Denver Broncos: Top head coach candidates
By Stephen Igoe
Four names have emerged as serious candidates for the Denver Broncos head coaching vacancy. Who are they and how do they fit what John Elway is looking for?
The Denver Broncos sent shockwaves through the NFL this week when general manager John Elway and former head coach John Fox decided to part ways Monday evening. Despite Jay Glazer’s report that Fox might be canned prior to Denver’s divisional round matchup with Indianapolis if the Broncos lost, the move was still met with surprise around the league. After all, it’s not often a coach wins four division titles in a row and finds himself back on the coaching carousel market.
In the aftermath, the Broncos coaching vacancy becomes an intriguing one, but also one with a lot more questions than answers. What’s happening with Peyton Manning, and what is Denver’s quarterback situation if he doesn’t return? Just how hard and demanding is Elway to work for? What’s the status of Demaryius Thomas, Julius Thomas and more soon-to-be free agents?
It’s a messy situation, but one – that with the right fit – could be fixed quickly and have the Broncos contending for a Super Bowl again soon. Below we look at the top candidates for the position and make the case for each.
Adam Gase
Although he’s technically still under contract as the offensive coordinator of the Broncos, Gase looks like he could be a head coach somewhere. The 36-year-old had two intense meetings with the 49ers about their head coaching position before San Francisco decided to promote from within. Gase also reportedly met with Elway about the Denver opening on Wednesday morning.
Gase makes some sense for the Broncos. He could keep some of the current staff in place and the offense wouldn’t have to change if Manning decides to give it one last hurrah. But it also wouldn’t be smart for Elway and Co. just to hire Gase to appease Manning – a short-term move that could set Denver back if Gase isn’t an upgrade at head coach.
There’s always the chance Elway could just be doing his due diligence and interviewing Gase as part of the process. An official offer to become head coach of the Broncos may never be extended.
Dan Quinn
A candidate to get interviewed by a number of different teams, Quinn is one of the hottest names on the coaching market. But it could be a while before he’s able to seriously consider any head coaching position, seeing as the Seahawks are in the middle of another strong playoff run.
Quinn has coached under some of the strongest-minded people in the coaching business, including Nick Saban and now Pete Carroll, and he flat out knows defense. After all, he was the supposed mastermind behind last year’s Super Bowl performance in shutting down Manning and the Broncos.
Elway mentioned during Tuesday’s press conference that he wants a coach with a Super Bowl pedigree. Well, Quinn has been to the Super Bowl, and he’s won it, even if it was as an assistant. The problem for the Broncos is there could be a lot of competition. Virtually everyone wants to interview Quinn, and various reports have the Falcons wanting Quinn as their top candidate.
Teryl Austin
Austin is an interesting name because he’s linked to winning teams. Everywhere he’s been of late, the championship appearances seem to follow. The 49-year-old won a Super Bowl with the Ravens (2012) as the secondary coach, and made it to the big game as the defensive backs coach with the Seattle Seahawks (2006) and Arizona Cardinals (2009).
He also spent a season under Urban Meyer at Florida in 2010 before moving back to the NFL with Baltimore. Austin got his first professional defensive coordinator gig with the Detroit Lions this past season. The result? The Lions ranked second in the NFL in total defense, allowing just more than 300 yards per game, and made the playoffs.
Austin has a busy schedule ahead as a top-flight candidate for a number of teams. He’s scheduled to interview with the Falcons on Thursday before heading to Denver on Friday.
Gary Kubiak
Just days before the Denver job opened up, Kubiak told the media he plans to stay in Baltimore for the foreseeable future under John Harbaugh. But ESPN’s Adam Schefter has since reported that the Broncos will seek permission to interview Kubiak earlier this week.
At this time, there’s no confirmed reports that there are mutual interest on both sides, but one has to think it’d be tough for Kubiak to at least not be somewhat interested. He’s spent an awfully long time in Denver, including as the quarterback at one time behind Elway and the offensive coordinator from 1995-2005, a span that resulted in a ton of success under Mike Shannahan and back-to-back Super Bowl titles at one point.
Elway and Kubiak are good buddies, so don’t be surprised at all if the Broncos can at least convince the 53-year-old to interview.