The Denver Broncos have asked the Dallas Cowboys for permission to talk with defensive co-ordinator Dan Quinn, Los Angeles Rams defensive co-ordinator Raheem Morris and San Francisco 49ers defensive co-ordinator DeMeco Ryans for their head coaching vacancy, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport and ESPN's Adam Schefter.
The Broncos fired first-year head coach Nathaniel Hackett on Dec. 26 after leading the team to a 4-11 record, becoming only the fifth-ever head coach to be fired before the end of his first season. He was replaced by interim head coach Jerry Rosburg.
Quinn was reportedly interviewed for the Broncos coaching position last offseason, but the team went with Hackett instead, hoping to reinvigorate their offence with new acquisition Russell Wilson under centre.
As the defensive play-caller for the Cowboys for the past two seasons, they went from giving up the fifth-most points in the NFL in the 2020 season to the seventh and sixth least points in the 2021 and 2022 seasons, respectively. They've also led the league in takeaways the last two years.
The coordinator has experience as a head coach, manning the role for the Atlanta Falcons from 2015-2020 and leading the NFC South squad to a Super Bowl appearance in 2017. He also worked with the Seattle Seahawks as defensive coordinator from 2013-2014, a familiar face for QB Wilson.
The Cowboys are currently in the midst of a playoff run, finishing the season with a 12-5 record. They taking on Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the Wild Card Round on Jan. 16.
Morris helped the Rams win the Super Bowl last season before the team tumbled down the standings this year.
Morris was head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 2009-11 and interim head coach off the Atlanta Falcons in 2020 after the team fired Quinn.
The Rams' coaching structure is a bit of a question mark as head coach Sean McVay contemplates his future.
Ryans, an assistant with San Francisco since 2021, was promoted to defensive co-ordinator last year after Robert Saleh took the New York Jets' head coaching job.
The 49ers had the league's top-ranked defence this year, leading the team to the No. 2 seed in the NFC after the 49ers lost their top two quarterbacks to injury.
The 49ers were third in the defensive rankings last year.
Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh, former New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton and Broncos defensive co-ordinator Ejiro Evero also have been mentioned as candidates for the Broncos' job.
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