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The Broncos’ coaching search likely has not gone to plan

By Travis Wakeman

DENVER, COLORADO - AUGUST 27: Greg Penner, CEO and member of the Denver Broncos ownership group, looks on before a game between the Denver Broncos and the Minnesota Vikings at Empower Field at Mile High on August 27, 2022 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)
DENVER, COLORADO - AUGUST 27: Greg Penner, CEO and member of the Denver Broncos ownership group, looks on before a game between the Denver Broncos and the Minnesota Vikings at Empower Field at Mile High on August 27, 2022 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images) /
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The Denver Broncos have yet to name a new head coach for the 2023 NFL season. The good news is, none of the other teams with a vacancy have either.

With that being said, the other teams still seem to be making some news in terms of advancing through that process.

The Arizona Cardinals have now gotten into the Sean Payton sweepstakes as they will interview the former head coach of the New Orleans Saints this Thursday. Early indications were that Payton would be a longshot to head to Arizona, but now there may be interest.

Staying with Payton, he also interviewed with the Carolina Panthers on Monday.

The Houston Texans plan to have second interviews with Mike Kafka and Broncos defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero. Finally, the Indianapolis Colts are looking to have a second interview with Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn, who is considered to be a top candidate for them.

Then you have the Broncos who interviewed eight candidates in their first wave of interviews but there has been no news since. No mention of a second interview for anyone and their top candidate could be anyone on their list, depending on who you talk to.

So what exactly is going on here? It could be a number of things, actually.

Jim Harbaugh may have been the Broncos’ guy

Denver Broncos
GLENDALE, ARIZONA – DECEMBER 31: Head coach Jim Harbaugh of the Michigan Wolverines prepares for a game against the TCU Horned Frogs during the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium on December 31, 2022, in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images) /

It is entirely possible that the top name on the wish list of Greg Penner of the rest of the front office was that of Jim Harbaugh. He was the top name for me too.

When it was announced that Harbaugh would be staying at the University of Michigan, choosing to continue building upon what he has started there, it may have forced the Broncos to backpedal.

With Harbaugh off the table, the Broncos may have had to redirect their process before it got too far into it. Harbaugh did interview with the Broncos, but he requested to do so virtually, calling into question how much interest he really had in the job.

Even though the Broncos’ ownership will be able to shell out any contract a new head coach is looking for, he still chose to stay at Michigan. While he never did agree to a new contract with the school, meaning his staying there is technically not official, the Broncos may have felt a bit spurned by him.

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