Jim Harbaugh

Broncos Interview Jim Caldwell, David Shaw; Latest On Sean Payton, Jim Harbaugh Pursuits

January 11th, 2023 at 9:35pm CST by Sam Robinson

9:35pm: Add another list to the Broncos’ head coaching search. Denver interviewed former Stanford head coach David Shaw on Wednesday, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Shaw recently resigned from his post at Stanford after two consecutive 3-9 seasons. Despite the dismal finish to his career, Shaw left the Cardinal with a 96-54 record as a head coach.

Before becoming a mainstay in Stanford, Shaw held assistant coaching roles with the Raiders and Ravens coaching quarterbacks and wide receivers. His success at the NFL level combined with his winning tradition at Stanford made Shaw a hot commodity in the NFL, especially after the immediate NFL success of his Stanford predecessor, Jim Harbaugh, following his rise to the pros.

NFL teams will finally have their opportunity to kick the tires on Shaw, and it appears the Broncos are the first to do so. It would certainly be an interesting fit as Shaw has connections to fellow Stanford alumni Penner and Rice.

12:52pm: The Broncos added another name to their HC search. They are meeting with former Colts and Lions coach Jim Caldwell on Wednesday, Josina Anderson of CBS Sports tweets.

Caldwell’s interview will be in-person, 9News’ Mike Klis adds (via Twitter). A fixture on coaching carousels in recent years, Caldwell has already met with the Panthers. Caldwell’s AFC championship in Indianapolis and two playoff berths in Detroit aside, his entry into this race qualifies as a lower-profile development considering the other names connected to the Broncos.

Sean Payton has spoken with the Broncos, and an interview is expected. The team can interview Payton beginning Jan. 17. But some doubt regarding Payton’s interest in this job has emerged. The Broncos may want Payton more than vice versa, Dan Graziano of ESPN.com notes, and colleague Jeremy Fowler adds the prospect of a long-term Russell Wilson partnership has generated some skepticism around the league.

Wilson had the Saints on his 2021 list of acceptable trade destinations — before the Broncos landed on that list and became his preference — and Payton, from his FOX analyst role, offered some possible solutions to address Wilson’s stunning performance drop-off this season. The 16-year Saints HC is expected to be choosey, though he has said on multiple occasions he will likely coach again. Payton has also analyzed every team’s depth chart in preparation for a potential NFL return. A franchise quarterback is not a requirement for Payton, Jeff Howe of The Athletic writes (subscription required), but a path to one would move the needle. Although Wilson showed signs of his pre-Denver self to close the season, he probably does not qualify as a franchise QB after the year he had.

Payton would also be expected to bring his own personnel staff to Denver, Graziano adds, which could spell more trouble for Broncos GM George Paton. New Denver ownership’s curious plan of having both Paton and the next head coach report to ownership also could sound alarm bells for Payton, Howe adds, though that might not be too much of a concern given the price the Broncos will need to pay to lure Payton. It would not exactly be expected Denver would hire a new GM that is not approved by Payton, for whom the team may well need to trade a first-round pick.

A report Tuesday placed Harbaugh as an early frontrunner, but Fowler clarifies the Michigan HC is behind Payton. If the latter turns down the Broncos, Harbaugh will be the favorite. Harbaugh is rumored to be prepared to bring Tom Gamble, the former 49ers player personnel director who is now with the Wolverines, with him, per Fowler.

Unlike the Panthers, who were believed to be confused when Harbaugh reached out to them, Tom Pelissero said during a Dan Patrick Show appearance the Broncos contacted Harbaugh (video link). New CEO Greg Penner and co-owner Condoleezza Rice‘s ties to Stanford — where Harbaugh coached from 2007-10 — are driving this interest. The Broncos have done extensive research on the former 49ers coach, Fowler adds.

The Colts were rumored to be interested in Harbaugh, but they have not interviewed him yet. It would not surprise if such a meeting took place, with Fowler adding the Colts job appeals to Harbaugh. Jim Irsay‘s overreaching last year has made the Colts job less of a draw for some, Howe adds, but Harbaugh did play for the Colts for four seasons in the 1990s and holds a spot in their ring of honor.

