The Broncos have completed their ninth interview for their head-coaching vacancy, as General Manager George Paton and Co. met with Rams offensive coordinator Kevin O'Connell on Thursday.

O'Connell, a former NFL quarterback, has seven years of NFL coaching experience, including the last three as an offensive coordinator.

In 2021, after Los Angeles acquired quarterback Matthew Stafford from the Lions, the Rams posted a marked improvement in their overall production. The team ranked ninth in total offense and seventh in scoring offense and was in the league's top five both in passing yards and passing touchdowns.

And while the Rams' offense is seen largely as Rams head coach Sean McVay's realm, O'Connell has an integral role.

"The thing about Kevin O'Connell is he's been at the controls of the Rams' offense in almost every way, except actually calling the plays, for two years, which makes him a guy who's seen what Sean McVay does and what makes the Rams so successful over the last five years," the Associated Press' Greg Beacham told DenverBroncos.com. "And there's only a handful of guys in the world who can say that; three of the other assistants who can say that are currently head coaches of their own teams and two are still in the playoffs along with Sean McVay, so the pedigree is impeccable. There's no doubt that Kevin is the next guy in that lineage."

O'Connell is one of several candidates with a background on the offensive side of the ball, including Packers OC Nathaniel Hackett, Packers quarterbacks/passing game coordinator Luke Getsy, Cowboys OC Kellen Moore and Bengals OC Brian Callahan, who previously interviewed with the team.

Paton and the search committee will reportedly meet with one more candidate for the position: Chiefs OC Eric Bieniemy.