Wade Phillips could be making his return to the NFL.
The former Broncos head coach could be returning to the team, this time as defensive coordinator.
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New Broncos coach Gary Kubiak, who worked with Phillips in Houston, has reached out to Phillips, according to ESPN. Phillips was Kubiak's defensive coordinator with the Texans for three seasons from 2011-2013 and served as Houston's interim head coach after Kubiak collapsed on the sideline late in the season. Phillips has also been an interim head coach in Atlanta and New Orleans and had stints as a head coach in Buffalo from 1998-2000 and Dallas from 2007-2010.
The Broncos reportedly wanted to speak with Bengals defensive backs coach Vance Joseph, but Cincinnati denied the interview request. That's when Kubiak turned to Phillips, who was Denver's head coach in 1993 and 1994 before Mike Shanahan took over and brought in Kubiak as his offensive coordinator.
In Houston, Phillips turned around a Texans defense that ranked 30th in total defense in 2010 and improved to No. 2 overall in 2011 — with the addition of 2011 first-round pick J.J. Watt from Wisconsin. The Texans ranked seventh in total defense in both 2012 and 2013.
Phillips would join a familiar staff. The Broncos hired former Texans defensive line coach Bill Kollar to the same position on Thursday and are expected to retain linebackers coach Richard Smith, who was also with Kubiak and Phillips in Houston.