Broncos Rumors: GM John Elway Could Be Down To Final Two Head Coach Candidates

As the dominoes begin to fall around the NFL’s various head coaching vacancies, it looks like the team in the Rocky Mountains could be close to a decision. Denver Broncos beat reporter Mike Klis reported on Tuesday that general manager John Elway is most likely going to choose between Pittsburgh Steelers offensive line coach Mike Munchak and Chicago Bears defensive coordinator Vic Fangio for the team’s new head coach.

Denver interviewed Munchak on Friday and Fangio on Monday. Reports over the weekend suggested Munchak wanted the job more than any other head coaching opportunity, as he has family in the Denver area. He was a measly 22-26 as the head coach of the Tennessee Titans for three seasons, but he is a respected assistant who has reportedly turned down at least one head coaching opportunity in the time since.

Fangio’s interview in Chicago caused the Broncos brass to stay in the city for several hours longer than planned, but he did not make the flight back to Denver with them, per Klis. Elway will reportedly sit on it for a day or two before making his final decision.

Fangio’s defenses in San Francisco and Chicago consistently ranked near the top of the league, but he has never been a head coach at any level. Klis suggested Elway will favor an older coaching candidate this time around, and at 60, Fangio’s decades of experience around football could make him an attractive candidate regardless of his lack of head coaching experience.

Munchak is 58, which also fits the description of what kind of coach Elway reportedly wants.

Whoever ends up as the Broncos head coach might have to work with Gary Kubiak. The former Broncos head coach stepped down for health reasons after the 2016 season, but stayed with the organization. ESPN’s Jeff Legwold said it is possible Kubiak will join Denver’s offensive coaching staff next year.