Former Stanford Cardinal football coach David Shaw is joining the Denver Broncos as a senior personnel executive. Shaw, who was the head coach of the Cardinal from 2011 to 2022, last coached in the NFL as a wide receivers coach for the Baltimore Ravens in 2005. Shaw joins the Broncos in head coach Sean Payton’s second year at the helm. Shaw was in the running for the Broncos head coaching position when Payton was hired before the 2023 season.
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He will work in the front office with general manager George Paton, who has been in that role since 2021. According to the AP, Shaw will assist Paton in evaluating college and pro players as well as helping with roster evaluation. He joins vice president of player personnel Cody Rager as a new addition to the front office this offseason. Rager served as a longtime scout in New Orleans while Payton was the head coach of the New Orleans Saints.
NBC’s Mike Florio inferred that the move could be significant because Shaw was hired by Paton, not Payton. Given Shaw’s history of interviewing with several NFL teams, including the Broncos, Florio speculates that Shaw could be a potential head coach in waiting for Denver. It will be interesting to see how this situation plays out for the Broncos as the season unfolds.
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Payton’s job status was questioned this past year following the disastrous Russell Wilson era in Denver. Payton gave Wilson a massive contract extension before he even took a snap with the Broncos, and the situation could not have played out worse. After two seasons, Wilson was released, still owing $39 million to the Broncos’ salary cap this upcoming season according to CBS Sports.
Wilson never looked like a fit with Payton. He was told he would be benched if he did not lower his injury guarantee. This directive from Payton was a clear indication of the strained relationship. Despite Wilson’s storied career and previous success with the Seattle Seahawks, his transition to the Broncos under Payton’s leadership was fraught with challenges and misalignments in vision and strategy. Wilson still had a solid second year in Denver leading the to a winning streak and almost into the playoffs.
The feud between Wilson and Payton was never resolved. Evident by Wilson being benched following a 26-23 home loss to the New England Patriots on Christmas Eve. The defeat ended the Broncos playoff hopes for the season. This benching marked a significant low point in Wilson’s career but also underscored. The decision to bench Wilson was seen by many as a drastic measure, reflecting the dire state of affairs within the team and the urgent need for a course correction.
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The Broncos open their season against the Seattle Seahawks on the road. This matchup is particularly poignant. It pits both of Wilson’s former teams against each other. As the Broncos embark on this new chapter with Nix at the helm, all eyes will be on how the team navigates its fresh start. Can they reclaim their competitive edge in the highly contested NFL landscape? The upcoming season represents a pivotal moment for the Broncos. They have the potential to redefine their trajectory and set the tone for years to come.
