Who could be the Broncos head coach in 2022 (and beyond)?
Nov 16, 2021, 6:17 AM
Vic Fangio is not a good head coach. Sure, he’s got a great reputation as a defensive coordinator, but things haven’t come together for him running the show for the Denver Broncos over the last two and a half seasons.
He’s not been fired, and for the time being Fangio is still the team’s head coach. However, a move to upgrade should be in the near future. With seven games left in the 2021 season, I’m saddened that I must take this look, but that’s the way things have unfolded this year.
The Broncos are likely to have massive changes in 2022. Some think a new owner must be in place before these changes take place. That’s unlikely as the window to interview and hire a new coach starts around the time of the New Year. Any new owner of the Broncos, perhaps in the spring of 2022, will have to take what’s here and see how they perform.
So, who could be the coach for the Broncos in 2022? Let’s take a look.
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Vic Fangio
Don’t click away! I’m looking at potential candidates for 2022 and Fangio could be on that list. As aforementioned, there are seven games left in this season. It’s unlikely, but if the Broncos go on a run and make a push for the postseason, Fangio could save his job.
There are rumblings that Paton has already told Fangio that it’s “playoffs or bust” in 2021. The Broncos are 5-5 after ten games, and they aren’t out of the playoff hunt just yet. If they can get back on the winning track, Fangio could save his bacon.
The Broncos stiil have five of their six division games coming up in the final stretch of the regular season. These contests against the Kansas City Chiefs (twice), Los Angeles Chargers (twice), and Las Vegas Raiders (once) could very well determine the future of Fangio.
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Dan Quinn
Something tells me Dan Quinn could be high on the list for the Broncos. He’s already been a head coach with the Atlanta Falcons and was able to get them to the Super Bowl. Now, Quinn is the Cowboys defensive coordinator and could be near the top of the list for the Broncos if they choose to make a change. There are two very important reasons I believe this to be the case.
First, Quinn has experience working under Paton from their days with the Miami Dolphins. It’s not just football business, the NFL is the relationship business. I’m sure Paton and Quinn are on good terms, and when you need to get it done in this production-based business you can lean on people you have worked with in the past.
Second, Quinn has a previous history with Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson. It may be surprising to some, but Wilson was on the verge of leaving Seattle this last offseason. It wasn’t as widely reported as the rift between Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers, but a division is there. They patched things up before the start of training camp, mostly behind the scenes, but it seems like 2021 will be the final year Wilson suits up for the Seahawks.
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Kellen Moore
Even though Fangio texted the Denver Post’s Mark Kiszla that “he could scratch the Dallas OC off your list” after their win over the Dallas Cowboys a week ago, I believe Kellen Moore should be a consideration for the Broncos. The Cowboys offense is one of the best in the league, and Moore has been a fast riser in the coaching ranks.
A former Boise State quarterback, Moore spent a few years as a backup for the Cowboys. He was known as an intelligent quarterback, but he lacked the physical ability to excel in the pros. Instead, Moore took his high football intelligence and is making his way up the coaching tree.
Moore was the quarterback coach for the Cowboys in 2018, and he was then promoted to OC in 2019. He’s been a big influence on superstar quarterback Dak Prescott, and that increases his stock as a head coaching candidate in the eyes of many around the league.
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Eric Bieniemy
As much as I appreciate Eric Bieniemy, I don’t think the Broncos will hire him. They’ve already gone down the “CU” road before with Vance Joseph, and things did not turn out well. I know, I know, Bieniemy is a different man, but I think the Joseph era takes him off the list unfortunately.
I like Bieniemy, and I think it’s a travesty when he gets passed over time and time again for head coaching positions. Some say he doesn’t interview well, but I’m calling BS. You think Detroit Lions coach Dan Campbell interviews well? The guy won’t stop talking about eating glass and breaking kneecaps.
Yes, Bieniemy does have a “spirited” past – to say the least – and there are a few player interactions both in the pros and in college that some may hold against him. I’m not one to do that. Mainly because I know enough people around him, and I know him a little bit, that have told me he’s changed and calmed some of his former fiery ways.
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Darrell Bevell
He’s last on this list, but these aren’t in order of preference or likelihood (of course, I started with Fangio!). Darrell Bevell, like Quinn on this list, has working experience with Paton from their days together with the Minnesota Vikings. Bevell was the offensive coordinator for the Vikings for five seasons (2006-2010) when Paton was there as the director of player personnel.
Also like Quinn, Bevell has a history of working with Wilson. He was Wilson’s offensive coordinator from 2012-2017 with the Seahawks. Again, Wilson could be in the mix for next season. Things seem to have run their course in Seattle, and the Broncos should express interest.
Going with Quinn has positives as previously posted, but that would mean three defensive-minded head coaches in a row (Joseph, Fangio, Quinn). If the Broncos want to go to the other side of the ball, then Bevell could be an option for them in 2022.
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Others
This list could be exhaustive, but I’ll add three more candidates the Broncos could be considering if they make a coaching change.
Brian Daboll, offensive coordinator for the Buffalo Bills, could be high on a lot of Broncos fans list. He’s done a great job getting MVP-level performance out of quarterback Josh Allen, and Daboll should be a hot head coaching prospect in 2022.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Bruce Arians was furious last year when his offensive coordinator, Byron Leftwich, did not receive any interviews to be a head coach. After a Super Bowl win in 2020 and another run at a championship likely in 2021, Leftwich is an underrated prospect who should get plenty of interest this offseason.
If you go to the college coaching ranks, the first candidate everyone will bring up is Oklahoma’s Lincoln Riley. He’s been the coach of the Sooners since 2017 and currently has a 54-9 record. In addition to his record, Riley is known for his high-powered offense featuring quarterbacks like Baker Mayfield, Kyler Murray and Jalen Hurts.
