*Walt taking 2014 and 2018 |
Charlie Campbell, Senior Draft Analyst |
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Coaches Not Enthused to Work With Russell Wilson
Updated March 1, 2023
By Charlie Campbell. Follow Charlie on Twitter @draftcampbell.
In a Hot Press during the Senior Bowl week, we discussed how badly things were behind the scenes with the Denver Broncos and star quarterback Russell Wilson during the 2022 season. At one point, new owner Greg Penner wanted to cut Wilson and eat his contract along with firing head coach Nathanial Hackett, but cooler heads prevailed, contenting Penner with Hackett getting let go. Sources also stated they believe Penner could be aiming to fire general manager George Paton after the 2023 NFL Draft.
It took some time and negotiation, but eventually Sean Payton was hired to be the head coach charged with turning around Wilson in 2023. In speaking to some assistant coaches who the Broncos were interested in hiring, working with Wilson was viewed as a negative that was pushing some coaches away from Denver. While interviewing with multiple teams, some assistant coaches did not want to work with Wilson or deal with his impact on the locker room.
Last season, Wilson’s diva behavior and demands alienated huge segments of the Denver locker room. The requirements that Wilson placed on the franchise in terms of offices, access for his support staff, and access for his wife to the team facility circulated around the league. Those demands and diva behavior left a bad taste in the coaching community that Payton has had to overcome while hiring his staff.
This is a career year for Wilson. If he does not turn things around in 2023, the Broncos could move on from after the season. There will, of course, be some dead money, but they have options to move on from Wilson come 2024. Hence, Denver is expected to be interested in adding some developmental quarterback talent this offseason.
