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          NFL Nation

          Wade Phillips' departure just part of Broncos makeover on coaching staff

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          Broncos get a youth infusion with Joseph hire (1:21)

          Jerome Bettis and Tedy Bruschi like the Broncos' head coach hire of Vance Joseph. (1:21)

          • Jeff Legwold, ESPN Senior WriterJan 13, 2017, 08:50 PM
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              Jeff Legwold is a senior writer who covers the Denver Broncos and the NFL at ESPN. Jeff has covered the Broncos for more than 20 years, joining ESPN in 2013. He also assists with NFL draft coverage, including his annual top 100 prospects. Jeff has been a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame Board of Selectors since 1999. He has attended every scouting combine since 1987.
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          ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- Much like he would check in with the Denver Broncos' faithful from time to time on social media during the season, especially after a big win, Wade Phillips said his goodbye there as well.

          Phillips, whose contract was up with the Broncos, will be Sean McVay's defensive coordinator with the Los Angeles Rams. Phillips took to social media Friday to thank Broncos executive vice president of football operations John Elway, former coach Gary Kubiak, his players and the fans.

          Phillips also congratulated new Broncos head coach Vance Joseph, who was an assistant with Phillips on Kubiak's Houston Texans staff. Joseph called Phillips "one of my football dads" Thursday and said he and Phillips usually talked "three or four times a week."

          Broncos secondary coach Joe Woods and linebackers coach Reggie Herring have each talked to Joseph about replacing Phillips as the defensive coordinator.

          Joseph has also interviewed Mike McCoy and Bill Musgrave to be offensive coordinator, and the team was close to a deal Friday for McCoy to be the playcaller. Since quarterbacks coach Greg Knapp was not retained, it's possible the Broncos could still try to find a role for Musgrave even if McCoy is announced as the coordinator.

          Joseph also interviewed Jeremiah Washburn, who was with him on the Miami Dolphins' staff this past season, to be the offensive line coach.

          Overall, Phillips' departure was the most notable in what has turned into a full-scale makeover of the Broncos' coaching staff. Wide receivers coach Tyke Tolbert has been retained. In addition to Herring and Woods, Joseph was also in talks with running backs coach Eric Studesville, defensive line coach Bill Kollar and outside linebackers coach Fred Pagac about staying.

          Studesville, who was retained by John Fox and then Kubiak the previous two times the Broncos changed head coaches, has talked to the New York Jets about that team's offensive coordinator position.

          Along with Knapp and Phillips, offensive coordinator Rick Dennison, a former Broncos player and longtime assistant with the team, special teams coordinator Joe DeCamillis, offensive line coach Clancy Barone, tight ends coach Brian Pariani, assistant offensive line coach James Cregg and assistant special teams coach Tony Coaxum will all be replaced.

          DeCamillis has accepted a job on Doug Marrone's staff with the Jacksonville Jaguars.

          Asked Thursday when he hoped to have his staff in place, Joseph said "a week, week and a half."