10 notable incidents during Nathaniel Hackett's embarrassing Broncos tenure

Alongside the offensive ineptitude, 10 incidents highlight why he flopped in Denver.

1. The ending to the Seattle game

In a Week 1 17-16 loss to Seattle, Hackett opted for a 64-yard field goal attempt on the road instead of being aggressive and driving the ball downfield. Before attempting the field goal on 4th-and-5, Denver had all three timeouts left and a minute to go, plenty of time to avoid the disastrous ending that foreshadowed its season.

2. Having players hug it out in training camp

When offensive lineman Ben Braden and defensive lineman McTelvin Agim started throwing punches at each other in training camp, Hackett had them hug it out rather than suspending or disciplining either player. This inability to assert authority haunted the Broncos. They lead the league in penalties (107), clearly showing a lack of discipline as a unit.

3. Getting booed in the home opener

The Broncos had an awful Week 2 home opener against the Texans. They were penalized 13 times for 100 yards, including four delay-of-game penalties, more than they had the previous season. It was so bad that Denver fans showered the Broncos with boos and counted the play clock for them. 

4. Not running the ball on 4th-and-1 against the Colts in Week 5

In a 12-9 overtime loss against the Colts, Hackett had Russell Wilson throw on a 4th-and-1 from the Colts' 5-yard line instead of running the ball. The play, in overtime, lost the game for Denver. Also, Hackett's ill-fated fourth-down call caused Richard Sherman, Wilson's former teammate in Seattle, to have a Super Bowl XLIX flashback.

5. Keeping Montrell Washington in against the Chargers 

Montrell Washington had already nearly muffed one punt and had other close calls in Week 6 against the Chargers. Nevertheless, Hackett kept him in as Denver's punt returner. That was a mistake. Washington muffed a punt at Denver's 28-yard line in overtime, resulting in a 19-16 loss.  

6. Claiming he still didn't know how to call plays for Russell Wilson eight weeks in 

After a sloppy 21-17 victory over Jacksonville in Week 8, Hackett told Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer, "I  gotta learn how to call plays for Russ." 

The startling lack of knowledge was surprising since it was midway through the season. Perhaps that's why Wilson posted a career low in completion percentage (60.1) and passer rating (82.3) in 13 starts with Hackett.  

7. When he said "someone has to win this game" and proceeded to lose in overtime to the Raiders.

Before playing the Raiders in Week 11, Hackett said in a news conference , "Somebody has to win this game." The Broncos did not win that game, losing on a Davante Adams walk-off touchdown in overtime. It was Denver's third overtime loss.

8. Claiming everything was fine after Mike Purcell screamed at Russell Wilson

Purcell walked toward  Wilson and screamed in his face during a 23-10 loss against Carolina in Week 12. Afterward, Hackett claimed he talked to both and said: "Everything was good." However, it wouldn't be Denver's last incident between teammates.  

9. Audible drama

Head coaches can't let quarterbacks run whatever offense they want. However, Hackett let Wilson use his old Seattle audibles, which was confusing the team, per Altitude Sports radio host Tyler Polumbus. Hackett confirmed he let Wilson use his audibles but denied any reports of confusion. 

10. The entire Los Angeles Rams game

Losing by 37 points is embarrassing, but teammates fighting each other and punching opposing players add to the unacceptable embarrassment. Broncos offensive lineman Dalton Risner shoved backup QB Brett Rypien during the game against the Rams, and OLB Randy Gregory hit the Rams' Oday Aboushi after the 51-14 loss on Christmas Day.

The next day, Hackett got canned.