Denver Broncos 3 most surprising head coach interview candidates

Denver Broncos: Defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn of the Detroit Lions looks on before the game against the Chicago Bears at Ford Field on November 25, 2021 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Nic Antaya/Getty Images)
Denver Broncos: Defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn of the Detroit Lions looks on before the game against the Chicago Bears at Ford Field on November 25, 2021 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Nic Antaya/Getty Images)
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Denver Broncos: Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy stands with Patrick Mahomes #15 of the Kansas City Chiefs before the game against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium on November 14, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

The Denver Broncos are lining up interviews with head coach candidates. Which candidates are the most surprising inclusions so far?

The Denver Broncos and general manager George Paton have assembled a list of eight candidates to be the team’s next head coach thus far.

Let’s take a look at those eight candidates:

  • Dan Quinn, DC, Cowboys
  • Kellen Moore, OC, Cowboys
  • Eric Bieniemy, OC, Chiefs
  • Aaron Glenn, DC, Lions
  • Nathaniel Hackett, OC, Packers
  • Jerod Mayo, LBs, Patriots
  • Jonathan Gannon, DC, Eagles
  • Kevin O’Connell, OC, Rams

There are plenty of names on this list that many in Broncos Country expected to see, but there are certainly some surprise candidates as well. Which candidates thus far are the most surprising?

Which Denver Broncos HC candidates are the most surprising?

1. Eric Bieniemy, Chiefs OC

It’s not surprising that Eric Bieniemy is getting a head coaching interview. It is somewhat surprising that he’s getting one from the Denver Broncos.

The Broncos have seemingly been staying away from Bieniemy, or at least, they did in their previous head coaching search.

Bieniemy was on the Minnesota Vikings’ staff from 2006-2010 as a running backs coach, so George Paton is obviously at least somewhat familiar with him.

Bieniemy catches flak for the fact that Andy Reid is the one who primarily calls the plays for the Kansas City Chiefs, but it would be silly to think that Bieniemy has had absolutely nothing to do with the Chiefs’ offensive success the last few years.

For whatever reasons, Bieniemy simply hasn’t gotten a head coaching gig despite being considered by media and fans to be an obvious top candidate.

Even with his ties to the state of Colorado in the 90s and 2000s, Bieniemy has not been considered a legitimate candidate to become the head coach of the Denver Broncos even with a couple of openings…

…until now.

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