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Dolphins Making Progress Toward Deal With Gase, Former Broncos Offensive Coordinator

MIAMI (AP) — The Miami Dolphins are making progress in talks with Adam Gase to become their coach, a person connected to the team said Saturday. Gase is the former Denver Broncos offensive coordinator.

The person provided the update on negotiations to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because no agreement has been reached with the Chicago Bears offensive coordinator. Gase would become the Dolphins' ninth coach since 2004.

Gase is the NFL's hottest coaching candidate among assistants. He has also interviewed with the Eagles, Browns and Giants and has been considered the front-runner for the Dolphins job.

At 37, Gase would become the league's young coach. He has no head coaching experience but has been a target of coaching searches for at least three years.

The Dolphins interviewed former NFL coaches Doug Marrone, Mike Shanahan and Mike Smith, along with Miami interim coach Dan Campbell and two other candidates. But the buzz about Gase, 37, has been building in South Florida all week.

Gase is a protege of Nick Saban, who coached the Dolphins in 2005-06.

A year ago Gase followed head coach John Fox from Denver to Chicago after interviewing for head jobs with the Bears, 49ers, Bills and Falcons. He hasn't been a head coach but has been a target of NFL head coaching searches for at least three years.

Gase spent six seasons on Denver's staff. He was offensive coordinator when the Broncos and Peyton Manning scored an NFL-record 606 points and advanced to the Super Bowl in 2013, and when they scored 482 points the following season.

Gase worked Saban's staff at Michigan State while a student there. He followed Saban to LSU and was a graduate assistant and recruiting assistant before beginning his NFL career in 2003.

By Steven Wine, AP Sports Writer

(© Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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