Denver Broncos general manager George Paton is still employed after two of the biggest disasters in recent NFL history, if not of all-time. He managed to keep his job after Nathaniel Hackett and Russell Wilson.
How? That’s a great question.
Paton took over the organization in 2021. The Denver Broncos went 7-10, which marked the third-straight losing season with Vic Fangio at the helm. They cut him loose.
In turn, Paton’s first significant responsibility as GM was to hire a new head coach.
Likely in an effort to lure Aaron Rodgers west, he decided to hire Hackett over guys like Mike McDaniel, Brian Daboll and Kevin O’Connell. It did not go well. Not only did Rodgers not end up in Denver, Hackett was fired before the end of his first year after going 4-11.
To make matters worse, Paton administered a trade for Russell Wilson shortly after hiring Hackett.
He gave up two first-round picks, two second-round picks, and a fifth round pick in addition to Noah Fant, Drew Lock and Shelby Harris. He received Wilson and a fourth-round pick, and also gave the Super Bowl champion quarterback a new $242 million contract.
Seattle used the picks on: Charles Cross, Boye Mafe, Tyreke Smith, and Devon Witherspoon. The Seahawks went 9-8 in each of the last two years.
Meanwhile, Denver went 13-21 in two seasons with Wilson on the roster.
If things weren’t bad enough, the Broncos are back to square one. They cut Wilson loose on Monday afternoon. They inherit $85 million in dead cap space to do so, which is the most in league history.
Even though the quarterback that he traded for does not, Paton somehow still has a job. He managed to survive two disastrous and extremely detrimental decisions.
Both moves set the team back at least two years. Both moves were orchestrated by Paton.
And yet, the team has somehow not fired him!