Quote:
By Woody Paige
The Denver Post
Posted: 12/28/2010 01:00:00 AM MST
Updated: 12/28/2010 07:35:37 AM MST
In this very column, in the next few minutes, for the first time anywhere, you will read the name of the Broncos' next head coach.
You also will read the name of the next general manager and, as a bonus, the names of possible defensive and offensive coordinators.
Now that I have your attention . . .
No official coach's list exists, as I wrote for Monday's column, because Broncos owner Pat Bowlen and chief operating officer Joe Ellis are waiting until next week, when John Elway formally rejoins the franchise as a top executive.
Elway probably will be the team's vice president of football operations, with Brian Xanders, all smiles Sunday night after the Broncos' victory over the Texans, becoming the actual general manager — after serving in a subservient role to Josh McDaniels, who made practically all the football decisions. Xanders is well-respected in the organization.
If Xanders is not retained, then the Broncos should examine Eric DeCosta (the Ravens' player personnel director), Ted Sundquist (former Broncos general manager-in-title under Mike Shanahan), Randy Mueller (former Saints and Dolphins GM) and Joel Collier (Chiefs assistant general manager and son of the Broncos' longtime defensive coordinator).
Assuming Xanders is elevated, the Four Horsemen will begin the process of selecting the Broncos' lucky (?) 13th head coach on Jan. 3.
Five of the past six Broncos coaches had offensive backgrounds. The club's defensive coordinator, Wade Phillips, was promoted in 1993 — and held the job for two seasons until Mike Shanahan was hired as head coach.
Phillips, a great coordinator, should be brought back in the same capacity. Another coordinator nominee could be Norv Turner, an accomplished ex-assistant who, it is anticipated, will be fired by the Chargers after Sunday's game with the Broncos. Mike Singletary, released by the 49ers on Sunday night, is another prospective defensive coordinator.
Oddly enough, the Broncos' new offensive coordinator might have been on the field in Denver on Sunday. If the Texans fire Gary Kubiak and his staff, both Kubiak and offensive coordinator Rick Dennison would be candidates. Kubiak, of course, was Elway's backup with the Broncos and the team's offensive coordinator under Shanahan. Dennison played and coached for the Broncos and was interviewed for the head coaching job last year. Either might return as head coach or coordinator.
The Broncos, in all probability, will discuss former NFL head coaches Jon Gruden, Bill Cowher, Brian Billick, Dom Capers, Mike Nolan, Jim Fassel, Rod Marinelli, Marty Mornhinweg, Gregg Williams and Mike Mularkey.
Gruden and Cowher won Super Bowls — and will be No. 1 and 1A on most lists of teams searching for a new coach. The other prominent name is Stanford's Jim Harbaugh, the coach du jour who has played quarterback and served as an assistant in the NFL. Bowlen might contemplate a run at Oklahoma's Bob Stoops.
Billick also won a Super Bowl with the Ravens, but, strangely, hasn't been approached by other franchises since he was fired, although six of his former assistants are head coaches.
Fassel, who took the Giants to the Super Bowl and has won, for what it's worth, two United Football League titles with Las Vegas, wants the Broncos' job. He was the quarterbacks coach when Elway had his best statistical season in 1993 and, as a Stanford assistant, recruited and coached Elway. He was Bowlen's second choice after Shanahan.
Twice, Nolan has been a Broncos assistant and was let go as defensive coordinator by McDaniels after last season. He was Singletary's predecessor with the 49ers. Marinelli (Bears defensive coordinator) and Mornhinweg (Eagles offensive coordinator) were Lions head coaches. Williams and Mularkey were back-to-back Bills head coaches. Williams is the league's best and most controversial defensive coordinator with the Saints. Mularkey, a former Florida player, is the Falcons' innovative offensive coordinator.
Other names the Broncos must deliberate on are Ron Rivera, the coordinator of the NFL's foremost (yardage against) defense in San Diego and an occasional head coaching runner-up; Tim Lewis (a former defensive coordinator who has interviewed several times as a minority candidate); Mike Pettine (Jets defensive coordinator); Capers (Packers defensive coordinator who coached the Panthers and the Texans); Perry Fewell (Giants defensive coordinator and, briefly, Bills interim coach); the Cowboys' Jason Garrett and the Vikings' Leslie Frazier, who are expected to have the interim tags removed in their present locales but were finalists with the Broncos before.
The Broncos' future head coach is somewhere in there. Find the name.
