SEAN PAYTON, JIM HARBAUGH AMONG CANDIDATES UP FOR BRONCOS HEAD COACHING JOB
For the second year running, the Denver Broncos are looking for a new head coach after they fired first-time HC Nathaniel Hackett on December 26th.
The team is now looking for its fifth head coach since its Super Bowl 50 exploits against the Carolina Panthers at Levi Stadium back in 2015 and has had the services of Gary Kubiak, Vance Joseph, Vic Fangio, and Nathaniel Hackett to little or no success. The organization will now look to move forward with new ownership adamant about bringing back the winning culture that is synonymous with the Broncos.
As per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport, the Broncos conducted a virtual interview with current University of Michigan Head Coach Jim Harbaugh for the head coaching job on Monday. According to multiple sources around the league and in college football, Harbaugh’s flirtation with the NFL is serious and according to Monday reports by The Athletic, a former Jim Harbaugh associate believes that Harbaugh “will flat out go to Denver” after interviewing for the job.
Harbaugh was 44-19-1 as an NFL head coach through four seasons and led the San Francisco 49ers to three NFC Championship games and an appearance in Super Bowl XLVII before he left to return to college football. The 59-year-old has been at his alma mater since 2015 and might be looking for a change of scenery. The University of Michigan, however, reserves some leverage here and could make all the drama surrounding their highly sought-after head coach go away by signing him to a big-money extension.
The team also plans to interview former Saints Head Coach Sean Payton after they received permission to speak to him from New Orleans in the past few days. The Broncos, however, cannot interview Payton physically until January 17 per an NFL ruling. Both the Broncos and the Saints have had discussions about compensation as per Ian Rapoport, and what it would take to make the deal happen including possible draft picks.
Payton said Sunday on the Fox pregame show that the Broncos were the first team to contact him. “I was able to have a conversation with their owner,” Payton said. “The interview process cannot officially begin until the 17th so that’s where it’s at.”
The Broncos have also formally requested permission to interview highly sought-after San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans, Los Angeles Rams defensive coordinator Raheem Morris, and one of the team’s top candidates last year, Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn.
In-house candidate and the team’s incredible defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero is also a name in the running for the job and will interview in person with the Broncos this week. As per Tom Pelissero, Evero will interview for the job today, on Tuesday.
“Selfishly, I’d love it to be Coach E,” Broncos safety Justin Simmons said of Evero. “Whatever that looks like, head coach back as the D coordinator. He’s helped my game so much this year.” Seventh-year defensive back Justin Simmons led the NFL in interceptions this year with six.
Starting quarterback Russell Wilson was asked about the coaching search on Sunday night and spoke specifically about the candidates linked to the head coaching job. “You mentioned Sean Payton,” Wilson said. “I’ve been around Sean, obviously at the Pro Bowl. I’ve been around him across the league and I’ve played against them quite a bit. He’s one of the world’s best.
“Obviously a guy who has coached a Hall of Fame quarterback in Drew Brees, who was one of my closest friends and the guy that I got to know across the league and so many other great players. He’s competitive as can be. He’s a winner and obviously won a Super Bowl, and then at the highest level, I was able to be around him at the Pro Bowl and just the wizardry that you would have on the field was just magnificent.
“It was spectacular just being around him and just [Saints running back] Alvin Kamara, myself, [Saints wide receiver] Michael Thomas, just these guys, we were just talking about ball and just how you saw the game. He’s competitive as can be and he knows how to push guys at the ultimate level.”
Wilson also talked about Harbaugh, saying, “I played against him early in my career when I was in Seattle and he was with the 49ers. I don’t know him personally as much but obviously, he’s a great coach. He’s done a lot of winning too.”
“There are a lot of great people and people talk about Dan Quinn,” Wilson said of the Cowboys’ defensive coordinator. “I know him personally too. He’s an amazing coach as well as an amazing person, an amazing soul, a great leader but I know ‘Coach E’s’ [Broncos defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero] in here too. So, there are some great candidates.
“I think that the great thing is we had the right people leading us. Obviously [Owner/CEO] Greg [Penner] I know he’s helped lead the way and [General Manager] George [Paton]. He’s one of the best GMs in the game so grateful to be with these guys in this locker room and grateful to see what happens.”
-Maher Abucheri
Twitter: @pabloikonyero
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