There were no Tears for a Clown when Broncos owner Greg Penner fired Nathaniel Hackett in 2022. After an odious 15-game performance, stained by players lacking discipline and fighting on the sideline, Penner identified the qualities most important for removing the floppy shoes and red nose from the organization’s coaching office.
“We need a strong leader that’s focused on winning. That starts with culture,” he said. “It’s about instilling a sense of accountability, discipline, and we need an identity on offense. But at the starting point, it’s got to be about culture and leadership.”
Penner might as well have been reading Jim Harbaugh’s qualifications on Indeed.