Report: John Fox could be fired if Denver Broncos lose

Nov 2, 2014; Foxborough, MA, USA; Denver Broncos head coach John Fox wipes his face during the fourth quarter of their 43-21 loss to the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 2, 2014; Foxborough, MA, USA; Denver Broncos head coach John Fox wipes his face during the fourth quarter of their 43-21 loss to the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports

The Denver Broncos are trying to get back to the Super Bowl for a second straight year, but if they fail could it be the end of the John Fox era. 

It’s been a long ride for the Denver Broncos since they hired John Fox and signed Peyton Manning, but it’s a ride that won’t last forever. There is always the impending threat of Peyton Manning retiring and the thought is that when his contract is up in a few years, he will ride off into the sunset.

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But all of that could happen a lot sooner than we all thought, as the the clock could be ticking on not Peyton Manning but John Fo as head coach. After taking the Broncos to the postseason in every year as head coach, it’s been a successful run for Fox.

To show for it, the Broncos have early exits from the postseason and a blowout Super Bowl loss on their resume, and everyone knows the window is closing fast. According to Jay Glazer from FOX Sports, if the Broncos lose in the playoffs — especially to the Indianapolis Colts — then Fox might end up getting fired and replaced.

This seems like a crazy notion, as Fox is a key part of the Broncos success, but he’s not the linchpin. If he’s fired, the Broncos could go a variety of directions with head coach, from bringing back Mike Shanahan, to promoting Adam Gase or even talking a legend like Bill Cowher or Jon Gruden out of retirement for a few years to ride out the rest of Peyton Manning’s time.

Either way, there is pressure to win and John Elway said to CBS’ Phil Simms before the game that he will only feel like a failure if he doesn’t make changes that are in his control — firing John Fox being an unspoken option.

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