Broncos GM George Paton backs Nathaniel Hackett, Russell Wilson despite criticism
LONDON — George Paton says he hasn’t lost faith in his coach and quarterback.
The Broncos general manager endorsed Nathaniel Hackett and Russell Wilson Thursday in London, speaking with Denver media ahead of the Broncos’ international game against the Jaguars Sunday. Sitting at 2-5, the Broncos have been wildly disappointing this season and many have placed the blame on the first-year head coach Paton hired in January and the quarterback Paton traded for in March.
Paton said of Hackett: “I believe in Nathaniel. I support Nathaniel 100%. He’s been in this seven games as a head coach. The scrutiny he’s faced is unprecedented. We’ve had four prime-time games so he’s kind of had to learn in front of the entire world. But I really like how he’s kept the team together. He’s connected. He’s kept our building together and I appreciate how he’s fought through that.”
Paton said of Wilson: “There’s a lot of newness. He’s trying to learn this staff, this staff is trying to learn him. We know what Russ is capable of and it’s our job to get the best out of Russ and our entire offense. I know we’ll get there. But you’ve seen the flashes with Russ, whether it was the first half of the Raiders, the first half of Chargers, you see the arm strength, the accuracy, the mobility and we all need to play better, that’s for sure on offense.”
This season certainly hasn’t gone to plan for Paton, Hackett, Wilson and the Broncos, which had playoff aspirations entering the season. They could still reach those goals if they turn things around quickly — eight teams since 1990 have made the playoffs after a 2-5 start, including the 2021 Eagles.
The Broncos have shown little improvement, losing their last four. But if there’s any silver lining, it’s that four of their five losses were by only one score.
“Obviously, the results aren’t there. Obviously, not good enough at 2-5,” Paton said. “We all need to get better and it starts with me. But I do believe in this football team. I do believe in the people in the building, our coaching staff, that we can turn it around. It’s only seven games. Obviously, we’ve been in every game. That’s not what it’s all about. It’s about winning games. And we need to learn how to win football games.”
For Wilson, it’s clear the nine-time Pro Bowler hasn’t looked like himself. Whether that’s due to the multiple injuries he’s battled this season or the reality that he might not be the quarterback Paton, and others, thought he was.
Either way, the Broncos don’t have any other option this season or over the next several years. Wilson and the Broncos agreed to a five-year, $245 million contract extension in September. The two sides are tied at the hip for the foreseeable future.
“We’re in this for the long haul,” Paton said. “We wanted to get ahead of the contract cycle. We had seen how Russ was in the offseason and training camp and we felt really good about Russ. We feel really good about Russ. I feel good about that deal. I feel like it will hold up.”
And as for Hackett, the hot seat is starting to warm up, as some believe he should be a one-done head coach. If Hackett is fired after one season, he would be the 18th one-and-done head coach since 1994. If he’s fired during the season, he would be the third head coach to be fired or resign during their first season, joining Urban Meyer with the Jaguars in 2021 and Bobby Petrino with the Falcons in 2007.
But based on Paton’s tone Thursday, that doesn’t appear to be the plan.
“Up to this point, George has been an amazing partner throughout all of this—the good and the bad,” Hackett said Thursday. “You learn a lot about people throughout processes like this. We are growing as a team, and I am growing as a partner with George. It’s great to work with him. He really has been great and supportive throughout this whole thing.”
Though, the question that has to be asked about all of this is this: will any of this even be Paton’s decision?
Paton wasn’t hired by the Walton-Penner ownership group, which took over the team in August. They also didn’t hire Hackett or trade for Wilson. And at the end of the day, they will have the final call on all of this, including Paton’s own future.
So for Paton, he will continue to back his guys because not only is he the captain of this ship, he’s the one who built it.
“I think if we knew, we’d all have that magic potion,” Paton said. “I think we’re a work in progress. I feel like we’re going to get it. We’ve been very close and I hope this Sunday you can see it.”
Broncos general manager George Paton, left, joins new coach Nathaniel Hackett after a Jan. 28 news conference in Englewood.