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Denver offensive coordinator Adam Gase and defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio are candidates to replace John Fox as Broncos head coach, general manager John Elway said Tuesday.
Appearing at his press conference to discuss the “mutual parting” with Fox after four seasons, Elway said he would conduct a search with a lot of strong candidates. He also said quarterback Peyton Manning would be involved in the process.
When asked specifically about Gase and Del Rio, Elway confirmed both coaches would be considered for the vacancy.
“Yeah, they are candidates,” Elway said. “As far as the coaches, I know there was some misinformation out there. The coaches have not been released. They are still under contract to the Broncos. I did give them the ability to talk to different people, but they have not all been released.”
Gase is a candidate to become the next 49ers head coach. The same can be said for Del Rio with the Raiders.
Elway would not say whether he plans to conduct interviews with Gase or Del Rio about the Broncos opening.
“They are both candidates,” Elway said. “I’m not talking about interviewing anybody. We’ve talking about candidates and whether they get interviewed or not, I’m not going to get into that right now.”
Trent Baalke, 49ers general manager, is in Denver on Tuesday to conduct a second discussion with Gase about the team’s head-coaching position. Gase is considered the leading candidate to replace Jim Harbaugh. Defensive line coach Jim Tomsula is the top in-house candidate, according to sources.
Del Rio is scheduled to meet Tuesday with the Raiders for his second interview with the organization. He first met with Raiders owner Mark Davis on Jan. 4, and Tuesday's interview will be conducted at the Raiders facility with prominent members of the team's power structure. Del Rio is believed to be the favorite to become Raiders head coach, per sources.