Joe Lombardi isn’t new to the NFL’s revolving door, but even he admits this one stung a bit. After helping guide the Denver Broncos to a 14-3 record, an AFC West title, and a trip to the AFC Championship game, Lombardi is out as offensive coordinator-and he's not sugarcoating how it went down.
“Sean decided to move on,” Lombardi told The Denver Gazette. “I don’t think it’s ever a surprise. You could tell he was in one of those moods where he felt like some changes needed to be made… I’ve been around him long enough to kind of read the tea leaves.”
That’s a candid take from a coach who’s spent years in the trenches with Sean Payton, dating back to their time in New Orleans. Lombardi knows how Payton operates-intense, demanding, and unafraid to shake things up, even after a season most teams would consider a resounding success.
Let’s be clear: the Broncos didn’t limp to the finish line. They bulldozed their way to the top of the AFC, locking down the No. 1 seed and looking every bit the contender.
So when the news broke that Lombardi was out, eyebrows were raised. Not because coaching changes are rare-far from it-but because it’s hard to argue the offense was holding this team back.
“We made it to the AFC Championship,” Lombardi said. “I don’t know why there needs to be a scapegoat. I thought it was a good season.”
And he’s not wrong. The Broncos' offense, while not always flashy, was efficient and balanced-enough to complement a defense that consistently delivered.
They didn’t collapse in big moments. They played their way into the NFL’s final four.
That’s not the kind of resume that typically gets an OC shown the door.
But the NFL is a results-driven league, and sometimes, perception outweighs production. A tough loss in the AFC title game-especially one that sends you home a step short of the Super Bowl-can trigger sweeping changes. And in this case, Lombardi was the first domino to fall.
Still, there’s no bitterness in his voice, just a clear-eyed understanding of the business.
“He employed me for a long time,” Lombardi said. “I’m appreciative of that.”
That appreciation goes a long way in this league, especially when relationships often outlast job titles. Lombardi has been one of Payton’s trusted lieutenants for years, and while this chapter in Denver ends on a sour note, it’s unlikely this is the last we’ll see of him on an NFL sideline.
For now, the Broncos move forward with a new offensive direction, and Lombardi moves on-experienced, candid, and maybe a little wiser from the latest turn in the NFL carousel.