Bill Williamson, ESPN Staff Writer 13y

Gregg Williams pulls out of Denver search

The Denver Broncos have lost another candidate for their head-coaching job.

It is being reported that New Orleans defensive coordinator Gregg Williams has withdrawn himself from consideration. Williams interested Denver partly because he has head-coaching experience from his time in Buffalo. Williams was scheduled to interview in Denver on Wednesday.

He is the third candidate Denver has pursued that has declined to talk to the team. Former Stanford coach Jim Harbaugh ended up going to San Francisco and Atlanta offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey has postponed his interview until after the Falcons’ season is over. He’ll likely interview with the Broncos if they don’t already have a new coach by that time. The Broncos were not upset with Mularkey’s decision, but they will not purposely wait for him, either.

While Harbaugh would have been a slam-dunk hire, Mularkey and Williams were not considered sure things in Denver.

Denver is talking to Houston offensive coordinator Rick Dennison (a former Denver player and coach who interviewed for the job two years ago) and Jacksonville offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter on Tuesday. Former Carolina head coach John Fox will interview on Wednesday.

Giants defensive coordinator Perry Fewell and Denver interim coach Eric Studesville have already interviewed. The team could add to the list;it hopes to hire a new coach by next week after a round of second interviews for the finalists.

After disposed coach Josh McDaniels alienated many fans, the team -- led by new vice president of football operations John Elway -- is doing its best to regain the trust of the fan base. Tuesday, Elway asked fans what they’d ask candidates, via Twitter. Also, the team is showing clips of the interview process on its website. No other team has ever done that.

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