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Denver Broncos: 5 head coach candidates to replace Vance Joseph

By Sayre Bedinger

OAKLAND, CA - DECEMBER 24: Head coach Chuck Pagano of the Indianapolis Colts stands on the field during warmups prior to their NFL game against the Oakland Raiders at Oakland Alameda Coliseum on December 24, 2016 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CA - DECEMBER 24: Head coach Chuck Pagano of the Indianapolis Colts stands on the field during warmups prior to their NFL game against the Oakland Raiders at Oakland Alameda Coliseum on December 24, 2016 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /
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WASHINGTON, DC – CIRCA 2010: In this photo provided by the NFL, Matt LaFleur of the Washington Redskins poses for his 2010 NFL headshot circa 2010 in Washington, DC. (Photo by NFL via Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC – CIRCA 2010: In this photo provided by the NFL, Matt LaFleur of the Washington Redskins poses for his 2010 NFL headshot circa 2010 in Washington, DC. (Photo by NFL via Getty Images) /

2. Matt LaFleur

One of the bright, young, offensive minds in the NFL, Matt LaFleur is likely to be considered as the next Kyle Shanahan, Sean McVay-type of coach in NFL circles.

LaFleur worked with Shanahan dating back to his time with the Houston Texans, where Shanahan brought him in for quality control. He followed Shanahan to Washington to work with the Redskins’ young crop of quarterbacks when they drafted Robert Griffin III and Kirk Cousins.

That worked out just fine.

After spending a year at Notre Dame in 2014 coaching the quarterbacks, LaFleur was again called up by Kyle Shanahan when he was hired by the Atlanta Falcons as offensive coordinator. LaFleur coached Shanahan’s quarterbacks again, obviously led by Matt Ryan.

After the 2016 season, one of the best in Matt Ryan’s career as well as the career of Kyle Shanahan as a coach, the Falcons’ offensive staff broke up and LaFleur went to work with a familiar face in Sean McVay in Los Angeles as McVay’s offensive coordinator.

The duo of McVay and LaFleur helped jumpstart Jared Goff’s career in 2017, and while McVay went on to be coach of the year in the NFL, LaFleur started to get legitimate head coaching buzz.

He went to become the offensive coordinator of the Tennessee Titans in 2018, where he has helped orchestrate one of the league’s best rushing attacks. He hasn’t done wonders with Marcus Mariota as everyone had hoped, but Mariota also hasn’t been completely available, struggling with injuries.

The Titans are in the top 10 of the NFL this season in terms of fewest interceptions thrown.

LaFleur is likely to get a variety of interviews this offseason, but his connection to the Shanahan coaching tree and McVay could be the primary reasons he would be hired by Denver. He has a long history of working with people the Broncos have trusted, and has done a great job everywhere he’s been.

Specifically, when it comes to developing young quarterbacks, this could be the hire the Broncos desperately need to move into the future.

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