Why Jim Harbaugh is the clear choice for next coach of the Broncos

The Denver Broncos are well into their search for a new head coach, having already conducted a couple of interviews. But one of the candidates is far and away the best choice for the team.

As the Broncos look to replace Nathaniel Hackett, they have identified at least six candidates for their vacancy. But the first candidate that they interviewed, Jim Harbaugh, should end up with the job.

The Broncos should shy away from any first-year coach. This is not the situation for a rookie head coach to come into. That eliminates names such as DeMeco Ryans and the team’s own defensive coordinator, Ejiro Evero.

The Broncos are also waiting to interview Sean Payton, a favorite in the eyes of many fans within Broncos Country, but the Broncos would have to give up some compensation to obtain Payton as his contractual rights still belong to the New Orleans Saints.

That wouldn’t be the case with Harbaugh.

This is the right spot for Harbaugh to come into as he has found success at every stop he has made as a coach. In each of those stops, he’s turned the team or program around.

His first head coaching job came at the University of San Dan Diego. In three years, he went 29-6 and took the team to back-to-back Pioneer League titles.

He then went to Stanford where the Cardinal had not been to a bowl game since 2001. Harbaugh faced a bumpy road at first but in his fourth year in 2010, he led the team to a 12-1 record and an appearance in the Orange Bowl.

That led to his stint as coach of the San Francisco 49ers. In four seasons there, he took the 49ers to the NFC Championship Game in three straight years and once to the Super Bowl. Prior to his arrival, the Niners missed the playoffs in eight consecutive seasons.

He then went on to Michigan, one of the proudest college programs in the country. After the mediocre tenure of Brady Hoke, the Wolverines called upon one of their own to come in and take the program back to national prominence.

He has done that, defeating Ohio State in the last two seasons and taking the Wolverines to the College Football Playoff in both seasons.

The Broncos are a team that needs a jolt. They need to be turned around and Harbaugh is the man to do that.

He can focus on rebuilding the offensive line and creating a dominant running game like he has done everywhere else he has been as a coach. With that established, he can then focus on the strengths of Russell Wilson, relying on his mobility to make plays rather than trying to have him be a pocket passer.

Potential Broncos coach Jim Harbaugh has a model that is proven to work

A strong offensive line and running game are what will save Wilson and preserve his career. That happens to be an area where Harbaugh specializes in. He can then design a playbook where Wilson can use play-action and some bootlegs to get outside the pocket and make things happen.

Harbaugh has done this with Andrew Luck at Stanford, and both Alex Smith and Colin Kaepernick with the 49ers and he’s made a lot out of some pretty average quarterbacks at Michigan based on a strong rushing attack.

This past season, Michigan ranked No. 3 in the country in total rushing yardage, behind only Air Force and Army, two schools that run the ball the majority of the time.

This is what Wilson needs to return to success. This is what the Broncos need to return to success. Build a strong line and a rushing attack that pounds the ball and then utilize your quarterback when and how you need to, rather than asking Wilson to go out and win shootouts with his arm.

Harbaugh would install this kind of offense and he would be a guy who would bring much more discipline to the team that led the league in penalties as well.

The Broncos need Jim Harbaugh and it should be a slam dunk for the front office to make that decision.