7:35pm: Payton has provided information straight from the source, disputing that there is any truth to Maske’s report of his fears of a power struggle in Denver with a tweet this evening. Payton denies that any issue exists with Broncos’ ownership stating that they were fantastic and that they “had a great visit.”
Ryans is still gaining traction and Caldwell and Shaw are also strong contenders, while Quinn has stated his desire to remain in Dallas, but if Payton is to be taken at his word, he should still be considered one of the favorites for this position.
3:01pm: Vowing to be “ultra aggressive” in its first coaching search, the Broncos’ new ownership came into this process with a goal of adding an experienced head coach. Recent developments may be leading the team in a different direction.
DeMeco Ryans has emerged as a frontrunner in this race, Mike Klis of 9News reports. The second-year 49ers defensive coordinator met with the Broncos and Texans late last week, nixing interviews with the Cardinals and Colts, and has been steadily rising in this race. While the Broncos are still considering Sean Payton, Jim Caldwell and Dan Quinn, Ryans’ rise is obviously notable considering his accomplishments with the 49ers this season.
But the team has cooled on Payton, Denver7’s Troy Renck adds (via Twitter). Payton also looks to have lost some interest in this job. A sense of what might have changed emerged Thursday. Recently, the former Saints HC was believed to be high on the Broncos’ new ownership group. Now, it might be a negative for the FOX analyst. Payton fears a potential power struggle with one member of the contingent, Mark Maske of the Washington Post tweets. Payton would want to work with Russell Wilson, who reached out to him recently, and is believed to be high on Denver’s defensive pieces. But an issue with ownership may well nix this potential partnership.
Rob Walton, CEO Greg Penner and co-owner Condoleezza Rice have been the ownership group’s key members during this search, joining GM George Paton. The latter is the only experienced football staffer involved here, given the ownership contingent arriving last summer, but Penner is set to make the final call on the team’s second HC hire in two years. It does not seem Rice, who joined the group after the Walton family, is Payton’s concern. The veteran HC has “loved” his interactions with the former Secretary of State, Maske adds (on Twitter).
The Broncos have not gone through second interviews yet, separating their search from this year’s other four. The Panthers just made their hire — Frank Reich — after interviewing he and Steve Wilks twice. If the Broncos want to hold a second interview with Ryans, they must wait until Jan. 30 because of the 49ers’ advancement to the NFC championship game.
David Shaw was believed to be a sleeper candidate for this position, but Klis omitted the longtime Stanford HC from the team’s mix Thursday. Shaw stepped down from his Cardinal post after three losing seasons in the past four years. Penner and Rice’s Stanford ties were thought to represent key connective tissue to Shaw, but Denver going with an NFL-seasoned coach makes sense given the recent failures of college hires.
Ryans, 38, has helmed the NFL’s top-ranked defense this season and has been viewed as likely to land one of this year’s jobs for a bit now. All five HC-needy teams reached out to the former linebacker. The Texans remain in the mix for their former defender, per Klis, but they certainly look to have competition from the Broncos.
Nobody in their right mind should pay 2 the asking for Payton when next year all that drops away. Great coach but the difference between one and another is always a gamble? Owners, players, staff, draft choices all have to hit at the sametime. So a specific coach doesn’t guarantee success.
Poor niners assistant coaches. Going to the jets the fins and now the broncos. Kyle Shanahan’s coaching tree bout to look like Charlie browns Christmas tree
Dolphins made playoffs for first time in a minute, Jets are on the verge of the playoffs after years of nothing. What are talking about??
True. It’s almost like losing teams are the only ones with job openings. How weird!!!
No idea how Ryan’s will be as a HC, but his D has some bite! Hope he lands a gig, seems like a good dude from what I’ve read.
Yes let’s go ahead and hire another first year DC as an Head Coach. Especially since they need all the offensive help they can get. Let’s see Vance Joseph, Vin Fangio, Nathan Hackett, all the that years list hot item. How well did that go? Hmmmm
Ryans is cut from a different cloth. He’s an animal, and will bring alot of passion and intensity to the Denver franchise. Players all rave about Ryans, and how they’d do anything for him, and would follow his lead into any battle.
The one thing he will need to TRULY succeed is a good offensive mind. If he gets a quality and experienced OC to come with him Denver is in great hands.
The only issue really is that their roster is somewhat limited on how they can make any improvements, but rest assured Ryans will get the best out of his men.
