Well, the AFC West has a new head coach in the division. Today, John Elway announced via Twitter that former Carolina Panthers head coach John Fox will be the new head coach of the Denver Broncos. Fox was the Carolina Panthers head coach at the beginning of the 2010 NFL season but didn't make it all the way through.
As Elway noted in his tweets, Fox will be the 14th head coach in Denver Broncos history, replacing the rather hilariously bad Josh McDaniels. Here's a few tweets from Elway on Fox:
"Coach Fox is a great fit for us not only with his coaching ability but also with his personality. He is a dynamic and proven leader who will energize our entire organization. John has coached great defenses, turned teams around and been to Super Bowls."
Nothing on synergy Elway? Come on. Synergy is huge!
Fox's coaching history has been one of defensive emphasis, which is a smart move by the Bronco front office because Denver is freakin' terrible on defense. The Broncos ranked dead last in total defense in 2010; 7th in '09; and 29th in total defense in 2008. Needless to say, they need to get their house in order.
John Bena of Mile High Report said that Fox is exactly what the Broncos needed right now in a coach: "stability, experience, or, as Fox put it yesterday, a coach whose been to the rodeo before."
I think that last statement is clearly a knock at Josh McDaniels and his lack of experience. I don't expect John Fox to make the Broncos Super Bowl contenders in 2011 and he's not a blockbuster hire. But what Fox is what the Broncos appear to need right now: a solid, veteran head coach.
(H/T jbj8609)