:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/45207334/81983439.0.jpg)
Adam Gase is now the hottest name in Colorado. San Francisco 49ers officials are in Denver for a second interview to possibly make him their next head coach, Jeff Darlington of the NFL Network reports.
Sources: Adam Gase currently meeting with 49ers officials in Denver. Expected to be marathon. Elway plans to meet w/ Gase when it concludes.
— Jeff Darlington (@JeffDarlington) January 13, 2015
Darlington continues that the meetings could last as many as eight hours, but that the Broncos and John Elway are still "confident" they'll get a chance to speak with Gase. But a 49ers source says San Francisco intends to seal the deal.
Broncos should be prepared for possibility Gase takes 49ers job by end of meeting. 49ers source says team is serious; knows Elway on deck.
— Jeff Darlington (@JeffDarlington) January 13, 2015
This is all even more interesting due to reports from the Denver Post and Sports Illustrated - possibly speculative - that the Broncos are not seriously interested in Gase as head coach, and will likely look externally in their coaching search. With reports that Peyton Manning and Gase are tied at the hip, Mike Florio of PFT wonders aloud whether the Broncos wouldn't be thankful for San Fran for taking that awkward situation off their hands.
RT @ProFootballTalk: Can't help but (wonder) whether the Broncos hope the 49ers will hire Adam Gase so Broncos don't have to pass on him.
— MileHighReport (@MileHighReport) January 13, 2015
The bidding war of Adam Gase may end up being a game of chess, and the biggest move will be John Elway's. Is he serious about Gase? Does he merely want to keep his options open? Is he feigning interest in order to appease Peyton Manning?
We may never know for sure if the 49ers hire Adam Gase today. But if they don't, the ball will be in Elway's court.