The Denver BroncosThe search for a new head coach is officially underway less than a day after the end of their 2022 season.
The team has already asked to interview five candidates to fill the vacant position, According to several reports. This list includes former New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton, University of Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh, Dallas Cowboys Defensive Coordinator Dan Quinn, Los Angeles Rams Defensive coordinator Raheem Morris and San Francisco 49ers DeMeco Ryans defensive coordinator.
It’s a star-studded list and four of the five names already have NFL head coaching experience. But that’s what the Broncos need next the team went all-in to Russell Wilson this offseason only to fire freshman head coach Nathaniel Hackett 15 games into his tenure.
After a horrible 5-12 season the first year under new ownership, the Walton-Penner Group will likely be looking for a big boost to revive their franchise. They don’t want another inexperienced coach for their dear team. Therefore, it makes sense to look almost exclusively at candidates with NFL wins under their belt.
Payton, Harbaugh top candidate list
Payton is arguably the biggest name the Broncos have asked to speak with and he’ll be a highly coveted candidate this spring.
denver has already asked permission to speak with Payton but cannot officially interview him until January. 17 and Payton himself confirmed that he had already spoken with Broncos ownership, also. New Orleans is also reportedly requested at least one first-round pick in exchange for the right to hire Payton, who is still under contract after resigning last offseason.
Payton makes sense as a top contender, though: He’s a proven offensive coach who helped make Drew Brees one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time. The idea would be that he could do the same for Wilson after the veteran passer’s worst season in the NFL.
Harbaugh is an intriguing choice too given his success with both the San Francisco 49ers and at the college level with Michigan. He went 44-19-1 in four seasons with the 49ers, including a Super Bowl win in 2012. Harbaugh is also 74-25 in eight seasons with Michigan.
He almost returned to the NFL last year as an NFL candidate Minnesota Vikings head coaching job, but ultimately lost the position to Kevin O’Connell and returned to lead Michigan to the College Football Playoffs for the second straight year. Harbaugh has previously said he ‘expects’ to coach Michigan next yearbut an imminent investigation by the NCAA might change your mind – especially if NFL teams come calling.
Quinn, Morris and Ryans all have defensive backgrounds
The other candidates are all either successful defensive coordinators or former head coaches – or both.
Quinn coached the Atlanta Falcons for six seasons, including a Super Bowl appearance in 2016. He also has ties to Broncos general manager George Paton – both worked for the Miami Dolphins from 2005-2006. Quinn actually interviewed for the Broncos head coaching job in 2022 — along with other open jobs — but eventually returned to the Cowboys for another year.
Morris actually has two head coaching stints under his belt: first with the Tampa Buccaneers from 2009 to 2011, then for the Falcons’ final 11 games of the 2020 season after Atlanta fired Quinn. He had great success in his last job as defensive coordinator for the Los Angeles Rams since 2021.
Ryans is another sought-after candidate after his final two seasons as the 49ers’ defensive coordinator. San Francisco’s defense ranked first in yards and points allowed this season after ranking third in yards and ninth in points in 2021. The Broncos may have to wait the longest for Ryans because his 49ers are the No. 1. 2 seed in the NFC playoffs and have the fourth best chance of winning the Super Bowl, according to FiveThirtyEight.
Which direction should the Broncos go?
That’s the ultimate question for a team that had Super Bowl aspirations heading into the 2022 season. The Broncos can’t afford to miss their head coach again after sniffing out Hackett. The roster is also nearly locked down, after Denver had a great time last offseason and is hanging on for at least two more years with Wilson.
Despite all the missteps this season, the Broncos finished their last two games well without Hackett. Denver averaged 27.5 points and went 1-1 through the end of the season. The defense has also been excellent for most of the season, finishing 14th in points allowed and 7th in yards allowed. The pieces are there, the Broncos just need a coach who can put it all together.
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