Here’s what we know about the front-runners for the position of the Broncos Head Coach!
After any lackluster football season, the question is always, “what’s next?” For our home team, the answer is very clearly a change in the Broncos head coach. With Gary Kubiak not only stepping down as Head Coach of the Denver Broncos but also announcing his retirement, the search is officially on for a replacement.
The Broncos are set to interview a number of potential Head Coach replacements this weekend and as we are seeing, the opening is presenting a lot more challenges than opportunities.
Right now, there are three prospects that have emerged. All three of them are current coaches for Playoff-bound teams, meaning that the Broncos are restricted in where and when they can interview each of them.
One of these three men will likely become the Head Coach of the Denver Broncos. Here are their stories.
Kansas City Chiefs Special Teams Coach Dave Toub
Dave Toub has an impressive resume and is slated to be the first candidate to interview for the Broncos head coach job. Toub played Center for Springfield College and then for the University of Texas-El Paso, where he earned an All-Western Athletic Conference selection twice.
He was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the 9th Round of the 1985 NFL Draft but ended up getting released by the Eagles before the start of the season. Toub went on to spend two years in the Los Angeles Rams’ training camp before retiring from professional football.
Toub’s coaching resume is much more robust. He bounced around in different college coaching roles, including serving as the Strength and Conditioning Coach for the University of Missouri alongside then-Offensive Line Coach Andy Reid. In the NFL, Toub is a bit of a journeyman. Coaching Special Teams for the Philadelphia Eagles, Chicago Bears, and most recently the Kansas City Chiefs where he was reunited with Head Coach Andy Reid.
With an impressive resume, Dave Toub has more than just the attention of the The Broncos. The San Diego Chargers have also obtained permission to interview Toub in the coming days.
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Prostarcoaching.com[/caption]
Atlanta Falcons Offensive Coordinator Kyle Shanahan
Many are wondering whether Kyle Shanahan, son of the former Broncos Head Coach Mike Shanahan, is a nostalgic move. But make no mistake, Kyle Shanahan has made a name for himself.
Shanahan originally committed to playing College Football at Duke. Ultimately chose to transfer as a redshirt Freshman to the University of Texas-Austin. There, Shanahan played Wide Receiver for the Longhorns. After spending one year as a Graduate Assistant to Karl Dorrell at UCLA, Mike Shanahan was snatched up and hired in 2004 as the Assistant Coach for Offensive Quality Control for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, under Head Coach Jon Gruden.
Ironically, he would go on to serve as the Wide Receivers Coach for the Houston Texans in 2006 under then-Head Coach Gary Kubiak (the same man he is now interviewing to replace).
Kyle Shanahan would ultimately leave the Texans to join his father on the Washington Redskins coaching staff. Shanahan’s time at the Redskins was clouded by allegations of unearned nepotism. In 2012, Shanahan was fined $25,000 for confronting and insulting the replacement officials after his team’s loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. The Redskins fired both Kyle and Mike Shanahan in 2013.
Kyle Shanahan was hired as the Cleveland Browns’ Offensive Coordinator in 2014 where he constantly clashed with the Front Office over rookie Quarterback Johnny Manziel’s future with the team. After the 2014 season, Shanahan resigned from his position with the Browns after the 2014 season. After that he was picked up by the Atlanta Falcons.
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John Bazemore - AJC[/caption]
Miami Dolphins Defensive Coordinator Vance Joseph
Vance Joseph played Quarterback and Running Back for the University of Colorado from 1990 to 1995. He ended his college career with four passing touchdowns and zero interceptions. In the ground, he rushed 50 times for 237 yards and a touchdown.
The New York Jets signed Joseph as an undrafted free agent in 1995. He then made the switch to Defensive Back. Vance Joseph played two seasons in the NFL. One with the New York Jets and another with the Indianapolis Colts. There he started 6 of 17 games and recorded two interceptions.
Joseph worked as a College Defensive Backs Coach for Wyoming, Colorado, and Bowling Green in the early 2000s. He was then hired by the 49ers as an Assistant Defensive Backs Coach. He would receive a promotion the following year and served as the 49ers’ Defensive Backs Coach from 2006 to 2010.
Vance Joseph spent three years as the Texans’ Defensive Backs Coach and then two years as the Bengals’ Defensive Backs Coach. Finally, he was hired by the Miami Dolphins and elevated to the position of Defensive Coordinator.
If hired by the Broncos, there are rumblings that current-Defensive Coordinator Wade Phillips could leave the team as it is assumed that Vance Joseph would want to take a large role in the Broncos’ defensive strategy. Word has it, Vance Joseph is apparently the front-runner in the Broncos Head Coach search.
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Kyle Terada - USA Today-sports[/caption]
All three of these prospects are currently working for Playoff-bound teams. This means the Broncos will have to schedule their interviews around the playoff schedule. The first interview will be with Dave Toub, and is expected to occur this weekend.
Keep checking back to OCN, as we will keep you updated on the Broncos’ search for a new Head Coach.
