Owner Pat Bowlen, chief operating officer Joe Ellis and personnel chief Jim Goodman jetted off to New York on Saturday for a dinner meeting with New York Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, followed by a Sunday conversation with New England Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels.

The trio will return to Denver for interviews at team headquarters next week with Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive coordinator Raheem Morris and Dallas Cowboys offensive coordinator Jason Garrett.

Also, the first internal candidate emerged when deputy Rick Dennison asked for an interview next week.

Dennison, 50, is a dark horse but does have the deepest ties to the Broncos. He was a linebacker in Denver from 1982-90, playing in three Super Bowls, then joined Shanahan's staff in 1995, coaching the special teams, offensive line, and serving the last three seasons as offensive coordinator.

The Broncos had the second-ranked offense in the league last season but what did them in was poor special teams play and a dreadful defense, the culmination of a series of bad personnel moves and poor drafts.

Spagnuolo, 49, who turned down the Washington Redskins job last year, has also drawn interest from the New York Jets for their coaching vacancy. He is the architect of the pass rush that stymied Tom Brady in last year's Super Bowl stunner and who has helped the Giants earn the top seed in the NFC playoffs this season.

McDaniels, 32, is a rising star who has worked his way up from graduate assistant to offensive coordinator under Patriots coach Bill Belichick.