AFC Notes: Broncos, Chargers, Chiefs

Broncos

Broncos HC Vic Fangio said he thinks John Elway will be happy in his new role as the president of football operations.  

“John, I think, is really content with the decision and the makeup moving forward for the Broncos,” Fangio said Troy Renck of KMGH. “And what’s real is that John is still going to be available for us to run things by him, give his opinion and his experiences involved in the big decisions here.”

Fangio added he doesn’t think a new general manager will affect his job security. The team plans to bring him back for the 2021 season. 

“Whoever we end up hiring here, I’m sure we’ll forge a good relationship,” Fangio said via Renck. “I’ve had experience over the years, obviously, working with many different general managers. I’d like to think I’m easy to work with. And I’m sure who we hire will be a guy that’s a consensus builder, but ultimately be the guy who makes the final decisions as it relates to the roster and I’m not really concerned about that.”

• Elway noted former Denver QB Peyton Manning has not thrown his hat into the ring for the GM vacancy he is creating: “Put it this way, Peyton has not called. A lot of people have called but Peyton has not called.” (Mike Klis)
• Elway said Fangio and the new GM will work closely with him: “Vic and the GM are still going to report to me. They’ll work together and come up with solutions themselves. With the big decisions, I’ll be involved. But ultimately the GM will have to be in control. All I want is input. I think I can add valuable input to any GM or even to Vic on the football side. But ultimately it’s going to be something where the GM is going to have the reigns and be able to make the decisions he wants.” (Klis)
• Elway also mentioned the team losing Gary Kubiak, who has decided to retire after one season as offensive coordinator in Minnesota: “Yeah that caught us by surprise, it was unfortunate but we totally understood for health reasons why Gary had to step away. I had so much respect for Gary as a head coach. We had such a good relationship working together. But for him to leave for health reasons, it was a blow.” (Klis)
• As for LB Von Miller, Elway said that is a decision he will be involved in: “We’d love to have Von finish his career here. The goal is to get Von back and have him end his career here.” (James Palmer)
• Broncos CEO Joe Ellis said Elway voluntarily made the decisions to back into a new role: “It was a decision that he arrived at with a lot of deep thought. It wasn’t easy. It never is for someone at that level and with that level of competitive drive. … He recognized it was in his best interest and in the best interest of the Broncos.” (Aric DiLalla)
• Asked what would have happened if Elway hadn’t come to that decision, Ellis appeared to acknowledge it could have gotten messy: “If that had been the case, I’m not sure where we would have gone.” (Andrew Mason)
• Ellis added he’s confident Elway “won’t meddle” with the new general manager. (Klis)
• Ellis told reporters it would be a priority to interview several Black candidates for general manager, as while the team’s diversity is improving there’s room to get better: “Very important. The organization gets better with diversity. Diversity is a lot of things. It’s people of different race. It’s people of different opinions. … We’re going to interview several black candidates. The Denver Broncos player roster is 75 percent black. We’re getting better at diversity as an organization but we’re nowhere near we need to be.” (Klis)
• Broncos third-round CB Michael Ojemudia (knee) and OL Austin Schlottmann (shoulder) are both scheduled to have minor surgeries this offseason. (Klis)

Chargers

• Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer reports the Chargers haven’t fired former HC Anthony Lynn‘s staff yet. He notes DC Gus Bradley‘s deal is expiring but he still has a few weeks left on it which is why teams have to request permission to interview him. 
• As for OC Shane Steichen, Breer notes he remains under contract in 2021, which is relevant if he stays under a new coaching staff. 

Chiefs

• Sam McDowell of the Kansas City Star reports that Chiefs’ rookie LB Willie Gay has been diagnosed with a high ankle sprain and will have an estimated recovery time of 2-4 weeks.
• Tom Pelissero reports that Chiefs strength and conditioning coach Barry Rubin tested positive for COVID-19 and contact tracing is underway.