Denver Broncos

The Denver Broncos' search for a new head coach is reportedly progressing toward its final stages.

According to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, Denver has narrowed its list to "a few" candidates. Fowler also reported Sunday that Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn was believed to be one of the finalists.

Mike Klis of 9NEWS in Denver reported Saturday that Broncos general manager George Paton is "giving strong consideration to" holding a second round of interviews with two or three finalists. Klis stated that Paton and his search committee interviewed seven candidates in a four-day span.

Quinn is believed to be the front-runner for the position because of his prior working relationship with Paton. They were together in the Miami Dolphins organization from 2005 to 2006, with Paton serving as director of player personnel and Quinn as defensive line coach.

Quinn is one of the most popular candidates in this hiring cycle, as he's drawn interest from multiple teams. Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer reported that Quinn is scheduled to interview with the New York Giants on Monday.

Per Klis, Green Bay offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett has also emerged as one of the top options Denver is pursuing.

"Green Bay offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett also figures to be among the top two to five candidates because of his previous play-calling experience in Jacksonville and natural head coach-type presence," Klis wrote.

Cowboys offensive coordinator Kellen Moore, New England Patriots inside linebackers coach Jerod Mayo and Philadelphia Eagles defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon were also reportedly among those to interview for the position.

Philadelphia Eagles defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon is making a strong impression on teams in search of a new head coach. 

Per Mike Klis of 9News, Gannon had a "great" interview with the Denver Broncos when the sides met Wednesday. 

This comes after ESPN's Dan Graziano reported Friday that Gannon is considered the front-runner for the Houston Texans' job after making a "very strong impression" in his interview. 

The Broncos announced Wednesday they completed an interview with Gannon, who met with general manager George Paton and other members of the front office. 

Denver got a slight head start on its head coaching search by virtue of playing its final game of the regular season Saturday, Jan. 8. The team announced Vic Fangio's firing after three seasons the following day

In two weeks since Fangio's departure, the Broncos have met with 10 coaching candidates. Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy spoke with them Friday. 

Paton knows Gannon very well from their four seasons together with the Minnesota Vikings. Paton was their assistant general manager when Gannon worked on Mike Zimmer's staff as assistant defensive backs coach from 2014 to 2017. 

Last season was Gannon's first year as a defensive coordinator. He spent the previous three seasons as defensive backs coach for the Indianapolis Colts. 

The Eagles defense ranked in the top 11 in passing yards allowed (220.9) and rushing yards allowed (107.9) this season under Gannon. They made the playoffs for the first time since 2019 but lost 31-15 to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the NFC Wild Card Round. 

Denver finished the 2021 season with a 7-10 record. The franchise has missed the playoffs in each of the past six seasons and hasn't had a winning record since 2016.    

Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy is reportedly going to interview with the Denver Broncos on Friday. 

Per ESPN's Adam Schefter, Bieniemy will meet with the Broncos "in what is expected to be the last of 10 [head coach] interviews currently scheduled."

The Broncos have cast a wide net in their search to find Vic Fangio's replacement.

Dallas Cowboys offensive coordinator Kellen Moore and defensive coordinator Dan Quinn, New England Patriots linebackers coach Jerod Mayo and Green Bay Packers offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett are among the notables who have already spoken with Denver. 

Bieniemy has been one of the most popular head-coaching candidates in recent years, but he has yet to be hired by a team. The 52-year-old interviewed with five of the six teams that had vacancies last year. 

Chiefs head coach Andy Reid has spoken in the past about his disappointment that Bieniemy has not yet gotten the opportunity to be an NFL head coach. 

"Well, listen, I think he’s top-notch," Reid told reporters in January 2021. "At the risk of being redundant, I have not seen many guys that are as great a leader as he is of men. And in this business, that’s huge. You’re never going to have to worry about Eric Bieniemy, never—on the field, off the field. He’s going to be honest with you and straightforward, and then he knows the offense."

