Biography
Pete Carmichael enters his first season as senior offensive assistant for the Denver Broncos in 2024. He was hired by the club on Feb. 14.
Carmichael is a 30-year coaching veteran with 24 years of NFL experience with New Orleans (2006-23), San Diego (2002-05), Washington (2001) and Cleveland (2000). He comes to Denver after spending the previous 18 seasons with the Saints, 15 of which he served as offensive coordinator.
Pete Carmichael enters his first season as senior offensive assistant for the Denver Broncos in 2024. He was hired by the club on Feb. 14.
Carmichael is a 30-year coaching veteran with 24 years of NFL experience with New Orleans (2006-23), San Diego (2002-05), Washington (2001) and Cleveland (2000). He comes to Denver after spending the previous 18 seasons with the Saints, 15 of which he served as offensive coordinator.
During Carmichael's 15 years as offensive coordinator, the Saints produced 10 Associated Press All-Pros as well as 18 Pro Bowlers. He was also a key piece in coordinating an offense that ranked in the Top 10 for 14 consecutive seasons, the third-longest streak since the 1970 merger.
During Carmichael's tenure, the Saints ranked first in points scored (27.1), touchdowns per game (3.2), yards per game (385.3), third down percentage (44.4) and total first downs (5,369). Additionally, he helped lead an offense that ranked near the top of the league in passing yards per game (271.5, 1st), completions (6,149, 1st), completion percentage (68.6, 1st), passing touchdowns (499, 2nd) and interceptions (190, 6th) in that span.
Carmichael worked closely with quarterback Drew Brees while in New Orleans and helped the signal caller lead the league or tie for the lead in passing yardage an NFL-record seven times. Brees also led the league in completion percentage four times and threw for a club-record 491 touchdowns over 15 seasons.
Under Carmichael's tutelage, Brees was an AP Offensive Player of the Year twice (2008, '11), a Pro Bowler 13 times (2004, '06, '08-14, '16-19), first-team AP All-Pro once (2006) and second-team All-Pro four times (2008-09, '11, '18).
Carmichael helped the Saints' offense set a record with the fewest turnovers in NFL history in 2019, giving the ball away only eight times en route to a 13-3 record and third straight NFC South Division title. New Orleans also ranked third in the league in points per game (28.6), sixth in yards per play (5.9) and seventh in net passing yards per game (265.3).
In Carmichael's offense that season, wide receiver Michael Thomas was voted AP Offensive Player of the Year after setting the club's receiving record with 1,725 yards on 149 receptions (11.6 avg.) with nine touchdowns. Tackle Ryan Ramczyk was also voted an All-Pro that season after being on a line that surrendered only 25 sacks, the third-fewest in the league.
Helping the Saints to another NFC South title in 2018, Carmichael's offense led the NFL in rushing scores (26) while ranking third in points per game (31.5), third in giveaways (16), sixth in rushing yards per game (126.6) and eighth in total offense (379.2). Brees set an NFL record 74.4 completion percentage, completing 364-of-489 passes for 3,991 yards with 32 touchdowns and five interceptions on his way to AP All-Pro honors while tackle Terron Armstead, Ramczyk and Thomas all received All-Pro accolades as well.
Under Carmichael in 2017, the Saints boasted an offense that ranked second in the league in yards per game (391.2) while also being the only team in the league to be top five in both passing (261.8 ypg) and rushing (129.4 ypg). Selected AP Offensive Rookie of the Year, Kamara set a league record for rookie running backs with 826 receiving yards on 81 catches (10.2 avg.) with five scores and also scored eight times on the ground along with 728 yards on 120 carries (6.1 avg.).
One of the most explosive offenses in the NFL in 2016, Carmichael helped orchestrate a unit that ranked first in the league in yards per game (426.0), passing yards per game (317.1), third down efficiency (48.6) and first downs (395). The team's 6,816 total yards were also the seventh-most in league history at the time.
That season, the Saints also became just the second team in league history to have two 1,000 yard receivers in Thomas (1,137) and wide receiver Brandin Cooks (1,173), a 1,000 yards rusher in running back Mark Ingram (1,043) and a 5,000 yards passer in Brees (5,208).
New Orleans ranked near the top of the league in multiple categories in 2015, leading the NFL in net passing yards per game (310.6), third down efficiency (48.3) and first downs (395) while also ranking second in total offense (403.8). Brees led the league with 4,870 passing yards on 428-of-627 passing (68.3%) with 32 touchdowns and 11 interceptions (101.0 rtg.).
