Six down, two to go in Broncos’ coaching interviews

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — The Denver Broncos have two more interviews lined up for their vacant head coaching position: defensive coordinators DeMeco Ryans of the 49ers and Dan Quinn of the Cowboys.

Team owner Greg Penner and general manager George Paton will meet with Ryans on Thursday and Quinn on Friday.

Quinn was also a candidate a year ago when the Broncos hired Nathaniel Hackett, who was fired after his team showed a disturbing lack of discipline in a 51-14 loss to the Rams on Christmas Day.

The Broncos are searching for their sixth head coach since their last trip to the playoffs following the 2015 season.

They interviewed Sean Payton, who is still under contract with the Saints, and Rams defensive coordinator Raheem Morris in the Los Angeles area on Tuesday.

Payton, who worked as a studio analyst this season, won the NFC South seven times with the Saints and the Super Bowl in the 2009 season, amassing a 152-89 record. He stepped down after Drew Brees retired following the 2020 season.

Payton has two years remaining on his contract and thus would have to be traded. The Saints, who have granted the Broncos, Cardinals and Texans permission to speak with him, are requiring significant draft pick compensation.

The Saints don’t have a first-round pick in the 2023 NFL draft after a trade with the Eagles that gave New Orleans two first-rounders last year.

The Broncos began their interviews last week, speaking with their own defensive coordinator, Ejiro Evero, former Lions head coach Jim Caldwell, former Stanford head coach David Shaw and Jim Harbaugh, who decided to stay at the University of Michigan.

Jerry Rosburg took over as interim head coach following Hackett’s dismissal on Dec. 26 and went 1-1. The Broncos, who averaged a paltry 15.5 points per game.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Carolina Panthers interviewed Denver Broncos defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero for their head coaching position on Wednesday, according to a person familiar with the situation.

The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the team does not release details of its coaching search.

Evero spent last season as the Broncos’ defensive coordinator. When Nathaniel Hackett was fired as Denver’s head coach, Evero had been pegged as the interim head coach but instead decided to remain as coordinator.

Among those who’ve already interviewed for the job in Carolina are former Detroit Lions and Indianapolis Colts head coach Jim Caldwell, former Colts coach Frank Reich, Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator Shane Steichen and interim Panthers head coach Steve Wilks.

MOBILE, Ala. — Chicago Bears offensive coordinator Luke Getsy and Las Vegas Raiders defensive coordinator Patrick Graham will serve as Senior Bowl head coaches.

The Senior Bowl said Wednesday that Getsy will coach the American team and Graham the National team in the Feb. 4 showcase game for senior and graduate NFL prospects.

The Bears have the top overall pick in April’s draft, and the Raiders own the No. 7 selection.

It’s the first time the Senior Bowl won’t have two full team staffs coaching the game.

FRISCO, Texas — The Dallas Cowboys signed kicker Tristan Vizcaino to the practice squad Wednesday, adding an option in case Brett Maher’s wild-card meltdown lingers into practice this week.

Maher missed his first four extra points in the 31-14 victory over Tampa Bay, an NFL first in the regular season or playoffs. He made the fifth to end a streak of five consecutive botched PATs going back to the regular-season finale against Washington.

Owner/general manager Jerry Jones, coach Mike McCarthy and special teams coach John Fassel backed Maher during the week, saying they expected him to kick Sunday night in the divisional game at San Francisco.