Caldwell, 67, has been out of the league since a Dolphins one-off as an assistant HC in 2019. He joins Payton as an offense-oriented candidate. The rest of the Broncos’ candidate list includes defensive staffers — Ejiro Evero, Dan Quinn, DeMeco Ryans, Raheem Morris. Among this lot, Quinn, who interviewed for the Denver job last year, looks to have the best shot of landing the position, Pelissero adds. Quinn has ties to Paton dating back to their Dolphins days, though he appears to be a fallback option at this point.

Jim Harbaugh Early Frontrunner For Broncos HC Job?

January 10th, 2023 at 10:10pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Broncos’ second HC search in as many years is producing bigger headlines compared to their 2022 process, with Sean Payton and Jim Harbaugh regularly connected to the team. A Payton interview is expected, and the longtime Saints coach has spoken with the team. But Harbaugh is further along.

The Michigan coach interviewed with the Broncos virtually Monday, Tom Pelissero of NFL.com notes (video link). The team has sent out other interview requests, and its long-expected interview with defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero occurred Tuesday. But Harbaugh might have an early leg up. The eight-year Michigan HC is the early leader here, Troy Renck of Denver7 tweets.

This pushes back on Payton-to-Denver being a done deal, despite the Broncos and Saints having agreed on compensation for the current FOX analyst’s rights. A Payton move — believed to cost a first-round pick and more — would further deplete Denver’s draft arsenal, which the Russell Wilson trade already affected. The Broncos acquired a first-rounder in the Bradley Chubb trade but do not have a second-rounder this year. Denver did not make a first-round pick last year, with the Seahawks obtaining it for Wilson. Harbaugh, nor any of the other known Broncos candidates, would not cost any draft capital.

Despite Harbaugh’s proclamation that he expects to coach Michigan again in 2023, The Athletic’s Nick Baumgardner notes (via Twitter) the former 49ers HC is believed to be eager to return to the NFL. Harbaugh, 59, said he has unfinished business in the league, and the belief is he will strongly consider a return to the league this year. Harbaugh is interested in taking the Denver job, Mike Sando of The Athletic adds (subscription required).

Harbaugh was supposed to interview with the Broncos later this week, but Renck notes the parties bumped it up, making him the first to meet with Denver’s new ownership about the position. Harbaugh certainly carries a feather-ruffling reputation, and Renck adds some among the Broncos have bristled at the notion Harbaugh could become the team’s next coach. A clash with GM Trent Baalke helped lead Harbaugh out of San Francisco eight years ago.

The Panthers are no longer believed to be pursuing Harbaugh, per Sando and The Athletic’s Joe Person, and the Colts — rumored to have interest — have not set up an interview with the ex-Indianapolis QB. These developments clear an early path for the Broncos. Harbaugh interviewed for the Vikings job last year but was not offered, and a recent ESPN report indicated Michigan is under investigation for potential violations. That could help explain Harbaugh’s urgency to give the NFL another shot.

Payton would bring more to the table from an offensive scheming standpoint, something that will be critical as the Broncos attempt to move Wilson back on track. But Harbaugh’s .695 win percentage — in four 49ers seasons — ranks sixth in NFL history. Evero also worked with Harbaugh during each of his four seasons in San Francisco, opening the door — barring the first-year DC landing another HC job; the Colts and Texans are interested — for the Nathaniel Hackett hire to stay on in his current post. The Broncos have also sent out interview requests for 49ers DC DeMeco Ryans, Cowboys DC Dan Quinn and Rams DC Raheem Morris. The two-year Rams defensive boss is set to interview Jan. 17, which doubles as the earliest date the Broncos can meet with Payton.

Latest On Broncos’ HC Search

January 8th, 2023 at 7:54pm CST by Ely Allen

The Broncos have wasted no time in turning the page on the 2022 NFL season. It was reported yesterday that Denver had been granted permission to interview former Saints head coach Sean Payton for their open coaching position. Payton isn’t the only coach on the radar in Denver, though, and the Broncos have moved forward with plans for interviews with other candidates, according to Mike Klis of 9News.

The search will be led by a committee of owners and general manager George Paton. Owner and CEO Greg Penner intends to lead things with the help of fellow owners Carrie Penner, Rob Walton, and Condoleeza Rice. After failed stints with first-time head coaches Vance Joseph, Vic Fangio, and Nathaniel Hackett, the committee is putting preference on previous head coaching experience. The process will begin Monday when Denver will send out permission requests to interview candidates who are currently under contract with other teams. They plan to hold virtual interviews with multiple candidates this week.

