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Published on 12/30/2008 at Tue Dec 30 15:32.
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Denver Broncos Fire Mike Shanahan

Posted Tue Dec 30th by

Mike Shanahan

Mike Shanahan is no longer the Head Coach of the Denver Broncos.

Owner Pat Bowlen announced that he has fired Shanahan, who also serves as Executive Vice President of Football Operations, effective immediately, after an 8-8 season and missing the playoffs for the third straight year.

Broncos owner Pat Bowlen issued the following statement: “After giving this careful consideration, I have concluded that a change in our football operations is in the best interests of the Denver Broncos. This is certainly a difficult decision, but one that I feel must be made and which will ultimately be in the best interests of all concerned.”

Bowlen added, “I appreciate the 21 years that Mike Shanahan has given to the organization as an assistant and head coach, and the two Super Bowl wins in that time. His contributions hold a special place in Broncos history.”

Bowlen and Shanahan will both address the media at 11am tomorrow.

Wow. I’m floored. I thought, for certain, Shanahan had one year left at least. Huge, huge news.

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  • http://broncotalk.net Ian Henson

    Broncos owner Pat Bowlen issued the following statement: “After giving this careful consideration, I have concluded that a change in our football operations is in the best interests of the Denver Broncos. This is certainly a difficult decision, but one that I feel must be made and which will ultimately be in the best interests of all concerned.”

    Bowlen added, “I appreciate the 21 years that Mike Shanahan has given to the organization as an assistant and head coach, and the two Super Bowl wins in that time. His contributions hold a special place in Broncos history.”

  • KMA

    ok this changes everything!!!! WOW
    I’m actually excited!!

  • KMA

    all due respect of course BTW

  • Patrick

    All the Shanahaters got what they wanted now lets see who can do a better job. I’m disappointed to say the LEAST.

  • Bobby

    Wow I am in disbelief….. I hope this pushes us in the right direction, but man oh man, who is out there that is a better coach?

  • Bobby

    Here’s to hoping its Bill Cowher…He definitely was putting himself out there by continually calling the Broncos “The most dangerous team in the AFC”

  • JRODZ

    Cower’s a HACK! Keep lookin

  • onzie

    yeah you got to make a huge push for Cower.

  • Adam Santos

    I think this needed to be done and I’m surprised Bowlen would actually do this. Changes need to be made.

    … This might be sacrigligious but we need: Jimmy Johnson, Bill Cowher, Marty Schotheimer, or Bill Parcels!

  • ssc

    so NOT happy

  • Joe

    WOW,is all I can say!!! I hope we get Cowher or this move will be a big mistake!!! All you Shanahan haters got your wish I just hope it dosen’t backfire on us!!!!!! PLEASE DO ALL YOU CAN TO HIRE COWHER!!!!!

  • Patrick

    Now I’ll NEVER be invited to dinner @ Mike Shanahan’s!!!!

  • Paul Tache

    Marty! Marty! Marty! Marty!

  • dbroncos

    Does Bowlen have a miracle shoved up his ass?

  • http://twitter.com/webdav Dave Simon

    Bring back Kubiak! Similar system, more fire in the belly!

  • Joe

    Let’s also hope Shanahan dosen’t get hired by someone else in our divsion like KC.

  • http://birty.blogspot.com mikebirty

    wow – I’m speechless.

    Slowick for Head Coach?

  • Joe

    Slowik for Head Coach???? He was the one who should have been fired!!!! Are you high????

  • Bobby

    Bring in Bill Cowher as Head Coach, and Steve Spagnola as DC, let Jeremy Bates be OC

  • http://broncomadness.com Garrett Barnes

    just wrong. it makes me sick.

  • jvill

    I don’t get all that Cowher love. I mean great coach and all, but pretty much the exact opposite of the type of offense we have been running. Same applies for Marty Schott.

    Great. Another transition year, and just when the offense was looking like it had amazing potential. I hope whomever takes over realizes what they’ve got.

  • Joe

    I like that idea Bobby but I don’t think the Giants would let Spagnola go!

  • Joe

    Cowher brings defense!!!! And that is what we need!!!!!

  • Matt

    Cowher!! I hope they keep Bates as OC. Spagnola would be great as DC.

  • merc22

    i think bates gets the head coach,because bates is like a younger shanny

  • OC Bronco

    I think Bowlen looked at the schedule next year and said “F- it!” We will re-build next year and push it in ’10.

  • david

    so now we have a Probowl (and future Superbowl) quarterback, a Probowl (and future Superbowl) receiver in Marshall, great up and coming players…and now we are going to get a coach who won’t know how to guide these players…I predict 2009 to be 6-10, third in the AFC West

  • Boisebroncoguy

    I know some people are happy about this. I am not sure what i thnk. I am stunned! I guess, for now, I would join in the push for Cowher.

  • Ellis

    unbelievable…but maybe necessary?!?….I don’t know…….I’m very sad….Oh my goodness!

  • Joe

    Man I just can’t believe this!!!!! We needed a change but I don’t think this is the right move at all!!! If anybody should have been fired it should have been Slowik!! Granted it would be yet another D-coordinator but he just wasn’t doing the job!!!!

  • Boisebroncoguy

    Where is Kerry, he must be celebrating too hard.

