Possible Broncos Head Coaching Candidates

by wyoeng on Dec 31, 2009 5:12 PM MST

There were several references for earlier replacing of Shanahan in other posts. 2006 was one example used. I did not agree with the assessment. After the jump are the list of coaching candidates I was able to dig up for each of the years. I put notes on major team events for each prior year. I put the candidates for 2009 in case the option to give Mike 1 more year was chosen. I did not put as much effort to find candidates for 2007 - That year bought up memories of D Will.

Let me know if you wanted the coaching change done at some other time - and who you would choose. Also, if the coaching change was done at some other time which would you like. Note that Pat B. may not have been able to get some candidates who were upgraded to HC from within an organization or remained in the booth like Cowher. Also, the other candidates - Jason Garrett for example - may not have been as good as Mike S. or Josh McD. Also note that Josh McD would not have as much coaching experience in earlier years (if he was even willing to be a HC before now).

For reference, Josh McD is doing a good job and I would like to keep him as coach rather than go through the 2009 list.

Thanks,

2006 NFL Head Coaching Candidates (Note: 2005 Broncos went to AFC championship-Plummer had 4 turnovers in previous year )

Houston's Dom Capers,
Green Bay's Mike Sherman,
New Orleans's Jim Haslett
St. Louis's Mike Martz,
Oakland's Norv Turner
Detroit fired Steve Mariucci
Mike Tice was fired by Minnesota
Dick Vermeil retired from Kansas City, reigniting speculation that Jets Coach Herman Edwards could be on their list of candidates.

Denver Coach Mike Shanahan said the Texans would interview his offensive coordinator, Gary Kubiak, later this week.

Among the other assistants expected to be in demand are: Gregg Williams, Washington's assistant head coach for defense and the former head coach in Buffalo;
Chicago's defensive coordinator, Ron Rivera (whom the Rams have asked permission to speak to);
the Giants' defensive coordinator, Tim Lewis;
Philadelphia's offensive coordinator, Brad Childress.

Among college coaches, Iowa's Kirk Ferentz, who is part of Bill Belichick's coaching tree, is considered a top candidate, as is Bob Stoops, Oklahoma's head coach.

Coaches eventually hired

    * Atlanta Falcons
          o Old Coach - Jim Mora Jr. (Link)
          o New Coach - Bobby Petrino (Link)
    * Arizona Cardinals
          o Old Coach - Dennis Green (Link)
          o New Coach - Ken Whisenhunt (Link)
    * Dallas Cowboys
          o Old Coach - Bill Parcells (Link)
          o New Coach - Wade Phillips (Link)
    * Miami Dolphins
          o Old Coach - Nick Saban (Link)
          o New Coach - Cam Cameron (Link)
    * Oakland Raiders
          o Old Coach - Art Shell (Link)
          o New Coach - Lane Kiffin (Link)
    * Pittsburgh Steelers
          o Old Coach - Bill Cowher (Link)
          o New Coach - Mike Tomlin (Link)
    * San Diego Chargers
          o Old Coach - Marty Schottenheimer (Link)
          o New Coach - Norv Turner (Link)

Brad Childress 2006
Gary Kubiak 2006
Scott Linehan 2006
Eric Mangini 2006
Rod Marinelli 2006
Mike McCarthy 2006
Sean Payton 2006

2007 NFL Head Coaching Candidates (Note: 2006 Broncos went 9-7 and missed playoffs - (Darrent Williams and Damien Nash RIP))
Dallas Offensive Coordinator Jason Garrett
Former Chargers Head Coach Marty Schottenheimer
Former Cardinals Head Coach Dennis Green
Cam Cameron 2007
Lane Kiffin 2007
Bobby Petrino 2007
Emmitt Thomas 2007
Mike Tomlin 2007
Ken Whisenhunt 2007

2008 NFL Head Coaching Candidates (Note: 2007 Broncos went 7-9 (Elam gone after season))
Possible and Known* Openings: WAS*, CAR, ATL*, SEA, STL, SF, MIA*, CIN, BAL*, IND

