Denver Broncos Set To Host Slew of Assistants for Head-Coaching Vacancy

The top Head Coaching vacancy in the NFL, possibly in all of professional sports, could be filled a week from today.

Denver Broncos owner Pat Bowlen is set to host a slew of coordinators and possibly a college head coach within the next couple of weeks, so Broncos fans: Let the search for Mike Shanahan's successor begin.

On Saturday, the team will begin quickly by heading out to New York Giants headquarters to speak to Defensive Coordinator Steve Spagnuolo. 

Spagnuolo is rumored to be the top candidate for the vacancy, and many NFL insiders feel he is the top head coaching prospect available. 

The 49-year-old has been a defensive mastermind over the years, coordinating for the Eagles and the Giants in the last decade. He also spent time as a scout for the San Diego Chargers.

Following their meeting in the Meadowlands, Broncos officials will make a short trip down to Foxborough, MA to meet with New England Patriots' offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels. 

If there is a Mike Shanahan clone out there, other than Gary Kubiak and Kyle Shanahan, it is McDaniels. 

The 32-year-old offensive guru has been rising through the coaching ranks since he was just 22 years of age. McDaniels, if he leaves New England, will be known best for the work he did developing quarterbacks Tom Brady and Matt Cassel.

That type of experience would be attractive to the Broncos, who have a young quarterback on the verge of stardom in Jay Cutler.

After speaking with McDaniels, Denver will likely host Tampa Bay's interim defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach Raheem Moore.

Moore is a 32-year-old who is also considered to be one of the top young coaching prospects the NFL has to offer and could be in a similar mold to former Minnesota coordinator and Jon Gruden spawn, Mike Tomlin.

After interviewing Moore, Denver will interview with highly-touted Dallas offensive coordinator Jason Garrett. 

Garrett is the highest paid assistant coach in the NFL and could be a dark horse in the Broncos' coaching sweepstakes. The 42-year-old is a former NFL quarterback who has only been coaching for four years in the league but has some hardware to go along with his impressive resume.

Another possible candidate for the job is current Oklahoma Sooners head coach Bob Stoops, who has had contact with Denver in the past.

Stoops and the Sooners football team have been invited to sit in on practices at the Broncos' training facilities, and Stoops has a strong relationship with the Broncos brass. If he doesn't want the job, expect him to shoot down rumors soon.

Likely, the final candidate for the coaching vacancy is current Denver offensive coordinator Rick Dennison, who is considered to be a long shot at this point.

However, Denver would like to keep him on their coaching staff, as he has helped engineer one of the NFL's top offenses, along with quarterbacks coach Jeremy Bates, who recently turned down an offer to be the offensive coordinator at Tennessee with Lane Kiffin.

When it all comes down to it, the Broncos will likely have their choice of the top coach available, and will also probably obtain one of the top general managers that could become available. It will be very interesting to say the least, so stay tuned.