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The Denver Broncos fired Nathaniel Hackett with just two games remaining this season, making interim head coach Jerry Rosburg unlikely to win the job. The Broncos will enter the offseason fully equipped to find their next head coach, much like they were last season.
Ian Rapoport believes the Broncos, who clearly made a mistake going after a lower-reputation coach last year, will be making a big move this offseason.
Rapoport and Tom Pelissero wrote on NFL.com:
"So don't be surprised if the Broncos swing big in the coaching search, with former Saints head coach Sean Payton, University of Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh and Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn expected to be among the top targets."
There are a lot of strong options out there, and Sean Payton is perhaps the strongest. Every team in need of a head coach (currently the Broncos, Indianapolis Colts and Carolina Panthers) will be looking at him.
By season's end, more teams could be in the market for a coach. The competition for Payton will be steep, but that appears to be Denver's end goal.
What are all the options for the Denver Broncos' head coach search?
Whenever a coach is fired and an interim head coach is named, that interim coach has a chance to become the full-time coach. This may be what's happening in Carolina.
It would take a miracle, but the Denver Broncos could end up naming Jerry Rosburg their full-time head coach.
If not, there are a lot of options available. Payton and Harbaugh represent the big swing Pelissero and Rapoport mentioned. So does Dan Quinn, the former Atlanta Falcons head coach.
Broncos defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero, who's piloted a lockdown defense this year, could be a candidate as well.
Top coordinators elsewhere, namely Kansas City's Eric Bienemy, are going to be popular candidates as well. Shane Steichen has helped Philadelphia run one of the league's best offenses, so he may get a look, too.
There will be options for the Broncos, but it certainly looks like they want to win the NFL's coaching carousel in 2023.