The first in-person interview will occur this week and it will reportedly be with current Broncos defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero. Despite the team’s struggles this season, Evero has consistently fielded a top 10 defense throughout the year. Denver ranked 10th in points allowed this year, seventh in yards allowed, 10th in rushing yards allowed, and 12th in passing yards allowed. Evero accomplished this feat despite a brutal number of players on injured reserve throughout the season. Evero doesn’t fit the committee’s preference as a potential first-time head coach, but he showed he had the ability to handle a jump in responsibility as a first-time coordinator this year. He also holds a distinction as the only current candidate with an existing relationship with the players.

The two names that have come out of the woodwork already in the search, besides Payton and Evero, are University of Michigan head coach and former head coach of the 49ers Jim Harbaugh and Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn.

Harbaugh announced his plans this week to remain the head coach in Ann Arbor, but that won’t stop NFL teams from knocking on his door, virtually. Harbaugh is expected to be one of the virtual interviewees this week. There is, of course, a chance that Michigan attempts to entice Harbaugh to stay with a pay raise. Despite his coaching success at the college and NFL level, Harbaugh still earns less that Penn State’s James Franklin and Michigan State’s Mel Tucker in the Big Ten Conference.

Payton’s situation was discussed Saturday, including an update reporting that the Broncos and Saints “appear to be on the same page” with respect to trade compensation. The Saints are reportedly looking for a first-round pick and more, and apparently, Denver is willing to pay the price, according to Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. Rapoport also claims that the Broncos are interested in interviewing Payton as soon as possible, but due to his current obligations to New Orleans, an in-person interview with Payton cannot occur until January 17. The team could have held a virtual interview with Payton this week but reportedly decided to wait until he was fully available.

Denver will likewise have to wait to interview Quinn. The former Falcons head coach is headed to the playoffs with Dallas and, as a result, is not able to be interviewed until the 16th or 17th of January. Quinn was highly sought-after in the last hiring cycle, participating in interviews with the Broncos, Bears, Dolphins, Vikings, and Giants last year. He instead chose to remain in Dallas, signing a multi-year contract extension as the Cowboys defensive coordinator.

Despite the Broncos’ eagerness to move the process along, they are still required to comply with the league’s Rooney Rule. Interestingly, despite being a Black coach, Evero does not count towards the Rooney Rule as an internal candidate. Black coaches expected to be in the running for head coaching gigs this offseason are Rams defensive coordinator Raheem Morris, 49ers defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans, and Bills defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier. Morris and Ryans would not fit the committee’s preference for head coaching experience, but since Denver seems to have its heart set on Payton, interviews with these candidates would likely be nominal in nature. If this is, indeed, the case, it would be yet another example of the shortcomings of the league’s current efforts at diversity as teams only appear to be going through the motions when interviewing minority candidates.

The schedule is slowly forming for Penner, Patton, and company. Evero’s in-person interview this week, Harbaugh and others virtual interviews this week, and the pursuit of Payton and Quinn a little over a week from now. After ending the season on a high note with a win over the Chargers, Denver is looking to continue on with its forward momentum in making a home run hire at head coach.

Jim Harbaugh Expects To Stay At Michigan?

January 8th, 2023 at 7:28am CST by Sam Robinson

January 8: As expected, Harbaugh’s public statement that he plans to remain in Ann Arbor in 2023 is not deterring interested NFL clubs. The Broncos, who have been given permission to interview Sean Payton and who reportedly are in agreement with the Saints on the framework of a trade package to acquire Payton’s rights, still plan to interview Harbaugh, per Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport of NFL.com.

The NFL.com tandem suggests that Michigan could offer Harbaugh a contract that further entices him to stay put. After the former 49ers HC took a pay cut in 2021 following the pandemic-shortened season, he had his pay restored last year. However, he still earns less than Big Ten contemporaries James Franklin and Mel Tucker.

Interestingly, Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports reports that the recent conversation between Harbaugh and the Panthers was not initiated by Tepper, but by Harbaugh himself. Sources tell Jones that Harbaugh’s behavior during his summit with the Vikings last year was “odd,” and that has made Tepper wary. Pelissero and Rapoport confirm that the conversation “didn’t amount to anything,” so it appears that Carolina is out of this particular race.

January 5: Jim Harbaugh‘s NFL market looked to be heating up this week. The Broncos want to interview him, and Panthers owner David Tepper has already spoken with him about the position. The Colts, the team Harbaugh led to the 1995 AFC championship game as a quarterback, are also on the radar.

