10:35 a.m. MST: The team meeting room is flooded with reporters and television cameras. I count 20 cameras, with plenty of photographers lined up across the front of the room.
The parking lot outside is flooded with satellite trucks — there are live radio shows happening as we speak here at Dove Valley. You can really get a feel how big this story is, not only in Broncos Country but across the nation.
10:45 a.m. MST: Vice President of Public Relations Jim Saccomano is addressing the crowd — he said the conference will begin at around 11:01 or 11:02, for television purposes.
10:53 a.m. MST: Broncos staff members are heading into the room — the room is pretty packed. People are standing along the sides of the room against the wall, as well. Quarterbacks Coach Jeremy Bates and Wide Receivers Coach Jedd Fisch just arrived and found seats.
10:58 a.m. MST: Assistant General Managers Brian Xanders and Jeff Goodman along with Vice President of Football Operations/Player Personnel Jim Goodman are standing along the wall. The room is silent as the crowd awaits the arrival of President and CEO Pat Bowlen.
11:03: a.m. MST: A number of assistant coaches have arrived now, including Tight Ends Coach Pat McPherson, Offensive Assistant Joe Baker and Running Backs Coach Bobby Turner. Jim Saccomano is headed to the podium to address the crowd.
11:04: a.m. MST: President and CEO Pat Bowlen has just stepped to the podium. “As everybody in the room is aware, I have decided to make a historic change in this organization. I have terminated Mike Shanahan as the head coach, and I wish him very well as he goes forward. I’m sure he will end up in another organization and be as great for that organization as he’s been for this organization.”
11:05: a.m. MST: Mr. Bowlen: “Obviously he has Hall of Fame credentials, and I hope that I can replace him with somebody that can be on the same level that Mike was. That’s obviously going to be very hard to do. I decided to make this change for a number of reasons…I think it was time for the organization to move on and for Mike to move on. I have no regrets in making that decision. I have a great deal of respect for Mike, obviously, and will support him as much as I can in anything that he wants to do in the future.”
11:07: a.m. MST: Mr. Bowlen: “I had been thinking about it for a while. Obviously this season didn’t go as well as I would have wanted it to go — I’m not laying the blame on the coach for that, we just didn’t get it done…That’s not the primary reason I’m here today. It was one of the reasons.”
“I think that at this point in time, after 14 years as a head coach, it was time for us to go in a different direction. I think that Mike still wants to coach, and I think he’ll probably be more comfortable coaching in a different organization. I think it’s a good decision for both of us.”
11:08: a.m. MST: Mr. Bowlen: “Unfortunately I’ve never believed in a coach for life. I’ve had to fire other coaches — this is the third one — and they’ve gone onto successful careers in other organizations. That’s just the business.”
11:09: a.m. MST: Mr. Bowlen: “Mike and I have always had a close relationship. Obviously it’s going to be a little strained at this point, but I think as we go down the road we’ll continue to respect and appreciate each other, and we’ll continue to be friends.”
“I just felt that it was time for a change. I think 21 years with one organization, 14 years as a head coach, is about long enough. I think we want to go in a different direction.”
11:10: a.m. MST: Mr. Bowlen on Shanahan as Head Coach/G.M.: “I felt that Mike was doing both those jobs and was doing them well. I don’t anticipate that the next head coach will have both jobs.”
11:11: a.m. MST: Mr. Bowlen on bringing up the decision with Shanahan: “Yesterday was the first time it ever came up. (The conversation) went very well — as well as a conversation of that nature can go. I don’t think there was any animoscity at all. I think he was shocked, I think he was surprised, but I didn’t feel that there was a lot of negative vibes in that room. I think he knows how I feel about him and I think he feels the same way about me.”
11:13: a.m. MST: Mr. Bowlen on what he would say to the fans: “We’re going to try to get a great coach to come in here. I think we’ve got a great personnel staff upstairs…This job in Denver is a very attractive one and I think we’ll get a great coach.”
11:14: a.m. MST: Mr. Bowlen: “At some point in time you reach a decision in your own mind. I haven’t been thinking about this the whole season…I think that as we got through the last game and I looked back at the season and looked back on our relationship and looked back on a lot of things, I thought it was time to move on. I have no doubts in my mind that Mike will go out and get another job with another organization and be very successful. But I thought that broadly if we look back at it a month from now that he’s going to agree that it was the right decision.”
“I guess nothing’s forever.”
11:16: a.m. MST: Mr. Bowlen tears up a little when asked what was the toughest part about the meeting with Shanahan yesterday: “I guess the emotion. The friendship. When you’re with somebody for 21 years and you’ve got to let him go, it’s a tough decision.”
“I know I have to make some decisions in this organization that I don’t like, and that was probably at the top of the list. But those are decisions you have to make when you own an organization.”
11:17: a.m. MST: Mr. Bowlen on if it was the hardest thing he’s ever had to do: “Probably. In 25 years this is probably as tough as it gets.”
How close is this to a playoff team? “We’re not in the playoffs, so we’re a long way away. But that could change in a hurry,” Bowlen said.
11:18: a.m. MST: Mr. Bowlen on what he wants from the next coach: “I want somebody to come in here and win a Super Bowl. That’s my number one goal. That’s what I want to do. That’s what I’m here for…So I hope I can pick the right coach and our personnel people can pick the right players and we can go on and win the next Super Bowl.”
On the current coaching staff: “I don’t anticipate that we’ll be keeping any members of the coaching staff. Nothing will change in the personnel department.”
