Broncos hire Packers OC Hackett as coach

The Broncos announced Thursday that they hired Packers offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett as their next head coach.

Hackett, 42, joins a franchise that has struggled since winning the Super Bowl six years ago.

Might he also bring No. 12 with him from Green Bay?

Choosing Hackett, 42, sent speculation skyrocketing that the Broncos were trying to lure star Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers to Denver, perhaps along with All-Pro receiver Davante Adams, who’s set to hit free agency in March.

Baseball: Gene Clines, part of the first all-minority lineup in MLB history and an outfielder for the 1971 World Series champion Pirates, died. He was 75. No cause of death was given. On Sept. 1, 1971, Clines batted second and played center for the Pirates in a starting lineup comprised entirely of players of Black and Latino descent.

Golf: Anthony Schenk birdied eight straight holes and added two more late in his second round to shoot a 10-under 62 on the North Course at Torrey Pines and grab a share of the lead midway through the PGA Tour’s Farmers Insurance Open in San Diego. Former PGA and FedEx Cup champ Justin Thomas (63) and world No. 1 Jon Rahm (67) were tied with Schenk. Rahm won the U.S. Open last year at Torrey and also claimed his first career title at the Farmers in 2017. Cameron Tringale (65) was alone in second, one stroke back. Hockey: The ECHL suspended former Jacksonville Icemen F Jacob Panetta for the rest of the season for what the league called “a racial gesture” toward South Carolina Stingrays D Jordan Subban on Saturday. The Icemen released Panetta, 26, on Sunday.