8:06pm: Gase’s interview with the 49ers will take place tomorrow, not tonight, clarifies Rapoport (Twitter link).
5:25pm: Broncos offensive coordinator Adam Gase is now free to explore other opportunities after being let go by Denver, along with head coach John Fox and the rest of the coaching staff. Although his contract has not officially been terminated, he is able to look for other options, tweets Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com. Though three clubs with head coaching vacancies have interviewed Gase, the 49ers appear to have the most serious interest, and will make a “final push” at a meeting tonight in an effort to hire the 36-year-old as their head coach, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link). Gase originally interviewed with San Francisco in early January during the Broncos’ playoff bye week.
Though it may seem that Denver letting Gase leave is something of an indictment, Jeff Darlington of the NFL Network notes (Twitter links) that general manager John Elway was simply following protocol, clearing out the entire staff in addition to the head coach. As such, the Broncos’ next HC will be allowed to name his own assistant coaches, and determine whether Gase (and others) is a fit for the new regime. Likewise, in the event that Gase is promoted to head coach, he’ll be able to hire his own staff.
Gase has been Denver’s play-caller for the past two seasons; he’s been on the Broncos staff since 2009, serving as both a quarterbacks and receivers coach. He’s drawn interest from the Falcons, Bears, Bills (before they hired Rex Ryan), and the 49ers. Per Rapoport (on Twitter), Peyton Manning has been calling other teams and acting as an advocate for Gase. San Francisco, meanwhile, has been linked to a number of candidates, interviewing eight, but it seems like they now zeroing in on Gase.
13-points in the playoffs with Manning at helm? Even the God awful Mike Shula with the Panthers got 17 vs a much better defense on the road.