On if he has talked with any players: “I have talked with Jay Cutler, and Jay understood the conversation. I talked to him this morning, I didn’t get any negative feedback. I think he understands enough about the business of football and the game of football.”
11:21 a.m. MST: Mr. Bowlen on if he will have help in finding the next coach: “I don’t think that I would consider myself smart enough to do it all by myself. I think there’s a lot of talent in this building that can help me out, and I will rely on the advice of certain people in this building that I have respect for, and we will hopefully get a great new coach. By the way, this job here — and I don’t say this in any bragadocious way at all — but this is a very high-thought-of job.”
11:23 a.m. MST: Mr. Bowlen on his relationship with Shanahan: “I think we’ll have a relationship for life. You don’t do the things that we’ve done together and then just sort of move on and forget about it. That’s not the way this business works. So I know Mike’s very disappointed. I know I’m disappointed that I had to make this decision, but Mike will go on and he will be very successful. And I’ll be very happy for him, as long as he’s not beating us. (Smiles) I think the relationship will be, as we go forward, very strong.”
On the conversation yesterday: “Mike and I understand each other. It wasn’t a confrontational conversation, it was none of those things. It was just a conversation where I said, ‘I’ve got to move on,’ it was fully understood.”
On if Shanahan went to a division rival: “I wouldn’t be too happy if he went to Kansas City. (Laughs) Mike will have a lot of opportunities…and if I’m consulted by an owner of that team, I’ll give him the highest marks I can.”
11:25 a.m. MST: “Today we start the process of selecting a new head coach. I don’t know how long that will take, and I don’t even know who the candidates are at this time. But we will get a good head coach.”
Are you considering taking the G.M. job? “Hell no.”
11:26 a.m. MST: Bowlen walks out of the room and Mike Shanahan is stepping to the podium. “I’ve been here 21 years, so I’ve got a lot of people to thank, you’re going to have to bear with me.”
11:28 a.m. MST: Shanahan thanks his personal assistant Cindi Lowe, and says that she was really the head coach for the past 14 years. “So the bad plays were her fault,” he jokes.
“You’re not here for 21 years unless you’ve got the best people around you.”
11:31 a.m. MST: “One thing that is very exciting to me is the football team that we have — the character of this team. When you leave a football team and you leave a team that has the utmost character, you feel good about it. You feel like you’re leaving a team that has a chance to be a difference-maker.”
11:32 a.m. MST: Shanahan gets a little emotional and pauses at the podium. “Obviously Pat Bowlen — it’s tough, because he is a great friend and will always be a great friend. The best owner in sports. I appreciate every opportunity you gave me to be successful. I can go on and on, but you have to make tough decisions in any organization and Pat made a tough decision…I just thank him for giving me the opportunity to do the things that I’ve been able to do.”
11:35 a.m. MST: Shanahan: “It’s been fun. It’s been a great ride. … I wouldn’t give anything up. Do you deserve it? Hey, we didn’t win the past three years. … I didn’t get the job done and that’s the bottom line. Your job is to win championships and I haven’t won a championship in a while. The next place I go that will be the biggest thing I think about — what will give me the best chance to win a championship.”
On the decision: “It did catch me a bit by surprise, but I can understand the reasoning behind it.”
11:36 a.m. MST: Shanahan: “That’s what the Denver Broncos are…we want to win championships, and I think we will in the near future. I’ll always be a part of that.”
How tough was it to have someone tell you you’re being terminated? “I think when it happened to me the first time when I was with the Raiders it’s very tough. But all of a sudden you start getting used to getting fired — it’s not quite as tough. (Smiles) But on the serious side, it’s always tough when you put your heart into something and you get let go…The bottom line is you understand people have to make tough decisions that they think gives the organization the best chance to win.”
11:39 a.m. MST: On yesterday’s conversation: “I felt for Pat. I said, ‘Hey, I understand where you’re coming from.’ It was harder for him to tell me than it was for me to accept it. I’ve had to be in his shoes…It only lasted five minutes, because more than that I think we both would have broken down.”
Was it hard? “It hurts. But tough times don’t last — tough people do. That’s life.”
11:41 a.m. MST: Shanahan on if he will want the same dual title if he takes another coaching job: “The thing that people don’t understand I think very often is that titles don’t mean anything. What you want are confident people to run different parts of your organization. … What I want is great advice. I want the guy coaching that offensive line to coach it better than me. … That’s how you develop a strong organization, you hire people that are smarter than you in different areas.”
11:43 a.m. MST: Shanahan on if he had any inkling what he was walking into Bowlen’s office for yesterday: “No, I did not. I wasn’t really sure. Maybe lunch. (Laughs) My new restaurant that I’ve got to promote?”
11:46 a.m. MST: Shanahan on what he wants to say to the fans: “I say Denver fans are the best. We’ve got the best win-loss record at home and I attribute that to the fans. It’s a college atmosphere, and they deserve the best. Unfortunately we haven’t been able to do that the past couple years, but they’re behind you. I love them.”
11:48 a.m. MST: Shanahan on assistant coaches being let go as well: “That’s the hardest part about this job. Don’t feel bad for me. I’ve been lucky enough to last for this organization for 21 years. The people I have the most concern for are the assistant coaches, the support staff, people that have to move their families. That’s the toughest thing about being fired as head coach — you let a lot of people down.”
On if he would take a college job: “I think I’m an NFL guy. I’m not ruling anything out, because when you don’t have a job, beggars can’t be choosers.”
