**ESPN Makes Bold Comment on Brandon Austin’s Take, as PFN Ranks Callahan Low Among Returners**

 

 

**ESPN Makes Bold Comment on Brandon Austin’s Take, as PFN Ranks Callahan Low Among Returners**

In a recent segment, ESPN weighed in on a controversial ranking that has drawn plenty of attention around the NFL world. Brandon Austin, a contributor for Pro Football Network (PFN), placed Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton’s offensive coordinator Joe Callahan at No. 24 out of 25 NFL offensive play-callers returning in 2025. This put him just ahead of New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll, whose offense struggled last season.

ESPN analysts were quick to respond, with one host saying the ranking was “borderline disrespectful,” especially considering the context around Callahan’s first full season handling play-calling duties. While many around the league acknowledge that the Broncos’ offense has been underwhelming, ESPN pointed out that Callahan wasn’t entirely to blame for the unit’s inconsistency.

“Callahan inherited a challenging situation,” said former NFL coach Rex Ryan on ESPN. “He had to fix a broken quarterback in Russell Wilson, deal with injuries along the offensive line, and lacked elite skill position talent. To place him at 24, just ahead of Brian Daboll, is pretty harsh.”

Brandon Austin, however, stood by his ranking, citing both statistical performance and film analysis in his explanation. He noted that despite Denver’s midseason improvements, the offense still ranked in the bottom third in nearly every major category, including yards per game and red zone efficiency. Austin claimed that while Callahan may have potential, his play design and in-game adjustments lacked creativity and urgency, particularly against elite defenses.

“He seemed hesitant to trust his personnel,” Austin wrote. “Even with Russell Wilson making strides, the offensive scheme felt overly conservative and disjointed. There were flashes of promise, but not enough to suggest he belongs anywhere near the top half of returning play-callers.”

The comparison to Brian Daboll adds another layer of complexity. Daboll, once hailed as a quarterback whisperer during his time with the Buffalo Bills, has seen his reputation dip after a tumultuous 2024 season with the Giants. Injuries to Daniel Jones and an ineffective offensive line crippled the Giants’ offensive rhythm, leaving many to wonder how much blame should fall on Daboll versus his circumstances.

Despite the criticism, some analysts believe the low ranking might serve as motivation for Callahan. ESPN’s Dan Orlovsky mentioned that the upcoming season could be a turning point for the young offensive coordinator, especially now that the Broncos are retooling their offense around rookie quarterback Bo Nix.

“If Callahan can mold Bo Nix into a reliable starter and get that offense humming, we’ll be having a very different conversation next year,” Orlovsky said.

With a new quarterback, improved roster depth, and a full offseason to implement his system, Callahan will have every opportunity to climb the rankings in 2025. Whether he proves Brandon Austin wrong remains to be seen, but ESPN’s bold take suggests that not everyone is buying into the PFN ranking.

For now, the pressure is on—and the spotlight is only getting brighter.

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