DENVER — The Broncos’ early playoff exit didn’t go over well with John Elway.
Denver’s general manager cleaned house Monday, firing coach John Fox and giving all of Fox’s assistants permission to look elsewhere less than 24 hours after the Broncos were eliminated by the Colts here in what might have doubled as Peyton Manning’s final game.
Fox, a former Giants defensive coordinator, was axed despite going 46-18 (.719) with four division titles and a Super Bowl appearance in four seasons with Denver that even included a playoff victory with Tim Tebow as his quarterback.
Fox’s firing wasn’t a total surprise after Fox Sports’ Jay Glazer reported Sunday morning Elway might part ways with his coach if the Broncos ended up losing their AFC divisional playoff to Indianapolis — which they did by a 24-13 count just hours later.
Fox, who also took the Panthers to the Super Bowl following the 2003 season with Jake Delhomme at quarterback, is expected to be in strong demand. The Bears would appear to have the best shot, considering former Giants GM Ernie Accorsi — a longtime fan of Fox’s — is consulting on Chicago’s coaching search.
In a bit of a surprise, Elway also encouraged all of Fox’s assistants — even offensive coordinator Adam Gase, a potential Fox replacement — to look for jobs elsewhere, although the team is keeping them under contract.
“While we have made significant progress under Coach Fox, there is still work to be done,” Elway said in a statement released by the team. “I believe this change at the head coaching position will be in the best interest of our long-term goal, which from Day One has been to win world championships.”
Elway also tried to dispel the perception that firing Fox had been in the works before Monday, saying he didn’t decide to make the move until after a contentious meeting with his head coach at the team’s headquarters Monday afternoon.
Fox’s reputation for conservatism on offense and his inability to bring the Broncos a Super Bowl victory in three seasons while Manning was setting a host of NFL passing records proved to be his undoing.
“John Fox and I met for more than an hour on Monday afternoon to discuss the 2014 season and our goals for the future,” Elway said in the same statement. “During our open and candid conversation, it became clear that it was best for both the Denver Broncos and Coach Fox to move on.”
Elway’s decision could be the precursor to a complete overhaul of the franchise, considering Manning was noncommittal Sunday about coming back next season and the Broncos have a whopping 17 soon-to-be free agents.
Denver’s list of looming free agents includes such key pieces as wide receiver Demaryius Thomas, tight ends Julius Thomas and Jacob Tamme and defensive tackle Terrance Knighton and offensive lineman Orlando Franklin.
The bigger question mark for the Broncos, of course, is Manning.
The Canton-bound quarterback has two more years left on his contract but struggled mightily the final six weeks of the season and played so poorly in Sunday’s loss to his former team that the home crowd at Sports Authority Field booed Manning throughout the game.
ESPN reported Monday that Manning had torn a quadriceps muscle in a Week 15 victory over the Chargers, although the Denver Post quoted a team source saying it was only a partial tear.
Manning, who will be 39 years old when the 2015 season starts, said immediately after the loss Sunday he was undecided about his future, and he planned to reassess the situation this week.
What the Broncos do with Gase could factor into Manning’s decision. Manning is very close with the young Denver play-caller and could choose to call it a career if Elway passes over Gase to be Fox’s replacement.
Fox, meanwhile, made it clear he isn’t ready to stop coaching despite missing time during the 2013 season to have heart surgery.
“I am eager to continue my coaching career and look forward to the opportunities that lie ahead,” Fox said in a statement released by the Broncos.