11:50 a.m. MST: Shanahan on what he will miss the most: “I think relationships with the people that you work with every day. Any time you work 100-hour weeks and you’re busting your rear end to make things happen, that’s what football’s about. It’s family. … That’s what I’ll miss, because I think we had a lot of things in place headed in the right direction, which is great for the Denver Broncos.”
11:51 a.m. MST: On if John Elway would be a valuable part of the organization: “If I was a free agent coming in and John Elway was there, I’d sign for no money. … I think John would be perfect for any organization, especially this one, if that’s what he wanted to do.”
11:53 a.m. MST: Shanahan on Bowlen’s decision: “It’s tough, but I’m a big boy, I can understand why he wants to go in that direction.”
11:54 a.m. MST: Shanahan: “I’m going to be coaching. I can’t give you a time frame. But I’m going to look at my options. … I love the NFL so I don’t see myself getting out of it.”
“All I can say is my experiences here were off the charts. How you develop relationships is going through those experiences together. … That’s why I appreciate everyone in this room, because one person doesn’t make it happen. Everybody together makes it happen. And you’ve got to have an owner that gives you the ability to go out and get the best people and keep the best people. … To win a Super Bowl, to separate yourself, you have to be the best in every area. And that’s what I’ll miss about here — Pat gives you the chance to do that.”
11:57 a.m. MST: Shanahan on Bowlen’s decision: “Sometimes you’ve got to go with your gut. Sometimes you’re at a place for 14 years and it’s the best thing for the organization. I’m not saying that, obviously (smiles), but I think this will always be one of the top places in the league because of leadership.”
11:58: a.m. MST: On what the past 15 hours have been like for him: “You sit down with your family, with the kids…” Shanahan pauses as he gets a little emotional.
“My son understands the business, he’s with the Texans, and my daughter’s in town, she’s getting married … they understand how tough it is to let someone go because they know how tough it was on me. So they can relate to what Pat had to do.”
12:00 p.m. MST: The press conference comes to a close.
“I appreciate everything,” Shanahan says as he shakes Vice President of Public Relations Jim Saccomano’s hand and heads out of the team meeting room.
DenverBroncos.com will have continuing coverage throughout the day, including an in-depth story, videos and photo galleries.
-Gray Caldwell, DenverBroncos.com
Tags: Gray Caldwell, Live Blog, Live Press Conference, Mike Shanahan, Pat Bowlen
I wish Coach Shanahan the best. He’ll bounce back just fine!
Now, the Broncos have a very tough task in replacing a very great coach. Let’s get to work Mr. Bowlen and Personnel staff.
I hope whomever they get as head coach will see the value in Bobby Turner as the running backs coach, the man has made a lot of mediocre guys look spectacular. Also, Jeremy Bates as the quarterbacks coach, Rick Dennison as the offensive line coach, honestly everybody on the offensive side of the ball. They should all be retained because they did get the job done for the most part. It’s hard to win when you’re always playing catch up because of the defense. On the defensive side of the ball, there I feel everyone needs to go. Nobody on that side of the ball knew how to work with and build a great defense with the players we have. There are some good defenders on the team, they just lacked the coaching necessary to take them to the next level. Also, Rick Tuten needs to go. We had way too many people on injured reserve this year for him to say he did his job well. Obviously there was something lacking somewhere or the injuries would not have piled up every single game. Losing 7 running backs in one season is way too many for anyone to say he did his job well enough to retain it.
Thank you though Mr. Bowlen, for making this tough decision. I know how hard it must have been for you on a personal level, but I feel you made the best decision for the team. Also thank you Mike Shanahan, for the past 21 years. You brought John Elway along to a place where he was comfortable and confident as a quarterback coach first and an offensive cooridinator second; but as a head coach is where you made him shine and you brought two championships home to Denver. That will always be an amazing feat. I’m just sorry that you couldn’t do more with the team after John retired. Anyway, thanks for all the years you devoted to our club and team; you will always have a special place in Broncoland.
Mariucci, Denver Head coach is a highly respected position you never know who will come out and line up for this job. If our offensive staff stays in place the O will be fine its time to focus on D
johnelway4ever
sais it perfectly i agree with pat bowlen but i sure would of like for hem to keep shanny at leat one more season with these rookies he drafted
I’ve cheered for one team and one team only my whole life, but after watching Bowlen sputter the way he did, I’ve never been more ashamed to cheer for the Broncos. A complete embarrassment of himself, this move will haunt this organization for years. You wanna talk about moving forward and all that, hey well genius, you just took a giant leap back! Even though i love this team and will never change that, i hope Shanahan takes a job out of division, we play them next year and get totally hammered and Shanahan blows Bowlen a kiss or flips him the bird or something. Im disgusted
I was as shocked as anybody when I first heard Mike Shanahan of all NFL coaches was fired on December 30. There is no doubt in my mind he will be inducted into the Hall of Fame someday. I can understand what it is like to lose a job because I have been fired from a very good job before myself. I feel bad for Mike that this happened right before the new year because I wanted him to be happy at the beginning of 2009. I am glad Mike accepts what just happened to him and is comfortable with the decision, not mad at Pat Bowlen for terminating his contract, and optimistic about his chances of being very successful at his next coaching job. For the two Super Bowl wins, I salute him twice. Thank you for being one of the best NFL coaches ever and good luck wherever you go next, Mike.
I will miss this man who got to help John Elway get what he so very much deserved after so many let downs.I’m sure he will hand The Broncs a few loses once he gets on a other team. Lets see what happens……
There were reports from the RMN that Shanahan was asked to fire slowik and refused….I wish this had been brought up as to see how much this affected the decision ?