The Michigan coach said in December he planned to stay in Ann Arbor. Following the run of Harbaugh-to-NFL rumors, the eight-year Wolverines HC attempted to double down. His December statement, however, was a bit more declarative.

“I am aware of the rumors and speculation over the past few days. College and NFL teams have great interest in all our personnel, from players to coaches to staff,” Harbaugh said (Twitter link). “… As I stated in December, no one knows what the future holds. I expect that I will be enthusiastically coaching Michigan in 2023.”

Harbaugh landing on NFL radars and then deciding to stay at his alma mater has become a recent offseason tradition, though a return to the league has gained steam over the past two years. The former 49ers HC interviewed for the Vikings job but was not offered the position. Teams are under the impression Harbaugh can be lured back to the pros this year. The Broncos and Panthers seem to be under that impression. Denver is believed to view Harbaugh as its 1-A candidate early in the process.

Thursday’s statement obviously gives the longtime Michigan leader some wiggle room, and Harbaugh going from this proclamation to an NFL job would certainly not be the first time a coach has changed his mind and/or offered misleading comments about his intentions. It does not seem like this statement will force interested NFL teams to back off.

Harbaugh has said in the past he has unfinished business in the NFL. Approaching 60, time is running out for a return to the league. Not too many coaches have been hired north of 60 in NFL history. The fiery HC ranks sixth in NFL history for win percentage (.695), going to three NFC championship games in four seasons in San Francisco. A falling out with the 49ers led Harbaugh to Michigan, where he has elevated the program. The Wolverines went 5-7 in 2014; they have won at least 10 games five times under Harbaugh and have made the past two College Football Playoff fields.

Latest On Broncos’ HC Search

January 3rd, 2023 at 10:31pm CST by Sam Robinson

Barring the team needing to move to second-tier candidates, it does not appear the Broncos’ new ownership contingent wants to put a first-timer in charge. The team continues to be connected to experienced candidates, Albert Breer of SI.com notes.

Denver tried rookie HCs Vance Joseph, Vic Fangio and Nathaniel Hackett since 2017; the team has finished under .500 in each campaign. The Broncos entered Joseph’s debut without having finished with back-to-back losing seasons since the early 1970s. The team’s new ownership has some big names on its docket to attempt a turnaround.

Jim Harbaugh and Sean Payton are indeed atop the Broncos’ wish list, according to 9News’ Mike Klis. The popular duo may receive more than one offer, and this disastrous season has dinged Denver’s stock. The team has been connected to each throughout this process, and it is moving forward with plans to interview Harbaugh. The Panthers have already spoken with the Michigan HC, however, and the Colts have been linked to a run at bringing the former QB back to Indianapolis. Pursuits of Harbaugh and Payton will be competitive, and both are likely to be choosey.

Should the Rob Walton-fronted ownership group not land its home run hire, Klis adds Dan Quinn should probably be considered next on the team’s list. Quinn has a longstanding relationship with GM George Paton, dating back to when the two worked with the Dolphins in the mid-2000s. The Dallas DC, however, was a finalist for the Denver job last year. It would be interesting to see if Quinn would go through another round of Broncos interviews, considering the team hired Hackett — now one of just three coaches since the 1970 merger to be fired before the end of their first season — over him.

The other name initially connected to the Broncos — Frank Reich — may not be in the running any longer, Klis adds. This would represent a quick trigger from the team’s new search committee, which is headed by CEO Greg Penner, considering interviews have not yet begun. Reich wants to be a head coach in 2023 and is a respected offensive mind, but he does not appear to be especially high on the Broncos’ early list. It will be interesting to see if this changes, depending on how the Harbaugh and/or Payton pursuits go.

The next Broncos HC, who will report directly to Penner, should be expected to be given full autonomy to assemble his staff. This would put Ejiro Evero on unsteady terrain. A holdover coordinator might be a tad unrealistic, but in the event the Broncos prioritize defensive continuity, Klis adds Evero’s contract runs beyond 2022. Paton said the team wishes to interview Evero, despite his close relationship with Hackett leading him to turn down the team’s offer.

Panthers, Jim Harbaugh Discuss HC Job

January 3rd, 2023 at 3:11pm CST by Sam Robinson

Add a third team to the Jim Harbaugh mix. The Panthers have Harbaugh on their radar and have spoken with the Michigan head coach about their HC position, Will Kunkel of Charlotte Sports Live reports.