Bieniemy has been on Reid's coaching staff in Kansas City since 2013. He spent his first five seasons as running backs coach before being promoted to offensive coordinator after Matt Nagy was hired as head coach of the Chicago Bears in January 2018. 

In four seasons with Bieniemy as offensive coordinator, Kansas City has never finished lower than sixth in points per game. 

The Broncos fired Fangio on Jan. 9 after finishing 7-10 this season. They went 19-30 in three seasons with Fangio as head coach. The organization hasn't made the playoffs since winning Super Bowl 50 in 2015.    

The Denver Broncos franchise is reportedly expected to be sold this offseason. If that does happen, a potential bidder has emerged.

According to Michael McCarthy and A.J. Perez of Front Office Sports, billionaire investor Robert F. Smith could possibly be among those looking to become the team's new owner. If Smith manages to complete the deal, he would be the first Black owner in the 101-year history of the NFL.

Smith has an estimated net worth of $6.7 billion and is ranked as the richest Black person in America, according to Forbes. The Broncos were valued at $3.75 billion last year by Forbes. A potential sale of $4 billion or more would be the richest team sale in U.S. sports history.

A native of Denver, Smith is the chairman and CEO of Vista Equity Partners after he founded the company in 2000. During his 2019 commencement address at Morehouse College, he pledged to pay off the student loan debts of over 400 students.

Smith has also been involved in some controversy. In 2020, he was accused of having over $200 million in unreported income and hiding assets in the British Virgin Islands and Switzerland. He avoided indictment by entering into a non-prosecution agreement in October of that year.

If Denver is put up for sale, it will likely be through an auction because it is under the Patrick D. Bowlen Trust. Mike Klis of 9News in Denver reported Wednesday that the trustees "would have a fiduciary responsibility to the trust's beneficiaries to go with the highest bidder, pending approval from 24 of the NFL's 32 owners." The beneficiaries are Bowlen's seven children and his brother John.

Broncos president of operations and NFL Hall of Famer John Elway has expressed interest in being a part of the new ownership group. Woody Paige of The Denver Gazette reported that there are six groups expected to be involved in bidding for the franchise. Paige stated that former Denver quarterback Peyton Manning is in one of the groups. Paige also reported that one of Bowlen's daughters, Brittany, is preparing to bid on the team.

The Denver Broncos are planning to interview New England Patriots inside linebackers coach Jerod Mayo and Philadelphia Eagles defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.

The Broncos announced Tuesday they had conducted interviews with the Dallas Cowboys' lead assistants, offensive coordinator Kellen Moore and defensive coordinator Dan Quinn.

According to 9News' Mike Klis, Denver is still looking to speak with Los Angeles Rams offensive coordinator Kevin O'Connell, Cincinnati Bengals offensive coordinator Brian Callahan and Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy.

The three are all coaching in the NFL playoffs, which has complicated the process of finalizing interview times.

When making a coaching change, teams occasionally go in the opposite direction of whatever they had with their previous leader. After Vic Fangio only lasted three seasons, the Broncos don't appear averse to hiring another defensive-minded coach. 

Mayo spent eight seasons with the Patriots as a player and retired after the 2015 season. He returned to New England as a coach in 2019, and the fact he's already getting head-coaching interviews demonstrates how quickly his stock has risen.

The 35-year-old said Bill Belichick has offered some advice about the interview process as a whole:

Because of the spotty track record for Belichick's coaching tree, Mayo might be a somewhat uninspired choice in the eyes of Broncos fans.

Gannon's hiring might lead to the same reaction.

The 39-year-old worked with the Atlanta Falcons, Tennessee Titans, Minnesota Vikings and Indianapolis Colts before earning his current role with Philadelphia.

In his first season as the defensive coordinator, the Eagles ranked 10th in yards allowed (328.8) and 18th in points allowed (22.6). They were also 25th in defensive efficiency at Football Outsiders.

After transforming the Dallas Cowboys offense into one of the NFL's best units, Kellen Moore is going to meet with several teams about their head coaching vacancies. 