Bowlen made a business decision we have to live with that everyone thought firing Reeves was a bad move to
“I HOPE THE BRONCOS KNOW WHAT THEY ARE DOING”
not everyone thought firing Reeves was a bad move.
Well it was very classy on both sides and I am very PROUD to be a fan of the Classiest Team around and a Big Ol Mile High Salute to both of these guys!
I shed my share of tears watching this as well! I wish both of these guys the best and hope that they do keep a relationship going because it was very obvious we had and we still do have something special!!!!
I WOULD LIKE TO NOMINATE MIKE SHANAHAN TO THE RING OF FAME!! ON 10/31/08
i hope the next coach is a young defensive coach who will keep the offensive coaches in tact (hint: Jeremy Bates)
Yipee!! You Bunkos got rid of THE BEST coach in the NFL! Nothing left for you all now. The SD Chargers will be AFC West Divisional Champs for at least 4 more consecutive years. Thanks Mr. Bowlen!
Maybe Denver can get Ferentz, from my Hawkeyes. Really the only scenario of Ferentz moving on that wouldn’t crush me. And Iowa could hire Shanahan to make up for it. If my Broncos and my Hawkeyes switched coaches, I think I could handle that. I think it would work well for both, too.
I hope they get it figured out in a hurry, the draft is coming to soon to drag your feet. Still can not figure out why they don’t want to retain offensive coaches, seems like a stupid move in my mind. Maybe Spagnola guy from the giants will get job and retain offensive guys!
I just want to say that Mike Shanahan will be greatly missed.. I believe that this decision wasn’t the right one,Mike is the best of the best and I’m just heart broken to see this happening not only to and for the Broncos but for the loyal fans.. Mike you are a fantastic coach and as I do understand that you have not taken this team to a Superbowl in the past few years,it doesn’t mean that you haven’t done your job.. I believe you are The Broncos ROCK.. And I hope that no matter where you decide to go,that your friendships will guide the Broncos in the right direction.. You are one hell of a class act and that was the most gracefull speech I think I have ever heard… No matter what you decide to do,I will always respect and support you in any and every decision and opportunity given to you.. You will always be a part of the Broncos and I dont think that the Broncos will ever be the same,just like when Elway left.. I am a lifetime fan of the Broncos no matter who is the coach,but I want you to know,you will never be forgotten,EVER!!!!! This is only going to make you stonger and the NFL will see,I know it!
I understand “business is business”, however Mike Shannahan is not just any old NFL coach and his long list of achievements prove that. This was a bad decision that will be felt for years. I understand Pat Bowlen’s frustration, but that is hardly a good reason to fire the only coach Denver has ever had that got the Broncos to the Super Bowl. Yes there are problems/challenges that need to be addressed, and yes, as head coach, Mike should be held accountable. I just don’t think you treat a coach of Mike’ calaber like some half-a**ed NFL coach with more losses than wins etc. Anyone, including Mr. Bowlen, who thinks we will be division champs, much less super bowl winners inside of the next 5 years are kidding themselves. I am an optimist by nature, but I’m not looking forward to the next few seasons as a Bronco fan.
I still can’t believe this. I will never say this was a good idea because I still think its the dumbest decision ever made but its not so much that he won’t be the coach for us anymore its how Bowlen handled it that is making me so furious about this. If Bowlen really did have the respect he says he has for Shanahan then he would’ve given him the choice/opportunity to resign. Shanahan deserves at least that much. He is the classiest guy in town, he IS an offensive genius, he IS a mastermind at this game and he’s been with this organization for 21 YEARS!!!!!!!!!! Give the man some respect… to fire him is just disgraceful, I find it absolutely repulsive, I’m disgusted, I’m appalled, I’m beyond furious, I’m very very disappointed in how Bowlen handled this. I’ve lost all respect for Bowlen alone because of HOW he handled all this. I read a comment yesterday on another blog that summed it all up – “how does 21 years come down to a 5 minute firing?” I just don’t get it. Yeah, we needed change – DEFENSIVELY!!!! This same person also said this – “we were one “legit” D-coordinator from fixing 1 problem”… now Bowlen has created more problems than he realizes.
You fire our head coach and we get a new one… that coach wants his own people so there go more people out the door. And just when our offense has all the right ingredients – our coach gets the boot! Our defense is what needs the most help, not to completely change the face of this team/organization and start all over. Yeah I said it… I see this as starting ALL OVER!! A new coach means all new ways of doing things – just when our QB was starting to get the hang of doing things Shanny’s ways. I read an article I believe on nfl.com yesterday and it had one little quote from Cutler that at least has me knowing Cutler is thinking the same thing I am… the very last thing he said was that he thinks this is the wrong move! At least I know our QB has a brain.
Now I understand Bowlen’s motives – he wants to win Championships – who the heck doesn’t?? Shanahan just established too much for this team… he should have been given one more year to do something. We have all the right players on our offense, he said it himself that he was excited about all this but he’ll never get to finish what he started. He set us up for a Super Bowl bound year and he’ll never get the chance to live it. We FINALLY got a solid QB to build our offense around and with players like Marshall, Royal, Hillis, Clady, Scheffler, Stokley, Graham, Torain… need I go on – and if anyone of those guys gets the boot with this new coach I’ll will be absolutely LIVID! That’s when I’ll start to play the blame game… and I will do it. Its not like me to do that but I will. Its not anyone’s fault on here that wanted this happen that it did happen but its not like I can just walk right up to Bowlen on any given day and just chew him out. My frustration will be taken out on here as you can tell already… I am P’OD!!!!