There are 239 users in the forums
Broncos' candidate list offers big names
- 1 2
Dec 28, 2010 at 11:25 PM
- PTulini
- Veteran
- Posts: 12,401
Link... (The Denver Post)
Dec 28, 2010 at 11:33 PM
- WillistheWall
- Veteran
- Posts: 22,848
I would laugh my ass off if they hired Nolan. It would be a shame to see Tebow saddled with that incompetent jackass as a head coach but it would be hilarious to see their team be saddled with him. I still can't stand him.
We really need to land Harbaugh though, because honestly I feel like if we don't then we're pretty much f**ked. Look at all these coaches interested in the Broncos. We would be competing with a bunch of other teams for HCs. We really need to get this s**t wrapped up quick here though. And if we can't get Harbaugh for sure, get Gruden. But we need to get our guy before everyone else does.
We really need to land Harbaugh though, because honestly I feel like if we don't then we're pretty much f**ked. Look at all these coaches interested in the Broncos. We would be competing with a bunch of other teams for HCs. We really need to get this s**t wrapped up quick here though. And if we can't get Harbaugh for sure, get Gruden. But we need to get our guy before everyone else does.
Dec 29, 2010 at 12:45 AM
- DesiDez
- Veteran
- Posts: 1,678
Woody Paige suggested Singletary as a possible Def. Coordinator lol
Dec 29, 2010 at 2:00 AM
- CalNiner49
- Veteran
- Posts: 5,719
Originally posted by DesiDez:
Woody Paige suggested Singletary as a possible Def. Coordinator lol
I would laugh my f**king ass off for 15 minutes straight if that happened.
I want us to hire Harbaugh. Jed should be on the phone talking to him about becoming the head coach of the 49ers now. We can't let him slip away from us.
Dec 29, 2010 at 8:06 AM
- TheXFactor
- Veteran
- Posts: 25,566
i dont see them getting a big coach like Cowher.
Maybe John Fox???
Maybe John Fox???
Dec 29, 2010 at 8:10 AM
- HessianDud
- Veteran
- Posts: 22,995
Singletary as DC...
Dec 29, 2010 at 8:20 AM
- Shifty
- Veteran
- Posts: 23,424
Originally posted by HessianDud:
Singletary as DC...
Dec 29, 2010 at 8:21 AM
- 9erfanAUS
- Veteran
- Posts: 16,281
Originally posted by Kalen49ers:Originally posted by HessianDud:
Singletary as DC...
Dec 29, 2010 at 8:54 AM
- GEEK
- Veteran
- Posts: 19,191
This is Woody pulling s**t out of his ass and hoping it sticks. Baseless article.
Dec 29, 2010 at 9:29 AM
- Allx9er
- Veteran
- Posts: 11,674
Originally posted by 9erfanAUS:Originally posted by Kalen49ers:Originally posted by HessianDud:
Singletary as DC...
Dec 29, 2010 at 9:31 AM
- global_nomad
- Veteran
- Posts: 14,827
Originally posted by Allx9er:Originally posted by 9erfanAUS:Originally posted by Kalen49ers:Originally posted by HessianDud:
Singletary as DC...
Dec 29, 2010 at 10:05 AM
- Afrikan
- Veteran
- Posts: 21,470
Originally posted by global_nomad:Originally posted by Allx9er:Originally posted by 9erfanAUS:Originally posted by Kalen49ers:Originally posted by HessianDud:
Singletary as DC...
hey if Mike Nolan gets the Broncos' HCing job, then anything can happen. I can see Nolan wanting to get someone he can control and is nutty as he is.
Dec 29, 2010 at 10:12 AM
- thedude
- Veteran
- Posts: 827
Originally posted by Afrikan:Originally posted by global_nomad:Originally posted by Allx9er:Originally posted by 9erfanAUS:Originally posted by Kalen49ers:Originally posted by HessianDud:
Singletary as DC...
hey if Mike Nolan gets the Broncos' HCing job, then anything can happen. I can see Nolan wanting to get someone he can control and is nutty as he is.
Nolan as HC and Singletary as DC, and a young QB who excels in a spread offense - now THAT is a recipe for success!
Oh wait, never mind
Dec 29, 2010 at 1:27 PM
- horsecore
- Veteran
- Posts: 4,280
Originally posted by global_nomad:Originally posted by Allx9er:Originally posted by 9erfanAUS:Originally posted by Kalen49ers:Originally posted by HessianDud:
Singletary as DC...
Dec 29, 2010 at 1:30 PM
- Rubberneck36
- Moderator
- Posts: 129,908
Originally posted by Frisco69ers:
i dont see them getting a big coach like Cowher.
Maybe John Fox???
yeah, Billick, Cowher, Fox and Gruden are the 4 big names.
I personnally think there are some great candidates not of the big 4.
Marty Mornhinweg will be a good coach for example.
- 1 2