The Denver Broncos finished the season with a disappointing loss and now John Elway is looking for a new head coach and names like Adam Gase, Teryl Austin, Dan Quinn and Gary Kubiak are potential options and this comes as Peyton Manning is thinking about whether he will return or not for the 2015 season after John Fox was let go.
Fox and Elway reportedly had differences about how they should move forward after losing in the playoffs this season and now Elway has to find a new head coach. According to ESPN.com, Adam Gase is a candidate along with Austin, who the team has requested to interview from the Lions. The team also is looking at Rick Dennison, Gary Kubiak and potentially Mike Shanahan, who was the head coach when Elway won the Super Bowl.
The Broncos could be in for some major changes, as Gase is getting interviewed by a number of teams and could leave. The team needs a new defensive coordinator already with Jack Del Rio heading to the Oakland Raiders, while Fox now could be in line for the Chicago Bears job. The Broncos were the number two seed in the playoffs, but they lost to the Colts at home for another first playoff game exit. Manning has done that a number of times and now Elway has to see if he even has his quarterback for next season.
Manning said he will take time and decide whether or not to come back next season, but many expect he will. NFL reports speculate that Fox and Elway differed over whether to bring back Peyton Manning, but that has not been confirmed. The Broncos may also have some major personnel changes, as Demaryius Thomas and Julius Thomas are free agents along with Wes Welker, Rahim Moore and other key players. Elway will have to find a way to bring all those guys back, or some of them at least, while also weighing how to handle Manning's situation.
Gase was offensive coordinator for Peyton Manning and he likely would feel comfortable with him as head coach, while Austin has also received high praise from Lions head coach Jim Caldwell. Austin is also getting interviewed by the Atlanta Falcons. The Jets brought in Todd Bowles, but he did not really look like an option for the Broncos at any point. The team split ways with Fox after four seasons and four AFC West division titles.
The Broncos ranked fourth in the league in passing yards per game and while the defense was much better than last season, they could not get things done at the end. The Broncos and Manning broke down a bit at the end of the season and now they have to find a new head coach. Elway plans on bringing in more candidates for the job and he may bring in Dan Quinn once the Seahawks lose or after they win the Super Bowl.