This is done and over with but it will be a huge mistake later on. Bowlen said he doesn’t regret this NOW, but honey… you WILL!! I haven’t been this sick to my stomach since Elway retired… but at least he had the choice!!
Mike Shanahan – you’ve been apart of this team/organization as long as I’ve been alive and a fan of this team. You’ve brought so much to the Broncos, it absolutely breaks my heart to see you leave like this. I know you will have all the success you could imagine wherever you go and whatever you do beyond this point but you will forever be the coach of the Denver Broncos to me. Thank you for the back-to-back Super Bowl wins. Thank you for giving Elway a fighting chance and sticking with him to get those wins and thanks to you he’s now a Hall of Famer, like you’ll be someday (I know you’ll go as a Bronco… I hope). You will be missed very much… God bless!
With faith…
GO BRONCOS!!!!!!
Not everyone thought firing Reeves was a bad idea and not everyone thought firing Shanahan was a bad idea. It is not the man, it is the business. That is all. If Shahanan was the best out there, he would still be with the Broncos. It is that simple. I love him and the Broncos. We will have to wait and see what happens.
Mike Shanahan you are and will continue to be the GREATEST coach ever. I’ve loved the broncos all my life and I hope I can continue to love them after all this. Where ever you go though, I will follow and wish you all the best. Maybe you should take a good long time and continue receiving your salary, until you find the perfect place. You are a GO-Getter and may God bless you and your family
Very bad move Bowlen! Wait and see…..
hope bowlen knows what he is doing and doesnt set us back for another 10 years. The rumor is he wants to bring in elway to be the gm. I love john just as much as anyone but as a qb not a gm.
All you donkeys saw this one coming, shame on you if you didn’t. Bowlen made the right decision (albeit a few seasons too late). Shanny has had plenty of opportunity to get it done the past 10 seasons and has not (he even admitted it). 1 division win in 2005 and 1 playoff win that same season, along with 4 humiliating playoff losses. And to go out on a sour note being sent out of Dove Valley with a 52-21 loss to the San Diego Chargers in his final game with the Broncos, wow! It cannot be more humiliating than that. Mike Shanahan brought ALL of this on himself and is 100% to blame for creating his own pink slip. It was time for the Broncos franchise to make a big change after Shanny pulls off his biggest ever choke job in his NFL career, hell, the biggest ever choke job any any HC that had a 3 game lead in the division going into week 15 and choked it away. Shanny no longer deserves the reigns to the Broncos franchise and after this third debacle in a row it was “three strikes and your out”.
Considering Shanny’s recent 10 year track record I cannot imagine ANY team that would want to sign a washed up HC unless they are very, very desperate. Bye bye Shanny, and thanks for the 52-21 memory…
I think we, as fans, have been extremely lucky to have the stability and success for many years that this organization has had. Three head coaches in the past 28 years, when some teams have that many in three years; a HOF QB for sixteen years. Perhaps we have been spoiled. I just hope now the Broncos don’t become one of those teams (Detroit, Arizona, Oakland) that goes through coaches every year or two and isn’t able to establish any stability at the coaching position. Good luck Mike, and thanks for everything you did for this franchise! We’ll miss you.
OMG I cant belive my ears(eyes).To all who think you should jump ship, jump all ready and dont look back! Mike said it himself “I failed to get it done”. could he have,maybe but the fact is we will never know!He did not build the S.B. teams in San Fran Or in Denver,he steped into very good teams and made them better.And has yet to prove he can build one from scratch!And with the Young coaches wining in first seasons you have to look at trends in the league and react acordingly or get left behind!Losing Mike is sad no doubt, suprising yes, shocking not realy.The O is awsome no doubt but the D is woefull with no real improvment over the last 5 years,wish I could do my job 50% right and keep my job. because I once did somthing great,its not how the world works.Classy,walk it like you talk it,O-masterminde,stong leader of men Mike is all of it .But the facts are D wins championships we all know it. Mike for whatever reason could not get it done!And as much as it hurts today in my oppinion if you want to win again it HAD TO BE DONE!Sorry Mike I love you but it is TRUE!
The good thing is that both of these men have extremely high character and it seemed like it went as good as it could. Mike Shanahan is a great coach – thats for sure.I am 21 years old so I have never really known a Broncos team without Shanny. I just cant imagine another coach but thats whats going to happen. So long Mike, you have brought great memories to this franchise.
tHANKS FOR THE GREATEST FOOTBALL DENVER HAS KNOWN.
I KNOW IT’S HARD FOR SHANNY TO TAKE BUT HE WILL FIND ANOTHER JOB ORBERLY IN THE NEXT 2 WEEKS.PAT SHOULD HAVE LET SHANNY STAY AND GOT A NEW GM TO TAKE OVER THE OTHER DUTIES,THAT WOULD FREE UP SHANNY TO JUST COACHING. MIKE YOU WILL BE SORELY MISSED.THANK YOU FOR 21 YEARS OF FAITHFUL SERVICE TO A TEAM YOU AND ALL OF US LOVE.
SEE YOU NEXT SEASON .
