The Denver Broncos let former defensive coordinator Dennis Allen leave for the Oakland Raiders' head coaching position and that was apparently enough coaches for the team to let leave from within the division. The Broncos denied the Raiders' request to allow linebackers coach Richard Smith to interview for Oakland's defensive coordinator position, reports ESPN.com.

Smith had been the top in-house candidate for the Broncos' vacant defensive coordinator position once Allen left for the Raiders. However, that job went to Jack Del Rio, a former head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars and a defensive coordinator under John Fox in Carolina during the 2002 season.

Smith is still the linebackers coach for the Broncos, but, as a former defensive coordinator himself, will likely be a candidate for other coordinator positions next year.

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