Adam Gase Broncos 2015
Broncos offensive coordinator Adam Gase could be on his way to San Francisco. Reuters

The San Francisco 49ers have reportedly set their sights on Broncos offensive coordinator Adam Gase, but luring him away from Mile High is still very much up in the air. According to NFL Network’s Jeff Darlington, Gase wrapped up his interview with San Francisco Tuesday, but he later met with Denver team president John Elway.

The Broncos appear to be in disarray after firing John Fox on Monday. Gase could leave, and defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio's move to become the Oakland Raiders next coach is almost a done deal. Should Elway and the Broncos fear a complete drain of the coaching staff, Denver and San Francisco could be in a battle for Gase.

Since letting Jim Harbaugh scurry off to Michigan, the 49ers have reportedly interviewed at least eight candidates for their head coach vacancy. But Gase might be the most coveted of them all.

Only in his second season as an NFL coordinator, Gase’s schemes have fueled the Broncos prolific offense the last two years and it's believed he could work wonders with San Francisco quarterback Colin Kaepernick.

Becoming the full-time starter in 2012, Kaepernick posted a career-worst 86.4 passer rating, 7.0 yards per attempt, and 10 interceptions for an 8-8 team that missed the playoffs for the first time in four years.

There are other options for San Francisco should Denver promote Gase, but the list of attractive candidates is quickly whittling down. In the last three days, Buffalo’s signed Rex Ryan and the Jets plucked Todd Bowles out of Arizona, and the Raiders appear to have ended their search.

Still, two of the top candidates are coaching their respective teams in the postseason, one turned a defense around in one season, and one has already won two Super Bowls. All four have also already sat down with San Francisco general manager Trent Baalke.

There’s Seattle defensive coordinator Dan Quinn, who’s helped construct arguably one of the best defenses in league history and might snag a second-straight Super Bowl title. San Francisco already has some of the best defensive players in the league, and it likely wouldn’t take long for Quinn to build a dominant defense.

Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels is another possibility, as the 38-year-old is viewed as similar candidate to Gase. In 2007, McDaniels put together a record-setting offense with New England that went 16-0 in the regular season. Tom Brady completed 50 touchdown passes under McDaniels. Kaepernick would certainly benefit under McDaniels's tutelage, but he also flamed out after only two seasons in Denver as a head coach.

Former Redskins and Broncos coach Mike Shanahan remains a dark horse. Owning two Super Bowl titles with Denver, Shanahan sat out this season after Washington fired him in 2013. His time in Washington was marred by a 24-40 record and a poor relationship with quarterback Robert Griffin III, but Shanahan remains the most experienced of any prospective coach.

In the same vein as Quinn, Lions defensive coordinator Teryl Austin could also be tapped. Working as a defensive assistant and defensive backs coach at both the college and pro levels, Austin quickly revamped the Lions defense in one season. The squad ranked No. 2 in the NFL in total defense and nearly won a playoff game in a very competitive conference.