Carmichael led a Saints' offense in 2014 that ranked first in the league in net passing yards per game (411.4), third down efficiency (48.3) and first downs (395) while also helping Brees tie for the league lead in passing yards (4,952) and rank second in completion percentage (69.2). Four Saints also were selected to the Pro Bowl that season, including Brees, guard Jahri Evans, tight end Jimmy Graham and Ingram.
New Orlean's offense in 2011 was one of the best under Carmichael, as the team set several NFL records that still stand today, including net yards per game (467.1), third down percentage (71.3) and fewest fumbles (6). The Saints also set records at that time that have since been broken, such as completion percentage (71.3), net passing yards (5,347) and first downs (416).
The Saints had four players named AP All-Pros that season, with Brees, Evans, Graham and tackle Carl Nicks being named to that honor. New Orleans also had five Pro Bowl selections in 2011, with Brees, tackle Jermon Bushrod, Evans, Graham and Nicks all being sent to the annual All-Star game.
Brees had one of his most prolific seasons under Carmichael in 2011, breaking NFL records at the time in yards (5,476), completions (468), 300-yard passing games (13) and completion percentage (71.2). Graham also led all tight ends that season with 99 receptions while posting the second-most receiving yards (1,310) and touchdown receptions (11) in his position group.
In his first season as offensive coordinator in 2009, Carmichael oversaw an offense that racked up a league-best 31.9 points per game and 403.8 yards per game en route to a Super Bowl XLIV title. That season, Brees led the NFL in completion percentage (70.6), passing scores (34) and passer rating (109.6) while also being named Super Bowl XLIV MVP in the season finale.
Carmichael first joined the Saints in 2006 as the quarterbacks coach before being promoted to the role of quarterbacks/passing game coach for the 2007-08 seasons. In that role, he was tasked with assisting in passing routes, protections and quarterback responsibilities.
Prior to his time with New Orleans, Carmichael spent four seasons with San Diego, where he worked as an offensive assistant and quality control coach from 2002-03 and assistant wide receivers and quality control coach from 2004-05. He started his stint in the NFL with Cleveland as the offensive assistant and tight ends coach in 2000 before serving as a quality control coach for the 2001 season with Washington.
Before breaking into the NFL, Carmichael spent five seasons as the quarterbacks coach at Louisiana Tech (1995-99), where the signal callers eclipsed almost every school passing record under his tutelage. He began his coaching career as an assistant offensive line coach at the University of New Hampshire in 1994.
Carmichael earned his bachelor's degree in mathematics in 1994 from Boston College. He was a four-year baseball letterman, and as a senior was named a team captain and team Most Valuable Player.
A native of Medway, Mass., Carmichael and his wife, Tina, have two sons, PJ and John, and one daughter, Allison.
ASSOCIATED PRESS ALL-PRO PLAYERS COACHED (10): T Terron Armstead (2018), QB Drew Brees (2006, '08-09, '11, '18), G Jahri Evans (2009-13), TE Jimmy Graham (2011, '13), WR Deonte Harty (2019), RB Alvin Kamara (2017, '20), T Carl Nicks (2010-11), T Ryan Ramczyk (2018-20), WR Rashid Shaheed (2023), WR Michael Thomas (2018-19).
PRO BOWL PLAYERS COACHED (18): T Terron Armstead (2018-20), QB Drew Brees (2006, '08-14, '16-19), T Jermon Bushrod (2011-12), TE Jared Cook (2019), G Jahri Evans (2009-14), G Jonathan Goodwin (2009), TE Jimmy Graham (2011, '13, '14), WR Deonte Harty (2019), RB Mark Ingram (2014, '17), RB Alvin Kamara (2017-21), OL Erik McCoy (2023), T Carl Nicks (2010-11), T Andrus Peat (2018-20), WR Rashid Shaheed (2023), T Jon Stinchcomb (2009), WR Michael Thomas (2017-19), C Max Unger (2018), G Larry Warford (2017-19).
COACHING EXPERIENCE
Denver Broncos
Senior Offensive Assistant 2024
New Orleans Saints
Offensive Coordinator 2009-23
Quarterbacks/Passing Game 2007-08
Quarterbacks 2006
San Diego Chargers
Assistant WRs/Quality Control Coach 2004-05
Offensive Assistant/Quality Control Coach 2002-03
Washington Commanders
Quality Control Coach 2001
Cleveland Browns
Tight Ends Coach/Offensive Assistant 2000
Louisiana Tech
Quarterbacks Coach 1995-99
New Hampshire
Assistant Offensive Line Coach 1994