ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — If Peyton Manning decides to return to the Broncos next season, he’ll have a new coaching staff to work with in Denver.

GM John Elway is looking for a new coach after agreeing to part ways with John Fox following the Broncos’ second stunning home playoff loss in three years as heavy favorites.

Manning said after Denver’s 24-13 loss to Indianapolis on Sunday that he was unsure about returning for an 18th NFL season and fourth in Denver but agreed to delay that decision.

Elway and Fox didn’t hesitate to move on without each other.

Fox won the AFC West all four of his years in Denver, but each of those seasons ended in ugly fashion in the playoffs. Fox might already have something in the works with another franchise — he didn’t shoot down a pregame report Sunday night that he could be available if the Broncos lost.

“It became clear that it was best for both the Denver Broncos and Coach Fox to move on and make this change,” Elway said in a statement.

So, Fox is out after going 49-22 in Denver, including the playoffs, following a 78-74 record in nine years with the Carolina Panthers, counting the postseason.

Fox gathered his players at noon Monday but didn’t talk about his own future. Chris Harris Jr. said Fox’s message was “just that he appreciated everybody’s efforts. He loved us and everybody just be smart in the offseason and make sure you take care of your body to be ready to come back ready to roll when OTAs start.”

Two hours later, Elway met with Fox and then gathered the assistant coaches to tell them they remain under contract but were free to pursue jobs with other teams.

Some of them could be headed to the San Francisco Bay area because offensive coordinator Adam Gase is a candidate to replace Jim Harbaugh with the 49ers and defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio is a candidate in Oakland.

The players had left Broncos headquarters when the news of Fox’s departure broke, and several reacted bluntly on Twitter.

“Cold World ...,” wrote Demaryius Thomas.

“Wow ...,” said Omar Bolden.