What’s Up With Broncos’ Search For the Next Coach?

Jerry Rosburg‘s addition to the list of candidates up for consideration by the Denver Broncos for their open head coach position over the weekend adds another interesting dynamic to the search.

Now that he and other names such as Ejiro Evero, Dan Quinn, Raheem Morris, DeMeco Ryans, Jim Caldwell, David Shaw, and Sean Payton have been added to the fray, it will be interesting to see which one Team Co-Owner/CEO Greg Penner deems to be the best fit to lead this franchise forward.

With Jim Harbaugh now remaining at Michigan, 8 men with diverse backgrounds remain in contention for arguably one of the most sought-after positions in recent times. Still very much at a standstill, all eyes are now on Penner and how long it will take him to make a selection from these 8 highly esteemed candidates.

The search for a new head coach for the Denver Broncos is ongoing, led by team co-owner and CEO Greg Penner. The next steps in the process will be setting up second-round interviews with finalists, and the Broncos are taking their time as they review each contender.

Of the eight finalists, seven are available for interviews this week while Ryan’s interview likely won’t take place until next week due to his involvement in the NFC Title game with the San Francisco 49ers. The Niners will travel to Lincoln Financial Field to face the Eagles on Sunday.

Meanwhile, the roller coaster of speculation as to where Sean Payton will end up continues today. It began with reports that the Broncos were setting up a second interview with Payton, leading some to believe they were the favorites to hire him.

However, local media quickly debunked these reports, and original sources clarified that Payton would be flying into Denver on Wednesday for the second interview.

Now, a new report has come out claiming that the Broncos’ plans for an additional meeting with Payton have been delayed by an interview with the Arizona Cardinals earlier this week. With each turn in this saga, it remains difficult to predict where Sean Payton will ultimately decide his coaching career’s future lies.

Denver’s search for a new head coach could extend beyond the previously projected timeline, as the team awaits the arrival of Payton and Ryans for second-round interviews. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport recently confirmed that there is no rush to finalize anything in Denver, as senior management is determined to thoroughly vet all potential candidates.

It is also made clear that the organization has “not zeroed in” on the chances of any candidate. This approach sets a different tone from last year when Nathaniel Hackett was hastily snapped up by new ownership just ahead of his second interview with Jacksonville. ESPN’s Jeff Legwold maintains that Denver will take their time to make sure they appoint the best person for the job this season.