Ranking 7 Denver Broncos Head Coach Candidates

The Denver Broncos fired Nathaniel Hackett, leaving a new vacancy for the head coaching position.

The first round of interviews is already over, and Broncos fans know the nominee. But who are the best options for the future success of the Broncos Organization?

1. Sean Payton

Peyton ranks first among all candidates, and it’s easy to see why by looking at his resume.

Hired as head coach of the New Orleans Saints in 2006, Payton quickly earned a reputation as one of the best coaches in the league.

In fact, Payton’s first season as NFL head coach identified and maximized quarterback Drew Brees, leading his team to the NFC Championship Game with incredible success.

His early success didn’t stop there. By the time Payton leaves the Saints organization in his 2021 season, his list of accolades includes his AP Coach of the Year award, a Super Bowl win, and a 152-89 (63.1%) overall record. was

There are multiple qualities to being an elite NFL head coach, but the one that stands out the most for Payton is his ability to lead a prolific offense.

An offensive playcaller throughout his entire tenure as Saints head coach, Payton led the offense to the top 10 ranking with 12 scoring runs. This is no coincidence.

Take Drew Brees, for example, as a player who took a big step in the right direction by joining the Saints. Brees went from a one-time Pro Bowler to a first-team All-Pro in his first season under Peyton’s tutelage.

While there are few negatives when looking at Peyton’s track record, the way he left the organization is notable.

The Saints appeared to have sold a future to give them the best possible chance of winning in the short term, hoping to capitalize on the end of Brees’ career, but the damage was done and the goal met. Since it wasn’t done, Peyton retired and the franchise is in a very tough spot.

Now retired and looking for a new job, this should cause concern as Broncos decision makers need to get clear answers about Payton’s loyalty and ability to pull through a difficult season.

A move from Payton to the Broncos has always seemed a certainty since we interviewed him on Tuesday.

2. Demeko Lyons

The youngest of the Broncos contenders that Ryans may lack in experience, he makes up for with rare coaching qualities and defensive proficiency.

A former player and team captain, Ryans’ understanding of locker room dynamics is better than any other candidate on this list, making him a real “player coach.”

A successful “player coach” is someone with whom the player not only gets to know, but also builds a relationship and respect on the same level as the player. All of these qualities have led to building a successful locker his room, and Ryans is more qualified to achieve than anyone else.

His ability to instill a winning culture is a huge selling point, but his success as a defensive play-caller is often forgotten because of it.

As the 49ers’ defensive coordinator this season, the Ryans pick up where Robert Saleh left off, boasting the NFL’s #1 defense per DVOA. Not only did he rank first in scoring defense this year, but he was also ranked ninth last year under the Ryans.

Ryans’ mix of leadership and play calling is very interesting, but he doesn’t go without concerns.

Specifically, Ryans was very inexperienced as a coach, having been hired by the 49ers staff in 2017 and holding only the coordinator position for two of those seasons.

Not to mention in Broncos Country, the inexperience of the entire staff can lead to a lot of growing pains that seasoned coach candidates simply don’t have to endure.

3. Jim Caldwell

The most seasoned choice of any Broncos candidate, Caldwell brings a lot of experience, respect and direction to any franchise that chooses to hire him.

Coaching’s roots go back to 1977, when Caldwell was an assistant to the Iowa Hawkeyes, and his understanding of how a football team should be run was unmatched, and he was a master of it. have been successful.

Specifically, Caldwell has been the head coach of two NFL football teams, winning records with both the Indianapolis Colts and the Detroit Lions.

During those stints, Caldwell enjoyed a combined 62-50 record, a 2-4 playoff record, and a 2006 Super Bowl win.

In addition to his track record as a head coach, Caldwell’s biggest and most important quality that stands out is how much his former players love him, and his personal success is to his credit. Thing.

In fact, former Broncos legendary quarterback Peyton Manning told the record: After he came to Indianapolis and became my quarterback coach, my game felt really good. I feel like I’ve taken a step forward, and Jim was a big part of that. “

However, I have some concerns. What Caldwell has already proven in his NFL is pretty impressive, but he’s already 68 and whether he’s the right coach to lead the Broncos through a rebuild if needed. is not certain.

In addition, Caldwell suffered a health scare while serving as assistant head coach and quarterback coach for the Miami Dolphins in 2019, leading to his departure from the team and furthering those concerns.