TERRIBLE DECISION TO LET THE GREATEST COACH OF OUR TIME GO. I read a report that the Cowboys would look to get him. I think this is our best option. He will have the success that he deserves and minimal games against us. I really hope we go after Cowher and have a great season next year. Brian Billick would be a great fit as well. leave the offense alone and Billick can greatly improve our horrible defense. PAT, HOW CAN YOU FIRE A HOF COACH WITHOUT CONSIDERING EVERY POSSIBLE OPTION. I HOPE FOR OUR SAKE YOU GET REALLY LUCKY AND HIRE A (LUCKY) COACH, BECAUSE WE ALL KNOW YOU WONT FIND ONE AS TALENTED AS MIKE SHANAHAN
ELWAY COULD BE A GOOD COACH FOR US, DON’T SEE IT HAPPENING THOUGH.
Some of you fans are absoultely rediculous. Saying we will never bounce back from this decision. Saying you dont wantt o root for the Broncos anymore. The Cowboys did this back in the day when they fired Tom Landry. All Cowboy fans were up in arms – how could you fire Tom Landry – we will never find a replacement for him. And look what happened to the Cowboys. They did stumble out the gate at first – but Jimmy Johnson seemed to come in and turn things around rather quickly – bringing them back to dominance. Same thing will happen here. We will be effected at first – but then we will back to where we are supposed to be – dominating the AFC West again. Shanahan was and still is agreat coach. Facts are he didnt get it done lately. Pat Bowlen doesnt accept average – and I applaud him for that. Because that is exactly what we have been the last couple years – average.
Mike is one of the best minds when it comes to offensive football. Unfortunately he is one of the worst when it comes to defensive football. It was time for a change.
So all the fans that will have trouble rooting for the Broncos now – go buy a Chargers jersey – because you sound like a San Diego fan.
Shanahan leaving is heartbreaking – but if your a true Broncos fan – you deal with it and support the new regime that is coming in.
We have young talent – so hopefully it wont be a huge step backwards – only a minor one. It is what it is – we have to deal with it. Shanahan has had plenty of years to turn it around – and he didnt do it. At some point – you cant continue to ride the coat tails of the Elway days. You have to produce.
I know a lot of people are mad at Pat Bowlen about this but I think that initially he just wanted to change the defense and make a few management changes. But Mike wasn’t going to give up power so he had to fire him. I think it was all-Mike or no Mike and they just couldn’t be together anymore. It’s a shame but it probably was the only decision to be made and I think it was tough on Mr. Bowlen. No doubt, a monumental event but all we can do as fans is hope for the best. I’m still a Broncos fan and always will be. I’m excited for this offseason to see what happens because you know it’s going to be crazy. But none the less, a sad day in Denver Broncos history. Thanks Mike, and God bless!
Man dude i laugh at how everyone thinks we gonna get Bill Cowher, I just dont see that happening, for all u fans who think this was a great move, think again, first shanny has to get another job to even try to get a good enough coach, Shanahan did not get fired because he refused to let go of slowik, he just flat out fired, Bowlen talks about how he wants a coach to just come in here and win a superbowl, well thats gonna take more time, I always felt he had a good shot to win every year with Shanahan, Its done, I sure hope Bowlen does something that will make me believe because I dont, he is full of it, saying shanahan was doing a good job but yet still fires him, I just dont see us going anywhere next season, I need sometin to believe, now Cutler our QB is upset, thats not good at all, AND PLEASE PEOPLE, STOP WITH THE WE NEED TO RELEASE THIS GUY OR RELEASE THAT GUY, ENOUGH!!!! NO ONE IN OUR DEFENSE WAS GOOD, ONCE ONE PIECE DOESNT WORK THE WHOLE DEFENSE FAILS, WE NEED MORE GUYS BUT WERE SET, WE JUST NEED PRESSURE ON THAT QB, PEOPLE SAYING WE NEED TO GET RID OF BLY OR BAILEY, SHUT UP!!! THEY CANT PLAY GOOD IF WE CANT GET PRESSURE, WE GIVE TOO MUCH TIME FOR THE OPPOSING QB AND ANY QB EVEN A ROOKIE OR BACKUP WILL DO GOOD WITH THE TIME WE GAVE THEM!!!!
I BLEED ORANGE & BLUE GO BRONCOS!!!!
pat’s off his rocker…”i think hes done a great job…probably better than someone else can do…but hes been here too long so its time to move on…” wow…this is crap…good luke shanny…got nothin but respect and gratitude for ya man…just stay out of the afc west! haha!
Sad day in broncos history…Shanny was a genius and one of the best coaches to ever coach…This i many things but a good move…If it really was his slipping performance for 3 years i think he deserved one more season to draft defensive monsters and redeem himself….Only shanny coulda done so well with such an injury plague team…all the chemistry that was built over the offseason was affected by injuries and was changed over and over again and we beat alot of good teams.
He will be missed and ill root for him no matter where he goes liek i root for kubiak in houston…I wish we had kubiak so he could take over the broncos organization after mike….well the dumb decision has been made and nothign can be done to change it…Best of everything to shanny. GO SHANNY!!! HOF has your name written on it.
….In this life we can only move forward…
Finally, a blog for this horrendous, horrible, day! I CANT BELIEVE IT! I was PISSED, I WAS MAD, I WAS IN TEARS! Pat Bowlen needs to look also in the locker room, cause those guys (defense) gave up Shanahan didnt give up, the players did! and this is why i would like to be in the Sports Industry as a career cause head coaches throw out a game play and players are suppose to act on it and the players (Defense) didnt! Players should be cut or traded, or fired first not coaches! Thats not Mike’s faults that the players(Defense) fault!
