The Denver Broncos will likely bring back legendary quarterback John Elway in a senior executive role by the end of the season. That's according to a report from ESPN's Adam Schefter, who says Elway will likely be granted "broad personnel powers" as one of owner Pat Bowlen's two most trusted employees.
The team has not yet decided on a job title for Elway, who led the team to two Superbowls in the 1990's, and had already been working as a consultant for Bowlen.
Following the firing of head coach Josh McDaniels this week, Broncos Chief Operating Officer Joe Ellis said that the team made a mistake in granting the young coach broad responsibility over personnel decisions.
"I think the responsibilities that he [McDaniels] was burdened with, it's fair to say that we probably burdened him with too much of that and we were unfair to him in that respect," Ellis said. "And we certainly need to assess that and look at that moving forward."
Bowlen's firing of long-time head coach Mike Shanahan, and subsequent hiring of McDaniels in 2009 was seen as a sign that the owner was looking get involved more directly in the management of the team.
Elway, Schefter reports, is now expected to help Bowlen further consolidate control over a Broncos organization looking to regroup after a disappointing season.