Three early HC candidates who could be on Broncos wish list

The Broncos' next head coach must be a franchise savior. Here are candidates who might solve the organization's monumental problems.

Sean Payton, former Saints head coach

Payton reportedly is ready to become a head coach again after taking a year off. Per ESPN's Adam Schefter, he's assembling an all-star staff that includes former Denver HC Vic Fangio. 

The New Orleans HC from 2006-21, Payton is one of the more coveted candidates due to his resume. He led the Saints to their only Super Bowl (XLIV) and won 63.1 percent of his games in New Orleans. 

Denver QB Russell Wilson could benefit from Payton, who turned Drew Brees into a 4,000-yard passer.

“I don’t think that Denver will be the only option for him," Schefter said before Hackett's firing. "And that’s where it gets interesting because whoever goes and gets Sean Payton is going to have to compensate the Saints with a pick or two." (h/t: 104.5 FM in Denver.)

New Orleans holds Payton's rights through the 2024 season.

Dan Quinn, Cowboys defensive coordinator

Quinn served as Seattle's defensive coordinator when its top-ranked defense led the Seahawks to consecutive Super Bowl trips, including a Super Bowl XLVIII victory. He knows Wilson and his game.

Quinn turned Dallas' defense around after becoming defensive coordinator in 2021. Dallas was 28th in total defense before Quinn's tenure. It is the league's sixth best this season. Denver ranks eighth in total defense, so Quinn wouldn't start from scratch on that side of the ball.

Quinn also knows how to build an offensive staff, which would bode well for Wilson. Kyle Shanahan, the current 49ers HC, was his offensive coordinator in 2016 when Matt Ryan won league MVP and the Falcons made their second Super Bowl appearance. 

Frank Reich, former Colts head coach

Longtime Denver Broncos reporter Mike Klis put Reich on his list.

Reich was fired by Indianapolis after Week 9, but he had success with the Colts. Despite using four different starting quarterbacks in four seasons, he made the playoffs twice.

In the one year he spent with Reich before he retired in 2019. Andrew Luck had career highs in passer rating (98.7) and completion percentage (67.3 percent). 

Reich also squeezed 27 passing touchdowns out of Carson Wentz in 2021 and made the playoffs with 39-year-old Philip Rivers in 2020.

Wilson requires a much bigger fix than Luck, Wentz or Rivers. Could Reich pull it off?