In all fairness, i understand why Mr. Bowlen did it! i do! but, to be completely fired i think is wrong and not fair! He had to make a decision bout the Denver Broncos! After i calmed down im in the middle of it, their needed to be a big change to get this team going like in the frst 4 weeks but firing the FACE of this team, i dont know! IT BETTER BE THE RIGHT ONE CAUSE HELL WILL BE AT HIS DOOR STEP IF ITS NOT! and maybe yes it is time to move on! maybe if Shanahan didnt have to do everything Front Office wise the offense and DEFENSE would be better! But, At this time i would like to thank you Mike Shanahan for you knowledge, your respect, and loyalty to the Broncos! you are a wonderful Coach and will always be remembered in Broncos Country!
PLease, please, please get Marty Schottenheimer (Or however you spell his name) as Head Coach and Romo Crennal as Defensive Coordinator! that would be phat!
I still stick to my opinion that this was the wrong move to make. I was extremely confident for next year but i feel that we just took one giant leap back. Every bronco game i have faith that well win i never going into a game think or say were oging ot lose, but this was a terrible mistake. If you watched the press conference you could tell that everyone in that room knew the same thing even bowlen. He was unsure of himself he wasent ocnfident and will be asking himself Did i make the right decision.
And were still not off the hook for shanahans salary if anything this move made our cap less and less smaller, especially becuase you have to hire a new GM and new coaching. I Hate to say it but i think were at serious risk of losing Brandon Marshall who is a free agent and with all the money going in he direction of this decision i dont know if well have enough cap to give him the money that he will probably want unless he just loves playing for the denver broncos so much that for how great of wide reciever he is he would take a less contract. Also dont think well beable to make any moves in free agency that could dramtically help the defensive side of the ball, so same personnel on D also.
This decision i believe is going to cause ripples not only in the coaching staff but the players as well. The players that have loyalty to shanahan are not happy with this move at all, and when your franchise QB has problema with it that just makes it a whole lot worse.
Head coach wise, for all you dreamers out there no their not going to hire Cowher or marty s., so get through your heads already. Cowher dosent even want to coach. so most likely it will a young coordinator from somehwere. Hopefully our Broncos make a good move with the hiring to clean up his horrible decision that has been made.
BRONCO FAN TILL I DIE. BUT THE WORST CHOICE WAS MADE BY LETTING GO SHANAHAN.
Sicknessfl….I guess your the only one here with 1/2 a brain. What the hell is wrong with these other fans. Let me say it again. 1 PLAYOFF WIN IN 10 FREAKIN YEARS. 1 PLAYOFF WIN IN 10 FREAKIN YEARS. We pay our coach 7 million a year for average? Talk crap about Dre Bly all you want but how can you defend Shanny? He was a great coach in the 90/s but he sucks this decade. Wake up bloggers, we are the Broncos not the Lions, 500 football will get your a%$ canned, plain and simple. If I would have heared from Shanny 1 more time “we have to get better” I would have kicked myself in the balls. Thank you Pat ……
West coast- So what are you going to be saying if we finish below .500 next year huh?
what? i want this new guy fired to?, its not the other bloggers that need to wake up its you!
DO you really expect to be a much better team then this years team next season?
All I know is that for the last two years, we’ve been rebuilding. I don’t think any owner in the NFL would complain about .500 during rebuilding. You look at the youth of this team, even with the colapse, Shanny coached one hell of a season.
FINALLY!!! I was wondering when they where going to release Shanahan.
After 3 years with out a playoff apperance and taking into account what happend this season, you have to start wondering if he’s got anything left to give. Maybe in another organization but he gave all he had to Denver and now its time to move on.
Hopefully they make little changes to the offense. With the exception of a running game, all the right pieces are in place. On the other hand, the defense needs a clean sweap in the coaching staff. Everything was bad on D this year. Poor tackling, a lack of defending the deep pass and lack of stopping the run game tells me the coaches have their head up their ass.
We also need to get rid of Bly, Boss Bailey and Marquand Manuel. Its bad enough we have little talent on defense but these players hurt more than help.
It would be cool if we got Brian Billick or Bill Cower for head coach. Look at what they did to their teams in Pittsburg and Baltimore. They had a power running game that if you add with Jay Cutler’s arm, you get one hell of an offense. And do I really need to explain their defense’s. Long after they left, their defense’s are still in the top 10 of the league.
Looking back on the last couple of Head Coaches, I think we can’t lose. Shanahan won two Super Bowls and Dan Reeves took us to a couple as well. Not to mention the guy from the 77 Broncos who took us the the Super Bowl aswell.
I think the next couple of years are going to be exciting and we have alot to look forward to.
I love the people that keep saying I hope Shanny doesn’t go to a divisional opponent, who cares they were beating us when he was our head coach, what would be different?
West Cost I agree completely. His SB wins have allowed him to last as long as he has.
I want to thank Mr. Shanahan for all he did for the Denver Broncos organization and the Broncos fans. He helped Denver finally win not only one Super Bowl, but two in back-to-back fashion. Watching his teams especially during the 1996, 1997 and 1998 seasons was a thing of beauty especially after all the heartbreak endured by the franchise and its fans until reaching the pinnacle in Super Bowl XXXII and Super Bowl XXXIII. I thought Shanahan was going to get two more seasons to get the Broncos back to a Super Bowl caliber level, but change seems to be the mantra in the NFL and country today. I appreciated Shanahan’s classy exit and the how he has handled his dismissal as head coach and head of football operations. Best of luck to him wherever he lands, except when he plays the Broncos or when his team affects Denver’s potential playoff position in the future. No doubt, Mr. Shanahan deserves to be in the Hall of Fame one day. It sure is going to be weird not having him on the sidelines come gameday.