4. David Shaw

Before taking his name out of consideration, Jim Harbaugh was Broncos Country’s favorite head coach candidate, and Shaw might be the next closest.

In fact, Shaw served in various positions under Harbaugh from 2006 to 2010 before eventually being named Stanford’s head coach once Harbaugh moved to the NFL in 2011.

A Stanford alumnus, Shaw enjoyed great college success, posting a 96-54 overall record in 12 seasons.

At the time, Shaw had great interest in the NFL, but was adamant about staying at Stanford.

Now he is in a unique position. With Shaw stepping down as Stanford’s head coach and the Broncos’ owner group already having a relationship with him, Greg Penner has a chance to land the long-coveted coach.

That said, Shaw hasn’t coached in the NFL since 2005 when he was the wide receiver coach for the Baltimore Ravens. And NFL games are very different from college games. Many great college coaches have attempted to make the jump to the NFL, with very few successes.

It can’t hurt Shaw’s track record at Stanford, but he’s coming off a 1-11 season, making him a less attractive option than he’s been in years.

5. Dan Quinn

The most obvious option among the Broncos head coach candidates, Quinn brings his previous successes as NFL head coach and coordinator to the table.

He first started gaining national attention in 2013. Quinn was the coordinator of the Seahawks’ “Legion of Boom” defense, one of the greatest defenses of all time.

Not long after, Quinn was hired as head coach of the Atlanta Falcons, making one Super Bowl appearance in 2016 and enjoying early success before being fired in 2020.

As a Broncos coaching candidate, there are many signs that he could get the job, but employers ignore the longevity of the team, which is why he ranks fifth on this list.

He has long-standing relationships with both Wilson and general manager George Peyton, so with all signs pointing to his two friends’ futures that the Broncos are in trouble, it’s safe to say that Quinn will You have to wonder how many leads you have.

Even if the Broncos retained Quinn after Wilson’s era, he wouldn’t have been in favor of growing and developing with a young quarterback.

In many ways, hiring Quinn feels like an attempt to put a band-aid on an injury that needs surgery.

6. Raheem Morris

Morris brings a very interesting mix of youth, experience and versatility to this year’s coaching cycle.

Morris began his career as a defensive back, starting his NFL coaching career with the Buccaneers from 2002-2005 and again from 2007-2015.

During that time, Morris worked his way up the coaching ranks, progressing from quality control coach to defensive backs coach, eventually being named head coach in 2009.

Morris served as head coach for three seasons without much success, finishing with an overall record of 17-31.

Since then, Morris has gained the necessary experience, working as an offensive assistant for five seasons before turning back to being the Rams’ defensive coordinator, helping them to their recent Super Bowl victory.

The experience Morris gained during this period was invaluable, and he eventually became a head coach candidate again at the young age of 46.

Ultimately, Morris would be hired as a solid coach for most teams, but in the case of the Broncos, he would ignore team longevity in the same way as Quinn.

Quinn ranks higher than Morris, but that’s at least because he seems to have a plan to get the most out of Wilson due to his connections with the Seahawks. Morris, on the other hand, doesn’t share those same connections, and if the Broncos are forced to find another quarterback in the near future, this list has other candidates with a proven track record of developing the position. increase.

7. Ejiro Evero

Evero, the lowest-ranked Broncos coach candidate, is a great defensive coordinator and head coach candidate, but he’s not a good fit for the Broncos after coaching a disappointing team last year.

As an assistant, Evero is a highly accomplished coach and has worked for some of the NFL’s most respected coaches, including Harbaugh, Vic Fangio, Wade Phillips, Monte Kiffin and Brandon Staley.

All this experience earned him his first crack as a defensive coordinator last season and he thrived, fielding one of the best defenses in the entire NFL for most of the season.

Evero will no doubt be the head coach in the near future, but it’s an odd fit for the Broncos.

Evero has had such a good relationship with last season’s staff that it’s unclear how different last season’s staff will be from this season’s staff, making him one of the least attractive options for the Broncos going forward. has become

Unfortunately, the Broncos need change. The Broncos will miss going into next season remembering his style of coaching last year.

Denver’s owners group is set to hold a second round interview with the upcoming head coach this week.

(For updates on the hiring process, visit the Broncos Coaching Tracker.)