Broncos interim head coach Jerry Rosburg makes it known he fired Stukes

The Broncos fired Nathaniel Hackett on Monday morning.

That wasn’t a huge surprise after the team’s embarrassing 51-14 loss to the Rams on Christmas Day. But after naming Jerry Rosburg interim head coach, they fired two more coaches that evening. Both special teams coordinator Dwayne Stukes and offensive line coach Butch Barry were dismissed from the organization.

Many wondered why those moves came so much later and who made the decision. On Wednesday, at his first press conference, Rosburg made it clear he fired the two coaches. And with his lengthy background in special teams with the Ravens, the Stukes move in particular makes sense.

“We have had to make changes. The changes in the staff that we’ve made have been my decisions. I know special teams. I’ve been coaching special teams for a long time. We were 32nd in the league in one of the metrics that I follow, and if I’m not mistaking, there’s 32 teams in this league, so that had to change,” Rosburg said.

It’s also noteworthy that when the Broncos hired Rosburg back in September to help Hackett with game-management, Stukes was asked if he’d lean on the veteran for special teams help. Stukes was extremely dismissive of the question, borderline rude, and that probably didn’t do him any favors.

“We all know that he’s been hired for game management and that’s what he will do. I have an assistant, his name is Mike Mallory. He’s the guy that I lean on and the other guy that I converse with on a regular basis is Joe DeCamillis,” Stukes said at the time. “Obviously, we play them this year, so I have to be careful what we talk about, but if I need someone to lean on, those are the two guys I’m leaning on.”

Ironically, DeCamillis works for the Rams, and that was Stukes’ last game with the Broncos. Even more ironically, Mallory took over for Stukes. He’s the odd man out after his icy response. In regards to Barry, Rosburg was much more complimentary of him than Stukes.

“We’re making these changes for the good of this team so we can win two football games. I have great respect for Butch and affection. He’s a good man and really a fine coach. I made that move because I wanted to move in a different direction with the offensive line,” Rosburg said.

Clearly, Denver’s offensive line hasn’t been good enough this year, but Rosburg still went out of his way to praise Barry. That wasn’t the case for Stukes.

Rosburg is in charge now, at least for the next two weeks, then a full-time coaching search will begin. It might be a short period, but Rosburg got his way with staff changes that needed to be made immediately.

Stukes may regret dismissing Rosburg’s experience right about now.

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