The Denver Broncos are looking for a new head coach and names like Gary Kubiak, Doug Marrone, Mike Shanahan and Adam Gase have come up as potential options for John Elway and this comes as the team hopes to have Peyton Manning, Demaryius Thomas, Julius Thomas and Rahim Moore back for 2015.
John Fox and John Elway apparently did not see eye to eye about where to take the Broncos next season and the two sides agreed to part ways. According to ESPN.com, Adam Schefter reports that Adam Gase, Gary Kubiak and Mike Shanahan are potential options for the team and that Elway interviewed Gase on Thursday. Gase was under consideration for the 49ers job and could be an option for the Bears job after serving as offensive coordinator last season.
The Broncos are in for some changes no matter what happens, as Gase could move on and Jack Del Rio already has, as he took the Oakland Raiders job. Del Rio was defensive coordinator last season and now the Broncos also have to deal with Demaryius Thomas and Julius Thomas hitting the free agent market. Elway said that he wants Peyton to return, but right now his future is up in the air. Most expect him to come back, but Manning said he will take some time to assess the season and then make a decision.
Gase has had great success working with Manning and Fox leaves after winning four straight AFC West titles with the team. The Broncos are also looking at Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Teryl Austin and he will be interviewed on Friday and could be an option for the Broncos. The team also could consider trying to bring over Austin to work the same position if Gase of Kubiak takes the job. Kubiak is with the Ravens and John Harbaugh has said he wants him to return, but Kubiak has numerous connections to the Broncos, including from his playing and coaching history.
Gase could also be a candidate to do his same job for another team and the Broncos then would need to find a new offensive coordinator, defensive coordinator and head coach. The team finished with a disappointing loss to the Colts in the playoffs and now Manning could be back for one more season with the Broncos. Gase helped Manning put up some amazing numbers, as the team averaged over 30 points per game during the two seasons he has been calling plays. The team also set a record with over 600 points during the 2013 season. Kubiak reportedly will be interviewed this weekend along with Marrone.
Kubiak had a strong season with the Ravens and is an offensive minded coach and he used to be the backup quarterback for John Elway when he played for the Broncos. The team likely will have to get a bit creative with the Thomas contracts, as both are coming off of strong seasons. Demaryius was one of the league's top receivers and he ended up with over 1500 yards and over 100 catches this season. The Broncos likely will pick a coach from Kubiak, Austin or Gase and the team could make that decision by next week after interviews on Friday.