Broncos make it official with McMahon, hire OT, CB and WR assistants
Jan 10, 2018, 3:21 PM | Updated: 4:01 pm
The Denver Broncos made official its hire to replace Brock Olivo, agreeing to terms with Tom McMahon to become the team’s special teams coordinator.
“We’re very excited to add Tom McMahon to our staff,” head coach Vance Joseph said via a team release. “He’s an experienced special teams coach with a direct teaching style that emphasizes fundamentals.
“Tom has a proven track record developing young players on special teams and will bring leadership and energy to this important phase of our team.”
McMahon comes in with 26 years coaching experience, 11 of which were in the NFL working with the Atlanta Falcons, Kansas City Chiefs, St. Louis Rams, and most recently the Indianapolis Colts.
The resume is a stark contrast to that of the outgoing Olivo, who spent 2017 in his first year as a coordinator and just his fourth year in the NFL.
During his five years in Indianapolis, McMahon coached the Colts to top-5 showings in field goal percentage (89.6/3rd), net punting average (41.3/3rd), gross punting average (46.4/4th), and kickoff return average (24.5/5th).
McMahon also coached three Colts special teamers to Pro Bowl honors, including long snapper Matt Overton (2013), kicker Adam Vinatieri (2014), and punter Pat McAfee (2014, ’16) — the latter who sang the praises of his former coach on “Schlereth and Evans” Wednesday morning.
“I’m very thankful for what Tom McMahon did to my career, and I think Denver will absolutely love him,” McAfee said.
Congrats to the @Broncos on signing Tom McMahon as their new Special Teams coordinator.. Guy is an absolutely incredible coach. Genuinely loved going to practice w/ him holding the whistle. Made me fall in love w/ the process again. Denver will love him.
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) January 9, 2018
Broncos hire Williams to coach CBs, Strausser for OTs, Azzanni for WRs
Greg Williams
Aside from McMahon, the Broncos announced the hiring of three assistants on Wednesday, Greg Williams as defensive backs coach, Chris Strausser as offensive line coach, and Zach Azzanni as wide receivers coach.
A 15-year veteran, including nine years in the NFL, Williams will serve as Denver’s cornerbacks coach alongside lead defensive backs coach Marcus Robertson.
Broncos make Greg Williams hire official. A defensive backs coach who will focus on the cornerbacks. Marcus Robertson remains the lead DBs coach.
— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) January 10, 2018
Most recently, Williams spent 2016 and 2017 as the Colts defensive backs coach following seven seasons as an assistant linebackers coach and secondary coach with the San Diego Chargers.
Chris Strausser, then with the University of Washington in September 2016. (Photo by Jesse Beals/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Strausser adds nearly three decades of coaching experience to the Broncos offensive line staff, where he’ll work alongside guards and centers coach Sean Kugler as the team’s tackles coach.
Before heading to Denver, Strausser coached 19 seasons at the collegiate level, most recently as the associate head coach and offensive line coach for the University of Washington from 2014 to 2016.
Azzanni joins Denver’s staff after one season as the wide receivers coach with the Chicago Bears.
Before his stint in the Windy City, Azzanni coached 18 years on the college level, most recently as the University of Tennessee passing game coordinator/wide receivers coach.
Follow digital content producer Johnny Hart on Twitter: @johnnyhart7.
