Broncos insider identifies big names as candidates to be next head coach

Nathaniel Hackett, we barely knew you.

The Broncos fired the head coach on Monday, just 15 games into a disastrous tenure that saw Denver go 4-11. It culminated with an embarrassing 51-14 loss to the Rams on Christmas Day that included a sideline fight and postgame scuffle.

While the Broncos will need to identify an interim head coach to lead the team in the last two meaningless games, fans are much more interest in who the permanent replacement will be. And forget the first-time head coaches, those haven’t worked. From Vance Joseph to Vic Fangio to Hackett, the Broncos haven’t been able to identify the next great NFL leader.

New CEO Greg Penner could look to make a splashy move, with a candidate that’s already had success in this league. 9NEWS / 104.3 The Fan Broncos insider Mike Klis has already published a lengthy list of potential hires, including several big names.

Klis mentions current Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh, former Saints head coach Sean Payton and current Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn. All three have head coaching experience in the NFL and all had success. Quinn and Harbaugh both made a Super Bowl, Payton won one.

Klis also identifies an internal candidate in Broncos defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero, as well as former Colts head coach Frank Reich, current Panthers interim head coach Steve Wilks and Bills defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier.

It will be interesting to see what direction Penner goes, but he did make it clear in a statement he will be leading the head coaching search. While he also offered an endorsement of GM George Paton, Paton won’t get to make this decision after the Hackett hire went so horribly wrong.

We’ll keep you posted, but the wheels are already turning on who could be the next head coach of the Denver Broncos.

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