Denver Broncos coaching rumors: Chuck Pagano to interview

The Denver Broncos are expected to interview former Indianapolis Colts head coach Chuck Pagano this week after firing Vance Joseph.

The Denver Broncos are looking for a new head coach and there are already a number of strong candidates.

The team is expected to interview Los Angeles Rams quarterbacks coach Zac Taylor, and they’ve also requested permission to interview New England Patriots defensive coordinator Brian Flores, Pittsburgh Steelers offensive line coach Mike Munchak, and Chicago Bears defensive coordinator Vic Fangio.

Now, according to Mike Klis, the team will interview a rumored candidate in former Indianapolis Colts head coach Chuck Pagano this week.

Pagano is an intriguing candidate.

He and the Indianapolis Colts had a lot of success in his first three years with the team (2012-14) but went in a downward spiral as Ryan Grigson’s poor NFL Draft decisions and Andrew Luck’s injury caught up to them.

The Colts were an absolute mess in 2017, winning just four games. Pagano was fired and replaced by Frank Reich.

Pagano is a Boulder, CO native which doesn’t necessarily mean anything, but he might want to live close to home and if he could coach in Denver, that would be a great bonus.

No one has stated whether or not Pagano is interviewing for a head coaching position or defensive coordinator position, though it seems likely he would be getting a head coaching interview.

Pagano fits the bill of an experienced head coach who would bring some stability to the Broncos, and would also potentially create a perfect opening for Gary Kubiak to be the team’s offensive coordinator, or at least have a significant say in the offense.

After John Elway’s press conference on Monday, it sounds like Kubiak will most certainly be involved in the offense going forward. Either that, or he will have opportunities around the league.

Elway said he expects Kubiak back with the Broncos in 2019, however, and adding all of these different factors up, it seems like Denver could go with an experienced head coach who doesn’t necessarily have an offensive specialty so they can place Kubiak into the fray offensively.

Pagano is a defensive coach who certainly didn’t benefit from Grigson’s drafting in Indianapolis, and Andrew Luck’s injury didn’t help either. It’s funny how a coach will struggle to win games when the quarterback position stinks.

Vance Joseph can relate.

The Broncos need someone to come in who is smart, aggressive, and innovative. Whether they know that or whether Pagano is that remains to be seen. You can learn a lot from getting fired in the NFL.