The Denver Broncos have had one of the worst defenses in NFL history through the first six games of the 2023 season. With changes already happening on the field, rumors surfaced on Monday that Rex Ryan could take over as the Broncos defensive coordinator.
Through six games this season, Denver has allowed its opponent to score 30-plus points three times and the Chicago Bears scored 28 points in three quarters against Denver’s defense. While it’s rare to see changes at defensive coordinator months after the coach was hired, Vance Joseph’s future with the team has been uncertain.
- Denver Broncos defense stats 2023: 33.3 points per game allowed (32nd in NFL), 440.3 total yards per game allowed (32nd), 6.7 yards per play allowed (32nd)
Related: NFL defense rankings
On Monday, Pat McAfee disclosed on his show that there were some rumors around the league that Ryan could take over as defensive coordinator.
However, ESPN’s Adam Schefter, later reported on the Pat McAfee Show that he spoke with Ryan directly and there is no truth to the rumors.
“Rex (Ryan) is not going to [the Denver Broncos] right now… you know who my source is there? Rex. We were talking about it yesterday as we were watching the games.”
Adam Schefter on the Rex Ryan to Denver Broncos rumors
KOA Colorado’s Benjamin Allbright confirmed that while Denver spoke to Ryan about the defensive coordinator position during the offseason, he was not chosen for the position.
Ryan’s resume reportedly played a part and the 60-year-old ESPN analyst hasn’t been coaching on an NFL sideline since 2016. When Ryan was last working with a defense, Buffalo finished middle of the pack in points and yardage allowed.
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NFL teams are weary of bringing on players who have been away from the game for a year-plus. In Ryan’s case, it’s been closer to a decade since he worked for an NFL team and he was last a defensive coordinator in 2008.
While it’s very likely that the Broncos move on from Joseph at the end of the 2023 season, a firing isn’t imminent and Ryan is not coming to Denver.