BRONCOS’ PHILLIPS CLOSES IN ON BEING FREE AGENT
Amid scrutiny of the Denver Broncos’ offensive issues and their future at quarterback, an unresolved situation on the other side of the ball bears watching as general manager John Elway, coach Gary Kubiak and Co. sort through the wreckage of a lost season.
Veteran defensive coordinator Wade Phillips’ contract is set to expire soon after this season ends, opening the possibility that he could be coaching elsewhere in 2017, people with knowledge of the situation told USA TODAY Sports.
Phillips agreed to join the Broncos on a two-year contract in late January 2015. The sides discussed an extension after Phillips’ top-ranked defense drove Denver’s Super Bowl title run last season, but they never agreed to terms, said the people, who spoke on condition of anonymity because contract matters were to remain private.
In his 46th season of coaching and showing no signs of wanting to retire as his 70th birthday approaches, Phillips is set to become a free agent a few weeks after Sunday’s finale against the Oakland Raiders. So the clock is ticking for Denver to extend his contract or risk losing a respected defensive mind.
Though the Broncos’ goal is continuity, they believe they have a tremendous staff on defense beyond Phillips, led by defensive line coach Bill Kollar, linebackers coaches Reggie Herring and Fred Pagac and defensive backs coach Joe Woods.
Phillips has a history with Kubiak and was his coordinator on the Houston Texans from 2011 to 2013 before he spent 2014 out of football. Few potential suitors could offer personnel rivaling Von Miller, Aqib Talib, Chris Harris Jr., etc. The most logical outcome is Phillips getting a new deal and staying. But until a deal is done, nothing is certain.
The Associated Press named Phillips the NFL assistant coach of the year last season, when his defense carried a Broncos team that went through multiple quarterback changes. It shut down Carolina Panthers star Cam Newton in a Super Bowl 50 victory.
The Broncos are 8-7 this season and were eliminated from playoff contention last weekend. The loss of defensive lineman Malik Jackson to free agency and injuries to Vance Walker and others have contributed to Denver’s struggles stopping the run. But Phillips’ defense again ranks among the NFL leaders in several key categories, including yards per play (first), yards per pass play (first), sacks per pass play (third) and third-down efficiency (seventh).
Other questions facing the team’s brain trust include the plan under center. The Broncos could look outside the building to find competition for incumbent quarterback Trevor Siemian and firstround draft pick Paxton Lynch next season.