Broncos rumors: Insider drops cryptic hint at Denver’s next head coach

As the Denver Broncos continue their head coaching search, one NFL insider connected heavily to the team dropped a hint at who the hire might be.

It would be impossible for a new quarterback and new head coach to work out more poorly than it did for the Denver Broncos this season with Russell Wilson and Nathaniel Hackett. With the commitment made to the former, though, the team moved on from Hackett and has been active in trying to find a head coach who can salvage the signal-caller and situation as a whole.

It appears that we might be getting closer to that point — or at least that there might be some insider information about what direction Denver is going in.

NFL insider Benjamin Allbright, who is heavily sourced and connected with the Broncos, quote tweeted a prediction from Dec. 26 that current San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans will be the next head coach. And he dropped a cryptic message with the side-eye emoji to seemingly indicate that could be who takes up the clipboard in Denver.

Broncos rumors: DeMeco Ryans could be Denver’s next head coach according to insider hint

Ryans has obviously been connected to the Broncos and has interviewed with Denver, despite the fact that the 49ers are still alive in the NFL playoffs and are readying to face the Eagles in the NFC Championship Game on Sunday. However, that could be why any news of the hire has been delayed, too.

Including the San Francisco DC, Denver has interviewed eight candidates to replace Hackett: Cowboys DC Dan Quinn, former Saints head coach Sean Payton, Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh, Rams DC Raheem Morris, Denver DC Ejiro Evero, former Stanford head coach David Shaw, and former Lions and Colts head coach Jim Caldwell.

We know that Harbaugh is out of the running and it appears Payton is as well with rumblings that he may simply return to FOX for his broadcasting gig. So that limits the pool down to six candidates and Ryans is among the most attractive. His work with the 49ers defense has been stellar and the proof has been in the pudding.

Having said that, Hackett was great as the Packers offensive coordinator but flopped miserably as a head coach. If it is Ryans — or whoever it is — how the Broncos build the staff around him and establish the culture will be even more important to right the ship.