Broncos 2023 Head Coach Tracker: Denver’s search enters its fourth official week with a trimmed down candidate list

The Denver Broncos have been without a full-time head coach for over a month after firing Nathaniel Hackett the day after Christmas.

On Jan. 9, Greg Penner, George Paton and Co. officially kicked off their search with a virtual interview with Jim Harbaugh. In the three weeks since, Harbaugh has pulled himself out of the race, re-entered the mix with an in-person meeting with the team in Ann Arbor and potentially exited the process again.

In that time, Denver had interviews with seven other candidates and still remain without a coach.

Here are the latest updates about where the head coaching search stands and what to know about all of the candidates.

You can find the initial developments on the head coaching search here, the first-round of interview developments here and what went on in the third week of the search here.

Most recent updates

Tuesday, Jan. 31

• The Denver Broncos traded for Sean Payton from the Saints, giving up their 2023 first-round pick and a 2024 second-round pick in exchange for the head coach and a 2024 third-round pick. The search is over. Sean Payton is the Denver Broncos’ next head coach.

Monday, Jan. 30

• The Broncos did not put in any other additional interview requests on Monday. That means, for now, Denver is not expanding its search to candidates currently employed by other teams.
• DeMeco Ryans told the Broncos he is not interested in their head coach opening, according to Woody Paige. Ryans is expected to meet with the Houston Texans soon, where it is believed he will be their next head coach.
  • Josina Anderson reported that the Broncos have not received official word that DeMeco Ryans is pulling his name from Denver’s head coaching search.

Sunday, Jan. 29

• Saints’ general manager Mickey Loomis could be holding up a deal for Sean Payton to become a coach somewhere as New Orleans is reportedly asking for multiple first-round picks for their former coach, according to Tom Pelissero.
• Sean Payton said on Fox that the door is not closed on him returning to the NFL as a head coach this year. He added he, and other candidates looking for head coaching jobs across the league, will learn a lot more this week.
• This past week, Denver informed Raheem Morris, David Shaw, Jim Caldwell and Ejiro Evero that the team was going in a different direction in their coaching search.
• According to Ian Rapoport, the Broncos’ head coaching job is one that Jim Harbaugh would consider leaving Michigan for. “Harbaugh has remained willing to listen and has told people if he were to return to the NFL, the Broncos’ job is one he’d want,” according to Rapoport.

Saturday, Jan. 28

• Greg Penner flew to Ann Arbor to have an in-person meeting with Jim Harbaugh last week. Denver did not offer Harbaugh a contract during the meeting, but it did re-open the door to Harbaugh possibly becoming the Broncos’ next head coach.

Candidate list

Interviews scheduled

• No interviews finalized as of yet.

Completed second-round interviews

• No second-round interviews have taken place yet.

Completed first-round interviews

• Jim Harbaugh
  • Harbaugh had his first interview with Denver virtually on Monday, Jan. 9.
  • On Monday, Jan. 16, a week after his interview with the Broncos, Harbaugh told Michigan he will return as their head coach in 2023.
  • However, a week later, Greg Penner flew out to Ann Arbor to meet with Harbaugh in person.
• Ejiro Evero
  • Denver’s defensive coordinator was the first candidate to have an in-person interview with the team on Tuesday, Jan. 10.
• Jim Caldwell
  • Caldwell interviewed with the Broncos on Wednesday, Jan. 11.
• David Shaw
  • The former Stanford coach interviewed with the Broncos on Wednesday, Jan. 11.
• Sean Payton
  • The former Saints coach interviewed with the Broncos on Tuesday, Jan. 17.
• Raheem Morris
  • The Rams’ defensive coordinator interviewed with Denver on Tuesday, Jan. 17.
• DeMeco Ryans
  • The 49ers’ defensive coordinator had an in-person interview with the Broncos on Thursday, Jan. 17 in the Bay Area.
• Dan Quinn
  • Dallas’ defensive coordinator interviewed with the Broncos on Friday, Jan. 20 in the Dallas area.

Remaining candidates

• Sean Payton, former Saints head coach

Candidates no longer in the running

• Dan Quinn, Cowboys’ defensive coordinator
• Ejiro Evero, Broncos’ defensive coordinator
• Raheem Morris, Rams’ defensive coordinator
• Jim Caldwell, former Lions & Colts head coach
• David Shaw, former Stanford head coach
• DeMeco Ryans, 49ers’ defensive coordinator
• Jim Harbaugh, University of Michigan’s head coach