Adam Gase, Jack Del Rio Will Draw Head Coaching Interest on Black Monday

Dec 22, 2013; Houston, TX, USA; Denver Broncos defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio watches from the sideline during the third quarter against the Houston Texans at Reliant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

As the Denver Broncos prepare for a bye week heading into this year’s playoffs, other teams are preparing for the more distant future. Coaches around the league are being fired as I type this, and more are yet to come.

Because of the Broncos’ success this season, there’s absolutely no question that the team’s assistant coaches are going to draw interest around the league for new head coaching jobs. On Black Monday, it’s as much about the teams whose coaches are NOT being fired as it is for those who are firing their captains.

Having already battled the rumors of Jack Del Rio to USC, it makes sense that the Broncos defensive coordinator’s name will show up immediately in connection with new head coaching jobs, and it has.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Monday morning on Twitter that Del Rio and fellow Broncos coordinator Adam Gase are already being connected with the job opening in Minnesota, where Leslie Frazier was fired by the Vikings.

Del Rio played for the Vikings and that seems like it would be a really good job for him to get. The thing that sucks is, you wish the best for Del Rio and Gase, as well as other guys coaching for the Broncos, but you don’t want the focus to be on anything besides the games coming up.

On a bye week, it’s likely both guys will be granted permission to interview for these openings.

Last year, we saw Mike McCoy bolt Denver for the Bolts. The year prior, we saw Dennis Allen bolt for the Raiders. Coaches are being moved around every single year, but the Broncos maintained some kind of continuity this year with the promotion of Adam Gase and the retention of Del Rio.

There are rumblings now also that Gase’s name is being connected with the Cleveland job, but I wouldn’t expect him to accept that offer. That’s a disaster waiting to happen.

Both Gase and Del Rio have done a great job for the Broncos, so it wouldn’t be shocking in the least to see these guys get significant interest and second interviews with teams, especially Del Rio who has been a head coach in this league before.