As a 49ers fan, I hate seeing him go, as his halftime adjustments and his teaching abilities are second to none. He will not be replaced, the 49ers just have to hope they can get someone half as good as he is honestly..
He took Saleh’s defense and improved upon it in every way possible. Something most people were skeptical was even imaginable..
I hate to see him go, but Ryans just deserves his own team. He is way too promising of a head coach not to have his own team..Best of luck to him, but he won’t need any well wishes, I’m pretty confident he will succeed wherever he lands.
He’s not a first year DC.
No, he’s not. And either was Fangio.
Yeah, dude has clearly got some misplaced resentment going on…
Cause nothing about what he said made much sense…
None of them were first year DCs except Vance Joseph..[Nathaniel] Hackett was an offensive coach, and who the heck is Vin Fangio!?! lol
Vic Fangio has been a DC probably longer than he’s been alive…
SPOILER ALERT: He has ONLY been a defensive coordinator for 20 years..
I mean, I understand about being upset with your favorite team’s choices on coaches…See the 49ers and “Mr. I want winners” Mike Singletary, Chip Kelly, Jim Tomsula, and then the power struggle with Jim Harbaugh, and running him out of the building..
Still, that’s no reason to be irrational about their candidates this go around. After this past season, the Broncos look like a complete shyt show, their QB turned into a pumpkin after they traded away a 1st and multiple 2nd round picks, Noah Fant, and Shelby Harris to get him, they’d be lucky to even get one of the brightest young coaches in DeMeco Ryans.
Anyone who does even a ten minute Google search on him would quickly find multiple articles that praise his coaching abilities, his ability to identify talent in the draft, his ability to lead a group of men, his abilities to make winning and impactful in-game adjustments on the fly, and you would easily see how in the last two years he has lead the NFLs best defense.
Plus, not to mention, Ryans came up with successful gameplans to cripple the offenses of the Super Bowl winning Rams, the Packers, and the Cowboys twice. Which, at the time, the Cowboys and Packers were two of the highest rated scoring offenses in the entire NFL…
Packers 10, Cowboys 17, Rams 20, Seahawks 23, and Cowboys 12 ….Those are the points Ryans’ defenses have allowed his five playoff games he’s been the DC.
I promise you’d have a very difficult time trying to find a coach with better results than that…That is especially during a time where the rules clearly favor offenses and scoring, yet Ryans is masterfully putting up historic numbers…
Maybe he’s been getting by on undeserved rep.
What could be the problem with working for Walmart and one of the architects of the war in Iraq??? I would rather have Satan as an owner!
Low IQ post.
Ok, go on…
Sean Payton and @larkraxm- Low IQ posts!!
Satan said no too low of an IQ.
This news all sucks. Fangio was a good defensive mind too.
Paton’s not going back to the NFL this year. Those odds grow stronger by the day. They need to fix the offense and now Frank Reich is off the board.
At least I don’t have to hear about Dan Quinn anymore.
Maxj…..Paton or Payton? Paton is already in the NFL. He’s the GM
Yeah, my bad.
They need to hire KC OC
Why? He has interviewed before with team. Basically every nfl team almost. He needs to prove himself as a OC not under Reids call. You also not be aware of his past history in Colorado?
Lots of offensive coordinators don’t call plays. Why does Bieninemy have to prove himself under a different person other than Reid? Do you say the same about all coordinators?
If he wants to be a head coach he is going to have to escape the Reid umbrella. One of the reasons he has not been hired.
Don’t they know that he’s the OC for the Chiefs when they interview him? Your comment makes no sense. For one reason, the Chiefs are usually one of the last teams eliminated so some teams have already made their hires. Maybe he doesn’t interview well and I do think his past may play a role. Your thinking that he has to prove his value somewhere first is the ridiculous
And it sounds like Denver is losing their DC so a defensive mind with players respect might be a good thing to have around but the offense needs extreme help
Payton is a Target guy I guess.
Why because he beats the division to pieces for years and Denver could use that to there advantage but you’re right I don’t know anything about his history in Colorado but if he can help win then it’s worth him being there
He has a extensive rap sheet from his days in Colorado. Some bad desicions but unwanted baggage. I think teams question is it him or Reid for the success. I think his best choice is to move on if can and prove himself somewhere. Not sure if Denver best choice…but hey never know.