The Panthers have not yet interviewed Harbaugh about the job, per ESPN.com’s David Newton (on Twitter), but David Tepper spoke with the former 49ers HC. Harbaugh has also been connected to the Colts and Broncos, with the latter intending to follow through with an interview.

It appears clear Harbaugh, who was on the fringes of NFL coaching searches for years prior to his Vikings interview in 2022, will have a firm seat on this year’s carousel. A report Monday linked Harbaugh to having genuine NFL interest, with a competitive offer likely to lead him out of Ann Arbor.

Steve Wilks‘ status has been a frequent talking point since the Panthers started to fare a bit better post-Matt Rhule, but Carolina blew a 14-point lead against Tampa Bay that led to the Buccaneers sealing the NFC South title. Hired as the Panthers’ secondary coach this year, Wilks saw his position group — one without Jaycee Horn — go through a brutal day against Tampa Bay. Tom Brady scorched the Panthers for 432 passing yards, finding Mike Evans for three deep touchdowns. Considering no interim coach has been promoted to the full-time role since 2017, it is now difficult to see the Panthers going with Wilks.

Carolina may have competition for Harbaugh, with new Broncos owner Rob Walton boasting far deeper pockets than the NFL’s second-wealthiest owner. Tepper, who bought the Panthers in 2018, used his financial resources to give Rhule a seven-year, $62MM deal — one that backfired. Both teams have been loosely linked to Sean Payton, but only a small buyout fee will be required to land Harbaugh. The Saints will require compensation for a Payton poaching. This will be Tepper’s second HC hire. The Panthers must interview two external minority candidates to satisfy the Rooney Rule requirement.

Harbaugh, 59, coached in the NFL for just four seasons — from 2011-14 — but enjoyed tremendous success during that period. His .695 NFL win percentage ranks sixth all time. Harbaugh has established a reputation as a coach capable of orchestrating turnaround efforts. The 49ers went from 6-10 to 13-3 in his first season, and Alex Smith became a viable starter for most of the 2010s after Harbaugh helped provide a springboard. Michigan went 5-7 in 2014; the Wolverines won 10 games the next two seasons and made back-to-back CFP appearances from 2021-22. The Panthers have not made the playoffs since Tepper’s arrival.

Michigan’s loss to TCU — the program’s second straight semifinal defeat — may be catalyzing the latest run of Harbaugh-to-NFL rumors. In December, Harbaugh announced intentions to stay in Ann Arbor for a ninth season. It now appears the fiery coach, who has spoken of unfinished business in the NFL, will explore opportunities for a pro return. It would be interesting to see Tepper go back to the college ranks for a hire, but Harbaugh’s profile differs from Rhule’s due to his San Francisco past.

Jim Harbaugh Expected To Pursue NFL Jobs?

January 2nd, 2023 at 7:35pm CST by Sam Robinson

While Jim Harbaugh-to-NFL rumors are standard fare in January, there looks to be a bit more smoke surrounding the longtime Michigan HC’s connections to a pro return this year. The Broncos are believed to be interested, and Harbaugh appears more receptive to a jump.

If Harbaugh receives an offer, it is believed he will leave Michigan for the NFL, according to The Athletic. Of course, it would need to be a highly competitive offer that makes Harbaugh one of the NFL’s highest-paid coaches, but after Michigan’s CFP semifinal loss to TCU, rumors surrounding the Wolverines’ nine-year HC will be on tap. This latest round of Harbaugh buzz comes less than a month after he said he would stay at Michigan for a ninth season.

Harbaugh, 59, met with the Vikings last year but was not offered the position. The Raiders were also connected to Harbaugh, but he ended up signing a new contract with Michigan. Time is running out for Harbaugh to chase an NFL job. The former quarterback would be among the league’s oldest HCs were he to jump back in, and February will mark 10 years since he matched up with brother John in Super Bowl XLVII. Not too many coaches have returned to the league after this long away.

NFL teams are taking the temperature on Harbaugh’s interest, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com offers (video link). Like Jon Gruden in 2018, Harbaugh will be a high-profile candidate. He looks to have at least two known suitors. The Broncos, who have missed on first-time head coaches since Gary Kubiak‘s exit, appear to be interested. They are believed to be prioritizing experience and want to interview the Michigan honcho. The Colts have been connected as well.

