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Russell Wilson will be playing without a solidified head coach for the next two games as the countdown to 2023 is on.
With Nathaniel Hackett now out of the picture, the Denver Broncos are looking for new leadership. They let go of Hackett ahead of Black Monday and have plenty of time to key in on who they want. The Broncos also have a large number of options.
However, the next head coach's goal will be fixing Russell Wilson. There's a number of approaches to how one can do this, but one direction Broncos fans will not want to see is another rookie head coach.
Vance Joseph, Vic Fangio, and Nathaniel Hackett were all first-time head coaches. All three learned late-game and timeout management on the job, leading to many mistakes that ultimately cost games.
Therefore, the next head coach needs to be a veteran. Outside of that limitation, who would be the best option to fix the quarterback in 2023?
#1 Former Saints HC Sean Payton
After a year off, many expect the former head coach of the New Orleans Saints to be wearing a headset on the sidelines in 2023. Sean Payton is seen by many as the best option for a number of teams, making the act of nabbing him a difficult task.
However, if the Broncos can get the head coach, most would expect the team to ascend in a way it hasn't since Peyton Manning arrived. Payton coached future Hall of Famer Drew Brees for about 15 years.
Brees and Russell Wilson both have the same main drawback: they are on the smaller side of the size spectrum. Brees is 6'0" and Wilson is 5'11". At that size, it is difficult to see over the offensive line, which could be part of the reason for Wilson's struggles this year.
With Payton calling the plays, the Broncos quarterback would be in a system already optimized for his size.
If Sean Payton were to join the Denver Broncos, how big of a jump would Russell Wilson see?
#2 Cowboys DC Dan Quinn
Dan Quinn would be a departure from Nathaniel Hackett in many ways.
Quinn was with the Legion of Boom in the mid 2010s, so he has plenty of experience with Pete Carroll. After spending so much time with him, he knows his system and could put together something that could get a positive response out of Russell Wilson.
Quinn has also coached Wilson's team, the Seattle Seahawks, in the past and "No. 3" could be much more likely to submit to his line of thinking. He's also been a head coach in a Super Bowl with the Atlanta Falcons and was a defensive coordinator for two Seahawks Super Bowl teams.
Quinn could push Wilson and criticize him in a productive way as his superior. This would be a departure from Hackett, who was seen by many as someone only as authoritative as the quarterback in most instances.
With Quinn, a conservative and defensive-minded coach, it would require finding an offensive coordinator. However, it would also put a lid on the "Let Russ Cook" narrative, which many blame as one of the biggest issues that has led the team into its current situation.
#3 Michigan HC Jim Harbaugh
Jim Harbaugh has been rumored to be wanting to return to the NFL. According to Sports Illustrated, he was a candidate for the Minnesota Vikings' head coaching gig but ended up staying in the FBS.
Harbaugh brought Michigan to the college playoffs this year and is someone still clearly in his prime as a head coach. He also has four years of head coaching experience in the NFL.
Harbaugh helped bring the San Francisco 49ers to the Super Bowl with Colin Kaepernick and also led the team to three seasons with more than 10 wins. The 49ers had to best Russell Wilson's Seahawks to reach the Super Bowl. As a result, Wilson should have a lot of respect for Harbaugh by default.
The Michigan head coach brought the 49ers to relevance and after leading the college team to the promised land, it's clear he hasn't fallen off.
If Dan Quinn and Sean Payton can't be persuaded to join Denver, Harbaugh might be the perfect hire to bring the best out of Russell Wilson in a Broncos uniform.