    * Dallas Offensive Coordinator Jason Garrett
    * San Francisco Assistant Head Coach Mike Singletary
    * New England Offensive Coordinator Josh McDaniels
    * Indianapolis Assistant Head Coach Jim Caldwell
    * Pittsburgh Offensive Coordinator Bruce Arians
    * Minnesota Defensive Coordinator Leslie Frazier
    * San Diego Linebackers Coach Ron Rivera
    * Arizona Assistant Head Coach Russ Grimm
    * New York Giants Defensive Coordinator Steve Spagnuolo
    * Jacksonville Defensive Coordinator Mike Smith (HIRED BY ATLANTA FALCONS)
    * Former Chargers Head Coach Marty Schottenheimer
    * Philadelphia Secondary Coach John Harbaugh (HIRED BY BALTIMORE RAVENS)
    * Former Lions Head Coach Steve Mariucci
    * Former Tennessee Offensive Coordinator Norm Chow
    * Former Packers Head Coach Mike Sherman
    * Baltimore Defensive Coordinator Rex Ryan
    * Seattle Assistant Head Coach Jim Mora
    * Seattle Quarterbacks Coach Jim Zorn (HIRED BY WASHINGTON REDSKINS)
    * New Orleans Defensive Coordinator Gary Gibbs
    * Former Cardinals Head Coach Dennis Green
    * Oakland Defensive Coordinator Rob Ryan
    * Southern California Quarterbacks Coach Steve Sarkisian
    * Former Baltimore Head Coach Brian Billick
    * Dallas Assistant Head Coach Tony Sparano (HIRED BY MIAMI DOLPHINS)
    * Former Giants Head Coach Jim Fassel
    * Iowa Head Coach Kirk Ferentz
    * Boston College Head Coach Jeff Jagodzinski
    * Former Vikings Head Coach Mike Tice
    * Florida Head Coach Urban Meyer
    * Ohio State Head Coach Jim Tressel
    * Former Michigan Head Coach Lloyd Carr
    * Southern California Head Coach Pete Carroll

    * Former Steelers Head Coach Bill Cowher is planning to take another year off

2009 NFL Head Coaching Candidates (Note: 2008 Broncos 8-8 (Mike S. and Cutler last year together))

Mike Shanahan — former two-time Super Bowl winner with Denver Broncos
Bill Cowher — Current CBS Analyst and former Steelers’ Super Bowl XL winner
Brian Billick — Current FOX Analyst former Baltimore Ravens Super Bowl winner
Jon Gruden — Current ESPN analyst (signed an extension) and former Bucs’ Super Bowl winner
Marty Schottenheimer — Former head coach in Cleveland, Kansas City, Washington, and San Diego
Jim Haslett –former Saints head coach and UFL head coach
Cincinnati Bengals defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer
New Orleans Saints defensive coordinator Gregg Williams
Miami Dolphins DB’s Coach Todd Bowles
Minnesota Vikings Defensive Coordinator Leslie Frazier
Washington Redskins Secondary Coach Jerry Gray
Jets Offensive Coordinator Brian Schottenheimer
Baltimore Ravens Defensive Coordinator Hue Jackson
St. Louis Rams offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur
Montreal Alouettes (CFL) head coach Marc Trestman
Dallas Cowboys offensive coordinator Jason Garrett
Panthers Asst. head coach and RB’s coach Jim Skipper (former head coach of the SF Demon – XFL)
Denver Broncos defensive coordinator Mike Nolan
Mike Martz — Former Rams head coach and NFL Network Analyst

UFL Coaches: Jim Fassel (won UFL’s 1st championship), Dennis Green, and Ted Cotrell

Minnesota Vikings RB’s Coach Eric Bienemy
Atlanta Falcons offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey
New Orleans Saints offensive coordinator Pete Charmichael
Arizona Cardinals assistant head coach/offensive line coach Russ Grimm
Miami Dolphins WR’s Coach Karl Dorrell
San Diego Chargers defensive coordinator Ron Rivera
San Diego Chargers Assistant head coach Rob Chudzinski
Mike Heimerdinger, Titans offensive coordinator
USC head coach Pete Carroll
New Mexico State head coach DeWayne Walker
Iowa head coach Kirk Firentz – former Belichick disciple

This is a Fan-Created Comment on MileHighReport.com. The opinion here is not necessarily shared by the editorial staff of MHR

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Comments

I think we have the cream of the crop and time will prove this IMHO.

It might have been a little late in coming but it was right on time. You bet your sweet shot of Jack Daniels that Pat Bowlen had his eye on McDaniels for a while before making his decision to fire Shanny, it wasn’t a whimsical on the spare of the moment decision. A lot of work there kiddo!

by bfree2bronc on Dec 31, 2009 5:35 PM MST reply actions

Thanks for posting

I felt that Bowlen was waiting for his candidate before making a change as well. Hypothetically, which other candidate might you choose and from what year?

Victor Frankl:

What man actually needs is not a tensionless state but rather the striving and struggling for some goal worthy of him. What he needs is not the discharge of tension at any cost, but the call of a potential meaning waiting to be fulfilled by him.

Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms – to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.

by wyoeng on Dec 31, 2009 6:17 PM MST up reply actions

I like John Gruden and Bill Belick. Don't know though

I believe the 10’s decade will belong to the Broncos…Just call it a hunch.

by bfree2bronc on Dec 31, 2009 7:26 PM MST up reply actions

I would have gone for Mike Tomlin in 06-07

He’s a straight shooter and a likable guy. It’s hard to not want him as a coach for this team, hypothetically.

John Clayton is the head Dean at Fail University (known as F.U. in short)

Formerly known as Calijoefornia

by Joe Medina on Dec 31, 2009 6:24 PM MST reply actions

Nice comment

I also like Tomlin. Not sure if Bowlen would have been able to pry him from Pittsburgh.

Victor Frankl:

Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms – to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.

by wyoeng on Dec 31, 2009 6:59 PM MST up reply actions

Jim Fassel

by Daemon on Dec 31, 2009 7:14 PM MST reply actions

lol

no way on jim fassel i rather had krayfish from A P

okay i have cereal palsy arhrtis and chronic fatiue as well i have a grea life loveing folks some days are better that other days i got a make a wish in 2001 saw my favorive team the broncos was the trip of the lifetime i wish everyone couild gotten to enjoy that with me i know some of u hate the broncos and that ok but i bleed organ and bule reseident broncos fan for ap lol

by j-man on Dec 31, 2009 7:26 PM MST reply actions

LOL!!

Because Fassel has Denver roots, I’ve always thought of him as someone who was on Pat’s short list, but as far as we know he didn’t even get a look a year ago.

"All we're trying to do is win the *********** game!" -- Josh MF McDaniels tearing into his offensive line after three false starts in the red zone. The tirade turned the tide of the game, and the Broncos dominated from that point on.

by broncosmontana on Jan 1, 2010 7:21 AM MST up reply actions

Shanny should have been fired after the 2007 season and all the blowouts to teams like Detroit.

Then I’d vote for Bobby Petrino.

You put a lot of work into this and I’m impressed.

This is my favorite website.

by McGeorge on Dec 31, 2009 7:45 PM MST reply actions

Thank you for your kind words

Victor Frankl:

Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms – to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.

by wyoeng on Dec 31, 2009 9:03 PM MST up reply actions

I agree with bfree

by pastordan on Dec 31, 2009 8:40 PM MST reply actions

Nice job Wyoeng!

Those that cant coach, compete!
Failing to plan is planning to fail.
All I want is 53 Rod Smiths. Is that asking too much????
"Peyton Hillis didn’t rip the sleeves off his jersey, they flew off out of fear."
Calijoefornia.

by boydy2669 on Jan 1, 2010 6:45 AM MST reply actions

Thanks Boydy

Victor Frankl:

Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms – to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.

by wyoeng on Jan 1, 2010 8:26 AM MST up reply actions

Wow, great detail

Well conceived and executed, wyo. It’s good to have this perspective and still be happy that we have the guy we have.

by broncosmontana on Jan 1, 2010 7:24 AM MST reply actions

Thank you for your kind post broncosmontana

Victor Frankl:

Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms – to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.

by wyoeng on Jan 1, 2010 8:27 AM MST up reply actions

Happy new year everyone!

Hope the Broncos get a winning record this season. Also, a playoff appearance would be nice for player (and fan) experience.

Victor Frankl:

Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms – to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.

by wyoeng on Jan 1, 2010 8:46 AM MST reply actions

Not really in any specific year

But my wish was always for Kubiak to take over when Shanny was done. For continuity’s sake, and because I think Kubes had a lot to do with the offenses’ successes. I’ve said before that I think Kubiak was the single biggest influence in getting Good Jake to show up much more often than Bad Jake.

- Nick

"We got 'em right where we want 'em!" - Keith Bishop, right before John Elway orchestrated The Drive. 'Nuff said.

by ncm42 on Jan 1, 2010 11:23 AM MST reply actions

I like McDaniels out of all

CentSports free 10 cents to bet with Better than Fantasy Football, pick'em!!
Fe fi fo fum, Philly here we come

by RiG on Jan 1, 2010 10:50 PM MST reply actions

After Shanny got the axe

I wanted Cowher or Chucky (Gruden).

Character may be manifested in the great moments but it is made in the small ones -- Philip Brooks

by KaptainKirk on Jan 2, 2010 12:18 AM MST reply actions

Both had SB resume and would have brought intensity

Victor Frankl:

Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms – to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.

by wyoeng on Jan 2, 2010 9:14 AM MST up reply actions