teams rankings in each of his final seven seasons.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
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