Per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, Moore will interview with the Denver Broncos on Tuesday. 

Rapaport noted Moore also has interviews scheduled with the Minnesota Vikings and Miami Dolphins. 

Moore just finished his third season as Cowboys offensive coordinator. They have finished in the top six in Football Outsiders' offensive DVOA in two of the past three seasons, including sixth in 2021. 

The only season Dallas didn't rank in the top six during that span was 2020 when Dak Prescott missed the final 11 games because of a compound fracture and dislocated right ankle.

Dallas led the NFL in scoring (31.2 points per game) and yards (407.0 yards per game) during the 2021 regular season. 

Things didn't end well for the Cowboys in 2021, as they fell 23-17 to the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Wild Card Round on Sunday. Their offense only managed 307 yards, and Prescott was pressured over 20 times on 43 pass attempts, per ESPN's Nick Wagoner.

There was a lot of criticism directed at the offensive play-calling coming out of the game, specifically the final call, with Prescott running a draw with 14 seconds left on the clock. 

Per NFL reporter Michael Silver, Moore called the play and head coach Mike McCarthy gave the OK on the headset. 

Prescott gained 17 yards to get down to the 49ers' 24-yard line, but time expired as he spiked the ball, which prevented the Cowboys from having a final shot at the end zone. 

Despite the brutal ending, Moore's track record does indicate he could be a successful head coach. 

The Broncos are looking for a new coach after firing Vic Fangio on Jan. 9. They finished this season with a 7-10 record and haven't made the playoffs since winning Super Bowl 50 in 2015.    

Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn is considered to be one of the most popular head-coaching candidates this offseason, and he will reportedly be a busy man this week.

ESPN's Adam Schefter reports that Quinn is scheduled to interview with the Denver Broncos, Minnesota Vikings, Miami Dolphins and Chicago Bears for their head coach vacancies.

In his first year with the Cowboys, Quinn led a defense that ranked seventh in the NFL, with opponents averaging 21.2 points per game. Dallas also led the league with 34 takeaways and a plus-14 turnover differential.

After putting together a 12-5 record, the Cowboys' season ended in disappointing fashion on Sunday in a 23-17 loss to the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Wild Card Round. Dallas trailed for the entire game and allowed San Francisco to put up points in each of its first four drives. The Cowboys were called for 14 penalties, which tied for the most in franchise playoff history.

Before joining the Cowboys coaching staff, Quinn served as head coach of the Atlanta Falcons for a little over five seasons. He helped lead the Falcons to an appearance in Super Bowl LI, but they lost to the New England Patriots after giving up a 28-3 lead. Quinn was fired after an 0-5 start to the 2020 season. 

One team that is reportedly high on Quinn is the Broncos. Sports Illustrated's Mike Fisher reported earlier this month that Quinn would be considered a "top candidate" in Denver or with the Seattle Seahawks if they parted ways with head coach Pete Carroll. The Seahawks are expected to retain Carroll for a 13th season.

Dan Quinn is looking to help lead the Dallas Cowboys to the Super Bowl as their defensive coordinator, but he may be on the sidelines in the AFC next season.

NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reported the former Atlanta Falcons head coach is the "favorite" to fill the coaching vacancy for the Denver Broncos after the AFC West team fired Vic Fangio.

Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports also noted "there is a growing expectation that he will be the candidate to beat for that opening."

Quinn will interview with the Broncos on Tuesday, per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.

The Broncos might have competition from Quinn's current employer, though, as La Canfora reported the Cowboys ownership holds the defensive coordinator "in very high regard" and could move on from head coach Mike McCarthy should they lose to the San Francisco 49ers in the playoffs.

Quinn was also a defensive coordinator for the Seattle Seahawks when they went to two straight Super Bowls and won one during the 2013 and 2014 campaigns.

His head coaching experience is limited to his time with the Falcons from 2015 until he was fired during the 2020 season. He finished with a 43-42 record and reached the playoffs in two of his six years at the helm.

