The Broncos have begun the process of requesting interviews with potential head coaches, but who has been surprisingly left off the initial list?
After an active Black Monday period across the NFL that saw several coaches and general managers lose their jobs, the Denver Broncos have put in a request for the following nine candidates so far:
- Dan Quinn, DC, Cowboys
- Kellen Moore, OC, Cowboys
- Eric Bieniemy, OC, Chiefs
- Aaron Glenn, DC, Lions
- Nathaniel Hackett, OC, Packers
- Jerod Mayo, ILB Coach, Patriots
- Jonathan Gannon, DC, Eagles,
- Kevin O’Connell, OC, Rams
- Luke Getsy, QB Coach, Packers
The initial list is exhaustive–it casts a wide net of more veteran coaches, one former head coach, younger coaches, and those in between. If this was the final list, I would be pleased. Obviously, there are some candidates that I would not want the team to hire, but I want to briefly look at some candidates that I am surprised did not make the list.
Denver Broncos Coaching Candidates Surprisingly Left off List
1. Brian Daboll, OC, Buffalo Bills
Brian Daboll’s name has been floated around as a future head coach for a couple of years now.
Daboll is most known for developing what was an extremely raw talent in Josh Allen into being one of the more efficient passers in the NFL.
Daboll did not just assist in the development of Josh Allen into an average NFL quarterback, but seemingly into an elite or borderline elite player at the position.
At 46 years old, sporting a scruffy look, Daboll doesn’t exactly look the part of a cutting-edge offensive coach, but his coaching experience and track record speak for themselves.
Daboll started his coaching career when I was born, in 1997. With 25 years of experience in places like Miami, New York, Cleveland, Kansas City, and Alabama, Daboll is as experienced as it gets to be an NFL head coach.
Obviously, the main allure of Daboll is his potential ability to groom a future Broncos’ rookie quarterback as he did with Josh Allen.
Maybe General Manager George Paton has other ideas, but I am surprised he has not been requested yet, if at all.
Denver Broncos Coaching Candidates Surprisingly Left off List
2. Doug Pederson, former Head Coach, Eagles
A former Super Bowl-winning head coach, Doug Pederson figures to land a head coaching job this session if he wants one.
Pederson is credited with the development of Carson Wentz, who was very raw coming out of college.
What also makes Pederson so special is winning a Super Bowl, and doing it in just his second season.
The drama that caused Pederson to lose his job last year seems to be hard to pinpoint. There were rumors that he and Carson Wentz’s relationship was beyond repair, but Pederson was also present at a Colts practice alongside Wentz earlier in the season.
Pederson won 42 regular season games in five seasons with the Eagles. He’s an Andy Reid coaching disciple, and those men generally have a track record of success in the NFL.
Hiring Doug Pederson makes a lot of sense, as he’s a candidate who could develop a young quarterback, or work with a veteran quarterback if the Denver Broncos decide to go that route.
Denver Broncos Coaching Candidates Surprisingly Left off List
Other candidates that have not been on the Broncos radar so far have been Byron Leftwich, who is the offensive coordinator of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Leftwich has been an offensive coordinator for 4 seasons now, and has a track record of success, most notably working with Tom Brady and the defending Super Bowl champions.
Another candidate that the Broncos should be considering is Jim Caldwell.
Caldwell is very highly regarded around the NFL as a culture guy and someone who the players respect. Caldwell managed a winning record as head coach of the Detroit Lions from 2014-2017. For some reason, the Lions fired Caldwell.
He had three winning seasons in his four years as head coach, and now the Lions are relying on an actor-fake-tough-guy Dan Campbell to turn the franchise around.
Caldwell is not a long-term head coaching option like some of the candidates that the Denver Broncos have requested to interview, but rather someone who is able to change the culture of the team, and revive them back to respectability.
Denver Broncos realistic trade targets for the 2022 Season
As the 2022 offseason is now closely approaching, the Denver Broncos should call around the league to try and trade for some veteran players.
Being that the Broncos have been irrelevant for over a half-decade now, it would make sense to give Jim Caldwell a look.