The Denver Broncos’ search for a new offensive coordinator has taken a significant step forward. According to a report by Parker Gabriel of The Denver Post, the team has conducted an interview with Buffalo Bills quarterbacks coach Ronald Curry for the vacant position. This move signals the beginning of a deliberate and potentially interconnected hiring process for Head Coach Sean Payton, one that balances internal continuity, external innovation, and the unpredictable nature of the NFL’s coaching carousel.
The offensive coordinator role in Denver is of paramount importance as the franchise seeks to build upon the foundation laid in 2025 and maximize the development of second-year quarterback Bo Nix. The departure of the previous coordinator has opened a critical vacancy, and the candidate who fills it will be instrumental in shaping the team’s offensive identity. The interview with Ronald Curry represents a specific avenue of interest, one deeply rooted in personal history and recent professional success.
Ronald Curry: From Player to Quarterback Guru
To understand Curry’s candidacy, one must examine his unique and well-traveled path through professional football. Now 46 years old, Curry’s NFL journey began not on the sidelines, but on the field. From 2002 to 2009, he enjoyed an eight-year career as a wide receiver, spending the majority of that time with the Oakland Raiders, with brief stints in Detroit and St. Louis. This playing experience, particularly at a skill position, provides him with an intrinsic understanding of offensive timing, route concepts, and the receiver’s perspective—a valuable asset when designing a passing game.
His transition to coaching began in 2014 with the San Francisco 49ers as an offensive assistant, a role he held for two seasons. However, the most formative chapter of his coaching career commenced in 2016 when he joined Sean Payton’s staff with the New Orleans Saints. Curry’s ascent within Payton’s highly regarded offensive system was steady and earned. He started as an offensive assistant (2016-2017), was promoted to wide receivers coach (2018-2020), and then made the pivotal shift to quarterbacks coach in 2021. For the 2022 season, he added the title of pass game coordinator to his duties, underscoring his growing influence in the offensive scheme.
This seven-year tenure under Payton in New Orleans is the bedrock of his connection to the Broncos’ head coach. Curry is intimately familiar with Payton’s offensive philosophy, terminology, expectations, and operational style. He is not an outsider who would need to learn a new system; he is a graduate of the “Payton School” of offensive football. This shared history cannot be overstated, as trust and philosophical alignment are paramount for a head coach when delegating play-calling or schematic responsibilities.
After the 2022 season, Curry sought a new opportunity, landing with the Buffalo Bills in 2024 as their quarterbacks coach. For the past two seasons, he has been directly responsible for the development and day-to-day work of one of the league’s premier talents: quarterback Josh Allen. Allen’s 2025 MVP season, a year marked by stellar production and efficiency, undoubtedly burnishes Curry’s résumé. While Allen’s talent is innate, Curry’s role in refining his mechanics, preparation, and understanding of the game during this peak period is a significant mark in his favor. It demonstrates his ability to coach at a high level within a different, successful system and to collaborate effectively with a superstar quarterback.
The Intricate Web of Denver’s Coordinator Search
Curry’s interview does not occur in a vacuum. It is part of a delicate balancing act for Sean Payton and the Broncos’ front office. The other primary figure in this drama is Davis Webb, the Broncos’ current pass game coordinator and quarterbacks coach.
Webb, who worked directly with Bo Nix throughout his rookie season, is a known entity within the building and represents the clearest path to continuity. Promoting Webb would ensure minimal disruption for Nix, maintaining consistency in terminology, teaching methods, and relationship dynamics. This stability is often crucial for a young quarterback’s second-year leap. However, Webb’s candidacy is complicated by his own career advancement. He is reportedly still in the running for the Las Vegas Raiders’ head coaching position. The Broncos’ search, therefore, must proceed with the understanding that Webb may depart for a top job elsewhere, leaving them in need of a contingency plan.
This is where Ronald Curry presents a compelling, multifaceted option. If Webb secures the Raiders’ job, Curry emerges as a strong external candidate with both familiarity (with Payton) and fresh perspective (from Buffalo). He could integrate Payton’s core system while infusing new concepts from his time with the Bills, potentially creating a more dynamic and hybrid offense. His background as a former receiver and a quarterback coach could be particularly beneficial for Bo Nix’s development, offering insights into both sides of the passing equation.
Furthermore, if Webb does not get the Raiders job and remains in Denver, the situation remains intriguing. The report suggests Curry could potentially join the staff in another capacity regardless. Given his experience as a pass game coordinator, he could be a valuable senior offensive assistant or co-coordinator, adding depth and experience to the offensive brain trust. This scenario would create a powerful collaborative environment for designing an offense tailored to Nix’s strengths.
The Buffalo Bills Connection and Timing
The timing of Curry’s availability is also fortuitous for Denver. The Buffalo Bills recently hired Joe Brady, their offensive coordinator, as their new head coach. A change at the top often leads to turnover in the assistant coaching ranks, as new head coaches typically desire to assemble their own staffs. This creates a natural window for assistants like Curry to explore opportunities elsewhere without friction. The Broncos’ interview indicates they are poised to capitalize on this moment of transition in Buffalo to secure a coach whose stock is high.
Conclusion: A Strategic Move in a Complex Offseason
The Denver Broncos’ interview with Ronald Curry is a strategically sound move in a multifaceted offseason puzzle. It underscores several key points about the team’s approach:
1. Value on Shared History: Sean Payton places a premium on working with people he knows and trusts. Curry’s extensive history within Payton’s system makes him a safe cultural and philosophical fit.
2. Commitment to Quarterback Development: By targeting a coach who just helped guide an MVP season, the Broncos are signaling a clear intent to surround Bo Nix with the best possible teachers and schemers.
3. Navigating Uncertainty: The search is proactively creating options. With Davis Webb’s status unresolved, engaging with a high-caliber candidate like Curry ensures the Broncos are not caught unprepared. They are building a shortlist that accounts for multiple potential outcomes.
4. Openness to Evolution: While rooted in Payton’s philosophy, hiring Curry would represent an injection of new ideas from one of the AFC’s most potent recent offenses, suggesting a desire to adapt and evolve rather than simply replicate the past.
Ultimately, whether Ronald Curry becomes the next offensive coordinator of the Denver Broncos depends on the ripple effects of other coaching decisions, most immediately in Las Vegas. However, his interview firmly establishes him as a serious and logical candidate—a coach whose biography intertwines with the Broncos’ head coach, whose recent work features a notable success story, and whose potential hiring would shape a critical phase in the development of Denver’s franchise quarterback. The search is underway, and in Ronald Curry, the Broncos have identified a candidate who checks many of the most important boxes.
