Several former Denver Broncos will be involved in the NFL’s conference championship games on Sunday.
In the AFC, the Cincinnati Bengals’ playoff game against the Kansas City Chiefs will have a pair of ex-Broncos involved. Bengals quarterback Brandon Allen will serve as Joe Burrow’s backup, and Brian Callahan will serve as Cincinnati’s offensive coordinator.
Allen played in Denver in 2019, starting three games. Callahan began his coaching career with the Broncos in 2010 and he later won Super Bowl 50 as an assistant coach in Denver.
In the NFC, the Philadelphia Eagles’ game against the San Francisco 49ers will also feature several Broncos connections.
The Eagles have two ex-Denver players — safety Anthony Harris and wide receiver Tyrie Cleveland — on their practice squad. Harris was elevated to the game-day roster for Sunday’s game.
The 49ers have backup quarterback Josh Johnson, who spent most of the 2022 season on the Broncos’ practice squad.
Additionally, San Francisco quarterbacks coach Brian Griese played QB in Denver from 1998-2002. Niners head coach Kyle Shanahan was a ball boy for the Broncos when his dad, Mike, served as Denver’s coach. Gary Kubiak was also part of that staff and Gary’s son, Klay Kubiak, is now an assistant QBs coach in San Francisco.
49ers running back Christian McCaffrey is the son of former Broncos wide receiver Ed McCaffrey, and he grew up on Denver’s sidelines alongside Kyle Shanahan.
Meanwhile, San Franciso defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans is a candidate for the Broncos’ head coach opening this offseason.
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