Atlanta's best season during his tenure was in 2016 when it advanced to the Super Bowl but lost a commanding lead to the New England Patriots.

Quinn quickly returned to coaching this year with the Cowboys and helped lead the team to an NFC East crown. The defense featured stars such as Micah Parsons and Trevon Diggs and finished seventh in the league in points allowed per game.

As for the Broncos, they are looking to turn things around after missing the playoffs for the sixth straight year.

While Quinn has an impressive resume, it is somewhat surprising to see them look toward another defensive coach after Fangio went just 19-30 in three years as the head coach since he was also a defensive coordinator before heading to Denver.

Offensive and quarterback concerns have largely held the team back in the AFC West of late, although Quinn has a track record of success as a head coach that Fangio didn't before accepting the Broncos job.             

The Denver Broncos are moving on from Vic Fangio after three seasons.

A team official confirmed the Broncos fired Fangio on Sunday, a day after the team completed a 7-10 season, per ESPN's Adam Schefter. Denver went 19-30 in Fangio's three seasons.

The Broncos job is expected to be among the most sought-after head coaching vacancies, with Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reporting Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn, New England Patriots inside linebackers coach Jerod Mayo and Green Bay Packers offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett being among the names to watch.

George Paton, who took over the Broncos front office last January, will be leading the search after inheriting Fangio. Paton spent the previous 14 seasons with the Minnesota Vikings, so Mike Zimmer could be another name to watch if he winds up being fired in Minnesota.

Quinn spent parts of six seasons as the Atlanta Falcons head coach before being fired in 2020. The Falcons reached the Super Bowl under Quinn in the 2016 season but only made the playoffs twice during his tenure. He helped spearhead a defensive turnaround in Dallas this season that saw the Cowboys force an NFL-high 34 turnovers. 

Mayo has become one of the fastest-rising names in coaching since joining the Patriots in 2019. He previously interviewed for the Philadelphia Eagles' head-coaching vacancy last season and displays "rare leadership traits" behind the scenes, per Pelissero. 

Hackett may be the favorite if the Broncos plan to make a run at trading for Aaron Rodgers this offseason. The quarterback has thrived in his three years playing with Hackett, winning NFL MVP last season and sitting as the favorite this year. Rodgers' future remains very much up in the air, with the player and the Packers planning a meeting after the season to discuss their plans.

Rumors were already swirling about Rodgers wanting to play in Denver last offseason. The Broncos have an excellent group of young receivers and a solid ground game, with their poor quarterback play being the only hurdle to consistent playoff contention.

If Hackett winds up getting the job, expect the Rodgers rumor mill to heat up again. 

Denver Broncos veteran quarterback Teddy Bridgewater has suffered two concussions in less than four months, but it doesn't sound like he plans on stepping away from football anytime soon.

According to Mike Klis of 9News in Denver, Bridgewater was asked whether he plans on continuing to play next season and he responded, "Yeah, definitely."

Bridgewater has missed the last two games and was placed on injured reserve on Thursday, ruling him out for the season finale against the Kansas City Chiefs. He explained further that his love for every aspect of the sport of football is what keeps him coming back despite the blows he's suffered.

"I always say every time I get hit or every time I hit the ground, I ask God, 'Why am I doing this?'" Bridgewater said. "Then when I get up and come to work on a Wednesday and see these guys working hard, that’s why you do it.

"The interactions you have with the guys in the locker room. The smiles you get to put on a fan’s face. The feeling of competing. That’s why you do this."

After leading the Broncos to a 3-0 start to the season, Bridgewater's first concussion occurred in Denver's Week 4 loss to the Baltimore Ravens. The team is now 7-9 and will finish with a losing record for the fifth year in a row.

Bridgewater was hospitalized after his second concussion in Week 15 against the Cincinnati Bengals, for which he was stretchered off the field in a frightening scene. 

Drew Lock has started at quarterback in the past two games for Denver and will be under center against the Chiefs. Lock threw for 398 yards and a touchdown with no interceptions, but the Broncos lost both games with him as the starter.