Green Bay Packers offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett talks with quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) before their game against the Oakland Raiders Sunday, October 21, 2019 at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis.MARK HOFFMAN/MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL Packers21 1 Hoffman
NFLBy Sean Keeley on

The Denver Broncos need a new head coach and it sounds like they’re getting very close to making their pick. According to some, they’ve already selected the person to lead them into the next NFL season.

After firing Vic Fangio following the end of the regular season, the Broncos reportedly cast a wide net in order to attract a lot of candidates for their head coaching position. Given that the Broncos play in the same division as the Kansas City Chiefs, Las Vegas Raiders, and Los Angeles Chargers, the need to compete ASAP is evident and they clearly want to make the right decision.

While they talked to a lot of different candidates, the franchise is down to three potential coaches, according to NFL insider Ian Rapoport. The finalists include Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn, Los Angeles Rams offensive coordinator Kevin O’Connell, and Green Bay Packers offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett.

Quinn is the most obvious finalist as he’s long been rumored as the favorite for the job. However, given how the Broncos are surrounded by strong quarterbacks and point-churning offenses in their division, the desire to have an offensive-focused coach might be driving them towards Hackett and O’Connell. But if the Broncos want to remain defense-focused as they were under Fangio, then Quinn would make more sense with the ability to bring in a solid offensive coordinator.

There has been at least one report that Hackett is the top choice and might already have the job, courtesy of Fox Sports’ Vik Chokshi.

One of the most interesting wrinkles in hiring Hackett would be the assumption that Aaron Rodgers might be intrigued enough to follow him from Green Bay. Rodgers has opened the door to leaving the Packers following this season and we know that the Broncos were very interested in trading for him before the season. This could potentially be a star-aligning moment for all of them.

We’ll have to wait and see how things shake out but in the meantime, the news of the finalists certainly has a lot of people talking on social media.

[Ian Rapoport]

About Sean Keeley

Along with writing for Awful Announcing and The Comeback, Sean is the Editorial Strategy Director for Comeback Media. Previously, he created the Syracuse blog Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magician and wrote 'How To Grow An Orange: The Right Way to Brainwash Your Child Into Rooting for Syracuse.' He has also written non-Syracuse-related things for SB Nation, Curbed, and other outlets. He currently lives in Seattle where he is complaining about bagels. Send tips/comments/complaints to sean@thecomeback.com.

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