The Denver Broncos finally made the decision to part ways with first-year head coach Nathaniel Hackett Monday, following an embarrassing Christmas blowout loss to the Los Angeles Rams. This was a decision that did not come as a surprise to anyone, and Broncos owner Greg Penne said in a statement that the timing of this move allows the franchise to get a jump on this new head coaching search.

Denver went with two defensive minds in Vance Joseph and Vic Fangio before taking a flier on Hackett, the former offensive coordinator of the Green Bay Packers. Obviously, that flier did not work out. Could the results of the Hackett experiment lead general manager George Paton and the new ownership to lean towards someone who has been a head coach before? Will they be unafraid to again reach on a young offensive coordinator on the rise, or will they opt to go for a seasoned defensive coordinator with head coaching experience?

Below, we will rank five candidates who could be the next head coach for the Broncos. 

5. Frank Reich 

Former position: Indianapolis Colts head coach

Reich was fired by the Colts earlier this season after a 3-5-1 start, but he went 40-33-1 as head coach in his five seasons. Reich went 10-6 as a first-year head coach back in 2018, but then lost his franchise quarterback, as Andrew Luck decided to hang up his cleats. That really led to Reich’s downfall, as virtually everyone the Colts tried under center after that didn’t really work out. Jacoby Brissett went 7-8 in 2019, Philip Rivers gave the Colts just one year before he retired, Carson Wentz was a one-and-done and then Matt Ryan was a huge disappointment.

The former Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator has head coaching experience, and wasn’t the problem in Indy. The Broncos could have interest in him.