Harbaugh’s Michigan contract includes just a $3MM buyout this year, per The Athletic. While the Wolverines can fire Harbaugh for cause if he goes through NFL interviews without informing the school’s athletic director, that seems unlikely to happen. Following the TCU loss, Harbaugh is 74-25 at his alma mater. The Wolverines, who had six- and seven-loss seasons in the two years before Harbaugh’s hire, have won the Big Ten in each of the past two years.

The Broncos are prepared to be “ultra aggressive” to land their preferred head coach. Their new ownership, which was not in place when Nathaniel Hackett was hired, has the league’s deepest pockets — by a wide margin — and hiring Harbaugh would not cost the team draft assets like a Sean Payton move would. The Colts, who rostered Harbaugh from 1994-97 after signing him in the early days of free agency, are also in need of coaching stability.

Both Denver and Indianapolis are retaining their current GMs — George Paton, Chris Ballard — so it would be interesting to see how Harbaugh would fit with an inherited GM. Clashes with Trent Baalke helped lead Harbaugh out of San Francisco. Denver’s next head coach, however, will report directly to Penner. Harbaugh only coached the 49ers for six years, but his .695 NFL win percentage is sixth in NFL history.

Broncos Interested In Interviewing Jim Harbaugh For HC Vacancy

January 1st, 2023 at 9:43pm CST by Adam La Rose

Jim Harbaugh continues to garner plenty of attention in the build-up to the 2023 NFL head coaching cycle. Not long after a connection between he and the Broncos was reported, the two are set to be linked even further.

Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk reports that Denver has reached out to Harbaugh to confirm their intent to interview him for their vacancy. The role opened up after rookie bench boss Nathaniel Hackett was fired with just two games remaining in the season, one in which the Broncos have fallen well short of expectations. A number of experienced names have been floated as potential replacements, with the widespread expectation that a veteran coach will get the job.

Harbaugh has been included amongst those potential candidates, alongside the likes of Frank Reich and Dan Quinn. The current Michigan coach has ties with Broncos consultant John Elway as well as minority owner Condoleezza Rice dating back to their time spent at Stanford. Harbaugh was first mentioned in connection to the Broncos HC role just prior to Hackett’s dismissal, so their formal interest comes as no surprise.

Harbaugh has been included in speculation about the Colts’ opening, given his time spent with the team as a player and his relationship with owner Jim Irsay. The Broncos’ desire to at least interview the 59-year-old adds further to the interest shown in him this season, suggesting a return to the NFL could be in the cards. Harbaugh last coached the 49ers in 2014.

That tenure was immediately followed by his stint in Ann Arbor, which continues to this day. Harbaugh led the Wolverines to the College Football Playoff for the second straight season this year, a sign of the program’s recent success. That positive momentum was halted yesterday during Michigan’s upset loss to TCU, but it nevertheless came as little surprise when Harbaugh announced his commitment to remain with the school in 2023.

Still, he has mentioned his sense of ‘unfinished business’ with respect to winning a Super Bowl, and a relatively small buyout would be required to terminate his Michigan contract. Given the spending power of the Broncos’ new ownership group, finances will not be an issue if they are serious in seeing through Harbaugh’s potential return to an NFL sideline.

Broncos HC Fallout: Penner, Paton, Payton, Hackett, Evero, Rosburg, Rypien, Risner

December 28th, 2022 at 3:59pm CST by Sam Robinson

George Paton‘s status with the Broncos has taken some hits this week. Although the second-year GM is set to remain in his post, it appears the decisions to hire Nathaniel Hackett and trade for Russell Wilson have cost him.

New Broncos CEO Greg Penner is set to play a major role in the team’s next HC hire, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com notes. With the Broncos still in the process of putting the team up for sale when they conducted the search that produced Hackett, Paton led the hiring process. Penner said he will rely on Paton during the team’s latest hiring effort, but with it being the new ownership’s first HC search, it should be expected the GM will not have final say.

Paton’s situation reminds somewhat of Joe Douglas‘ with the Jets, though the former has not been on the job as long. Douglas has rebuilt the Jets’ defense to the point the team is a playoff contender, and this year’s draft class has helped the team considerably. But the Zach Wilson investment has gone south fast. Paton passed on Justin Fields for burgeoning star cornerback Patrick Surtain II and landed high-end starters Javonte Williams and Quinn Meinerz in Rounds 2 and 3, while also adding outside linebacker Baron Browning on Day 2 of last year’s draft. Denver collected first- and fourth-round picks for Bradley Chubb at this year’s deadline, helping to fill the draft-capital void created by the Wilson trade. While several of Paton’s moves have worked out, the Wilson-Hackett partnership undercut them and has the former Vikings lieutenant on thinner ice.