  • http://houseofgeorges.blogspot.com bankmeister

    Three years, $20 million left on the contract is what they’re saying…

  • flbronc

    This a total disaster. There is not a single person out there that can do a better job coaching the Broncos. Cowher isnt the answer, our players dont fit his schemes on offense or defense. How excited are you to interview Mangini, Marinelli, Nolan or Crenell for a head coach? Anyone want to join in on the ‘hire the next big thing from the coordinator ranks’? Or were all of you hoping for pulling the college big shot? They’re usually successful….

    I’d much rather have a couple of down or rebuilding years, than a coaching merry-go-round.

    I think people lost their patience and called for the head of one of the best coaches around. Before Cowher won a SB he was only conf champ once(1995), and in between he went 7-9, 6-10 & 9-7 from 1998-2001 by the Shannahaters logic, he should have been fired just like Shanny after that stretch of missing the playoffs, right? Of course not, he won a SB later….

    Firing him does nothing, my basic point is change for the sake of change is stupid. There is nobody better out there. Cowher is the most proven option out there, and statistically he is almost identical to Shanny’s record in Denver. Shanny .616 reg season winning % (14 yrs) to Cowher’s .623 (15 yars). Shanny has the playoff edge .615 to .571. Shanny 2 SB Champs and 2 Conf Champs vs Cowher 1 SB 2 conf. Shanny 2 losing seasons Cowher 3. It’s a lateral move.

    If you want the Broncos to become a better team fast, replace the defense. Not the head coach. We now have to get new players in to fit whatever scheme. The new coach will ‘ask for time’… Everybody who thinks it’s a quick fix after firing the coach you are sadly mistaking. Hope you give the next guy a shot, and dont call for his head after a couple more years of missing the playoffs.

  • Steve

    WTF This is a sad day for the broncos…. I hate this team right now…. I hope he goes to the Raiders and kicks the crap out of us…. Im so Pissed!!!!!!! This is unbelievable !!!

  • flbronc

    Saved this for a totally different post.

    Everybody should be thankful for the years that Shanny gave us. He did one hell of a job and provided us with many great memories, and built two tremendous SB teams. If he chooses to retire, I wish him well. If not, I’ll root for his team (provided that it’s not in our division), just like I root for the Texans and Kubiak.

    Thanks Coach!

  • ssc

    the ONLY silver lining is that a new head coach will probably replace slowik. but that’s about it. shanahan was in a lot of ways the face of the broncos franchise for me.

  • Anthony33

    Bowlen is a f****g idiot.

  • Andpark

    Shocked. Wow. If not Shan then I think Cowher as well. I remember him always sticking up for us on the CBS NFL Today. Offense is so talented that they will succeed under anyone but the D in the Charger game was an absolute embarrassment and we have to do something. Concerned for sure. Shocked

  • Eric in Vegas

    Four words: Head Coach Rod Smith…

  • Joe

    Let’s just hope Shanahan goes to the Lions so he won’t be in our conference!!!!!

  • T-Money

    This is the probably one of the worst things that could have happened. Think about the relationships that have been formed.

    Jay Cutler
    Brandon Marshall
    Eddie Royal
    Tony Sheff

    This is truly the dumbest move that could have been made!

  • http://broncotalk.net Ben

    I agree with bobby add on some1 else as GM like Scott Pioli or even Bill Parcells

  • T-Money

    There were other alternatives. Firing him was not the way to go

  • T-Money

    Cowher wont take the Job because we can’t afford anybody. We still have to pay Shanahan 20 million

  • http://laprit@lycos.com AtomicLeo

    Thank you Bowlen!

    He must have learned from his mistake with Reeves, another great coach that lost the team. Instead of twisting in the wind next season with a killer schedule he pulled the plug this year. Allows the new guy a year where expectations will be low and a year to bring in ‘his’ guys.

    I love Shanny. We would not won the 2 SBs without him. BUT the facts can not be denied…..

    (1) Horrible drafting from 1999-2004. Killed us when injuries occurred.
    (2) Jettisoned several DC, made many FA signings and yet the D was never anything more than middle of the road for the past 10 years.
    (3) For the last 3 seasons the Broncos wilted in the stretch, lost heart, wasn’t focused, etc…. That is a failure of leadership.

  • Dr. Gonzo420

    WTF?! They fired the wrong F’in guy. Slowick was trash and should have been the one that was canned. There is no one out there that can fill Shannys shoes. Say goodbye to next season.

  • Anthony33

    This is the same guy that gave the Hall of Fame speech to intoduce Gary Zimmerman and he was drunk on his ass. Complete disgrace to the organization and the fans who have been behind this team since the 60″s. Was he drinking again?????

  • kerry

    nah nah nah nah nah, nah nah nah nah nah. hey hey hey GOODBYE!!!!! yes!! its about time!! way to FINALLY grow a pair Bowlen!!! now go get Jim Schwartz from the Titans!!! and Scott Pioli as the GM!!! this is a great day!! the king is dead, long live his successor!!!!!

  • Dave Abeyta

    Mr. Bowlen,
    Let’s hire as head coach the real winner of the ’97 & ’98 Super Bowls. JOHN ELWAY!!!

  • T-Money

    Kerry you’re an idot. Who are they going to bring in?

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