Broncos' DeCamillis turns to valuable family connection ahead of interim debut

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Special teams coordinator and now interim head coach Joe DeCamillis will have some immense shoes to fill on a short week as he will lead the Denver Broncos into Qualcomm Stadium to face division rival San Diego on Thursday night.

Although this will be the first time DeCamillis will be charged with making all game-related decisions, the wealth of knowledge he can lean upon in current and former coaches that have crossed his path in his 27 seasons working for an NFL organization may prove crucial in his inaugural outing as head coach of a pro football team.

One of those former coaches DeCamillis is sure to summon for key advice is former Broncos and Falcons’ head coach Dan Reeves. Besides serving on three different coaching staff’s lead by Reeves, DeCamillis also possesses a more personal relationship with the ex-coach that goes further than just X’s and O’s. Reeves is his father-in-law.

DeCamillis began his NFL journey as a member of the administration staff for the Denver Broncos in 1989. In 1991, while Reeves was the head coach of the team, ‘Joe D’ was promoted to his first coaching gig as a defensive quality coach.

DeCamillis proceeded to then follow Reeves to both New York and Atlanta after his release from the Broncos where he served as special teams coordinator for both the Giants and Falcons to total 14 years under Reeves’ head coaching direction.

“I’m sure he’ll give me unsolicited advice, for sure,” DeCamillis joked about receiving advice from Reeves on Monday. “He’s been a great sounding board for all the years, and I’m sure he’ll have some nuggets for sure.”

It didn’t take DeCamillis long to reach out to his father-in-law. During his meeting with the local media on Tuesday, he spoke of the multiple times he and Reeves have already communicated since being named Gary Kubiak’s fill-in for Thursday night just over 24 hours prior.

”I’ve talked to him a couple times now,” said DeCamillis of his back-and-forth with Reeves. “I’ve texted and then spoke with him this morning. He was good, he was great and very supportive. He did say to try to make sure that you be yourself. He said that’s the best advice that he got from [Pro Football Hall of Fame Head Coach Tom] Landry when he started and so I’m going to try to continue that as much as I can.”

With Reeves having coached in four Super Bowls as a head coach, DeCamillis would be wise to listen to every word of advice offered to him by Reeves ahead of his head coaching debut in San Diego come Thursday evening.