It is not known if Paton or ownership pushed to have Wilson signed long-term before this season. Conversations ramped up once Penner arrived along with Rob Walton, and the team wanted to avoid waiting until 2023 to extend the QB. But the five-year, $245MM extension is off to a shockingly poor start. Penner announcing that the next HC will report to him and not Paton strips the latter’s power to the point Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk posits the next Broncos coach will have the chance to run the football operation. Paton, 52, has held that role since arriving last year.

The Broncos have experienced ups and downs with a coach running the show, going from Mike Shanahan in this role to the overmatched Josh McDaniels, who held de facto GM power upon being hired in 2009. Considering new ownership’s deep pockets and a potential offer to run football operations, the Broncos would present an intriguing opportunity for an experienced head coach. That is believed to be the direction Denver heads this time, after seeing first-time hires Vance Joseph, Vic Fangio and Hackett underwhelm.

“I’ve worked with a lot of great CEOs, and it starts with really strong leadership,” Penner said. “I think that’s going to be the most critical factor here in a head coach. Obviously the X’s and O’s are important, but we need a strong leader for this organization that’s focused on winning. That starts with culture, it’s instilling a sense of accountability, discipline, and we need an identity on offense. At the starting point, it’s got to be about culture and leadership, and those characteristics are what we’ve focused on the most.”

Frank Reich, Jim Harbaugh, Dan Quinn and Sean Payton are believed to be on the early radar. The Broncos could make a strong run at Payton, Fowler adds, though it is not certain the former Saints HC is interested. Harbaugh has a relationship with Broncos consultant John Elway, who ran the team’s football ops for 10 years, and minority owner Condoleezza Rice due to each’s Stanford ties. Rice worked with Harbaugh during his time with the Cardinal, per Florio, adding an interesting wrinkle to the upcoming search.

As for the team’s current setup, interim HC Jerry Rosburg said (via 9News’ Mike Klis, on Twitter) DC Ejiro Evero declined the chance to be the interim option out of loyalty to Hackett. Evero and Hackett have been friends since they were college teammates at UC-Davis. The league has also shifted away from promoting interim coaches, with Doug Marrone being the most recent such hire back in 2017. The Broncos still want to interview Evero, though the first-time DC does not profile as an experienced candidate.

Rosburg, 67, also said (via ESPN.com’s Jeff Legwold, on Twitter) it was his decision to fire special teams coordinator Dwayne Stukes and offensive line coach Butch Barry. Both were Hackett hires. Rosburg also confirmed it was Paton, not Hackett, who brought him out of retirement to be the team’s game management assistant. Hackett’s run of issues during the season’s first two weeks led to the hire. The sideline confrontation between Brett Rypien and Dalton Risner also contributed to the early Hackett dismissal, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com notes (video link), as it was a sign the first-year coach was losing the team. Penner said off-field matters led to the early firing. Randy Gregory, who threw a punch at Rams offensive lineman Oday Aboushi and faced a suspension, cited Hackett’s tenuous status as HC in his successful appeal to the league, Klis tweets.

Broncos GM Believes Russell Wilson Is Fixable; Next HC To Report To Ownership

December 27th, 2022 at 3:09pm CST by Sam Robinson

Broncos GM George Paton has seen a few members of his 2021 draft class become high-end starters, and the team’s Bradley Chubb trade at this year’s deadline netted a first-round pick. But Paton’s two biggest moves since taking the GM reins — hiring Nathaniel Hackett as head coach and trading for Russell Wilson — have moved him to a relatively hot seat.

Although Paton is staying on in the wake of Hackett joining a short list of HCs fired before the end of their first season (just five since the 1970 merger), new Broncos CEO Greg Penner said (via NFL.com) the next head coach will report directly to him. This effectively minimizes Paton’s power, and it should not be considered out of the question the Broncos will be looking for a new GM if the next head coach insists on it.

Paton, 52, was a sought-after GM candidate for years and was viewed as likely to stay on in Denver prior to Hackett’s ouster. But the Hackett-Wilson pairing ignited a stunningly ineffective offense, leading to Denver falling well short of expectations despite a stout defense. The Broncos rank last in scoring — down from 23rd with Teddy Bridgewater and OC Pat Shurmur at the controls last season — and chose to both bring in a game management assistant and move their QBs coach (Klint Kubiak) to the play-calling role. The next Denver HC will be tasked with repairing Wilson, something Paton believes can happen.

“We saw flashes of Russ this year. Russ even said he didn’t play up to his standard,” Paton said. “He will be the first one to tell you he didn’t play up to his standard, didn’t play up to our standard. He needs to be better.

“I don’t think we made a coaching move based on Russ. That wasn’t what it’s all about. That’s not why we’re getting a new coach, to turn around Russ, it’s about the entire organization. It’s about the entire football team. It’s just not one player. It’s not whether Russ is fixable or not. We do believe he is. We do.”

After making the blockbuster trade for the nine-time Pro Bowl passer, the Broncos gave him significant input in helping design the offense, Nick Kosmider of The Athletic notes (subscription required). The Broncos also allowed Wilson’s personal team unfettered access. Attempting for much of this season to play more from the pocket — a scenario some Seahawks staffers envisioned would take place as Wilson (fourth all time in QB rushing yards) aged — the 11th-year QB has produced by far his worst season. The potential Hall of Famer has played through injuries for much of the year and often lined up with a backup-laden offensive line and receiving corps. The Broncos have also been without Javonte Williams since October. But Wilson’s struggles to this degree (29th in QBR — a sharp decline from 10th in a down 2021 season) have been one of the most shocking developments in recent quarterback history.

The Broncos gave Wilson a five-year, $245MM extension in August, tying him to the team through the 2028 season. The team’s offensive freefall will certainly impact its next HC search. Paton, Penner, Rob Walton and minority owner Condoleezza Rice will work toward finding a staff that can coax better play from the current franchise centerpiece.

“The decision to have Russell here was a long-term one,” Penner said. “This season has not been up to his standards or expectations. We saw some glimpses of it in the last few weeks. He knows he can play better, we know he can play better, and we know he will do the right work in the offseason to be ready for next year.

“George and I have had a chance to get to know each other — we talk every day since we purchased the team a number of months ago — and he acknowledged right up front there were a couple of decisions that hadn’t worked out as he had expected. But I understand his thought process. He understands the work that needs to be done in this offseason, and I’m going to rely on him heavily as we go through and make these changes.”

The team offered the interim HC gig to DC Ejiro Evero, who declined, leading to Jerry Rosburg — whom the Broncos pulled out of retirement to address Hackett’s game management issues — taking the gig. But the team wants to interview Evero for the full-time position. While Evero may be in the mix, Mike Klis of 9News notes experience will likely be prioritized. Frank Reich, Dan Quinn, Jim Harbaugh and Sean Payton should be considered candidates, per Klis, and SI.com’s Albert Breer heard Harbaugh connections to Denver shortly before Hackett’s firing.

Payton will require trade compensation to land, as the Saints still hold his rights, and will be coveted by every team searching for a new coach. Reich said he hopes to coach again in 2023, while Quinn was a Broncos finalist this year. Paton added experience is a plus but not a requirement.

Harbaugh signed a new Michigan contract last year and recently reaffirmed his commitment to the Wolverines, but the ex-49ers HC has long lingered on the NFL fringe. The Vikings interviewed Harbaugh last year, and the Colts have now been linked to an attempt to bring him back to Indianapolis. Harbaugh, 59, has a relationship with John Elway, per Breer, dating back to the former’s time as Stanford’s HC. Elway is no longer in a regular role but works as a consultant; he had input in the Broncos’ process to trade for Wilson this year. Harbaugh’s 49ers stay did include some notable quarterback success stories. The fiery HC elevated Alex Smith‘s career in the early 2010s and redesigned his offense to suit the talents of Colin Kaepernick, leading to three straight NFC championship game appearances.

Coaches formerly with the Seahawks could be candidates as well, with CBS Sports’ Josina Anderson indicating options like Quinn and Dolphins QBs coach Darrell Bevell — a longtime Seahawks OC — have been brought up (Twitter links). The Broncos had success when pivoting to retreated head coaches John Fox and Gary Kubiak. While Peyton Manning had plenty to do with that, it appears the team will try to move in this direction after three straight first-timers — Hackett, Vic Fangio, Vance Joseph — could not end the now-seven-season playoff drought.

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