Now, on to the replacements. I think Denver would be wise to get Scott Pioli or Bill Parcells if he leaves Miami to head the front office and to look at an extensive list of coaches including Bill Cowher, Josh McDaniels, Eric Mangini, Spagnolo and Pete Carroll.
It should be the most interesting offseason in more than a decade. Go Broncos!
Mariuci… Crennal… Throw Throw and Throw… Come On !!! Lets go Broncos and COME ALIVE…
Thank you sooooo much coach Shanahan. You will be missed. I think this decision will be mutually beneficial. Good luck and God bless, no matter where you go. I, for one, will never forget the utter elation I felt when you brought this city it’s first, and long awaited Super Bowl. As far as replacements, Cowher is not going to coach this year people….get over it. Steve Spagnuolo, who is the Giants defensive coordinator, worked under Jim Jones in Philly for a number of years…would be a wonderful choice. If we keep the offensive staff in place and get a coach who knows truly good defensive talent and scheme…we will be better for it. Spagnuolo was also a candidate for the position in Washington, but chose to stay in NY….who could blame him for that….Dan Snyder would suck to work for.
I never thought Mike Shanahan would be sacked before me.
Pat Bowlen said he fired Mike on his gut instinct – and does not think the Broncos are close to being a Super Bowl team, but that can change quickly.
Pat got very emotional and you could see what a difficult decision it was.
However I do not agre with his decision for the following reasons: -
1) Whilst the fans are the heart and soul of the Denver Broncos, Shanahan was the brain.
The Bronco’s will now have to enter the unknown with the possibility that a potentially brilliant offence will be totally destabilised.
2) 2008 saw the best season ever for performances by Rookies which Shanahan signed. One of the best ever for any team.
3) 2008 saw the Bronco’s with the worst injury list in living memory.
4) The Offence is clearly close to being formidable, and with fit running backs it will be.
5) The Bronco’s have an excellent coaching staff with a top quality reservoir of young players who can only get better.
6) Shanahan is the ultimate professional, a class act who is both loyal and yet ruthless when necessary. The locker-room is always with him because of his gravitas, intellect and humanity.
7) There isn’t another football coach as good as Shanahan.
Who should replace Mike? – maybe Gary Kubiak, but then again maybe Pat Bowlen wants a sea change in the organisation.
All that I know is that Mike Shanahan is a legendary coach who has given Denver something which few others have accomplished – a back-to-back world championship football team, plus many years of fabulous football.
Thank you Mike – and God Bless you and your family
it’s hard to think of a non-shanahan broncos
It’s as simple as this. There is “NO-NYET-NINE-NONE-NOT ONE” coach available who is anywhere near being the coach Mike was in Denver. Which means this team won’t exist by the time an acceptable coach comes forth because they will ALL be somewhere where the coaching staff is capable. The coaching carousel in the NFL over recent years should have taught Pat Bowlen a lesson but I geuss he’ll have to learn it the hard way. It may be a decade before this team is competetive again.
i laugh at those who think this is good for this team he was on the verge of molding one of the greatest offenses seen in history and you fire him, the back bone of this team are u kidding me i new something was up when we got a new GM this year, IM HERE TODAY TO TELL ALL U BRONCO FANS THAT IM OUT, IM JUMPING OFF THIS BAND WAGON WITH MY COACH AND GOING WHEREVER HE GOES, I KNO TALENT WHEN I SEE IT AND HE WAS BY FAR THE TALENT OF THIS TEAM, U WILL ALL PAY FOR WHAT U DID TO MY COACH,TRUST ME.
Don’t fool yourself, Shanahan will be GREATLY missed. Don’t compare other coaches and other teams to this latest disaster. This is the Broncos, right now. What they needed and still need is a defense. We had one major problem, and now Bowlen has done much more than open up a really nasty can of worms. How many of you remember the early years of Bronco football? This is a SAD SAD day in Bronco history. Let me tell you, there have been others. Prepare yourself.
Sicknessfl, if you think ten years of winning games in this league is ‘average’, than you are perfect example of one who hasn’t been around long enough to know anything. Give me a break. Do some history on the team and the league, then think. Playoff births are an honor, losses in the post season are anything but humiliating. Anyone who thinks so is just plain stupid.
Which leads me to a perfect example of ultimate stupidity.
Noringnoglory, you fool no one. You are anything but a Bronco fan and you know what you can do. The only Donkey I hear naying their fat mouth is you. So shut the #!$* up, jackass.
Also, Colorado Cutler, I don’t know what defense you’ve been watching play this game for the ‘last five’ years, but let me tell you something. If that Linebacker core led by Mr. Al Wilson had been playing with Cutler and Company this year, Shanahan would soon be coach of the year and we would be heading for another Super Bowl victory. Please do some research before going to far.
A couple average years, including an injury ridden almost AFC Championship season this year and you fire the best coach to play this game. Pat Bowlen, if you’re not ashamed of yourself, be assured I’m ashamed of you and so are many more. This was a very bad call and I’ve lost a lot of respect for you. I’m shocked, sickened, disgusted, repulsed and appalled. I think I’m going to puke. Bowlen, what were you thinking? Were you thinking? It’s like me always slamming a chair, television or whatever I grab first, come every single Bronco loss. Loosing your temper and common sense is no way to handle the problem. We are in a rebuilding year, like it or not. The competition in this league is unlike any era the game has ever seen. Every team faces it some years and others, and that’s just a cold hard fact. Shanahan assembled the #2 offense in the league this year, although he had seven running backs get put out. What does that tell you? Well of course he planned on rebuilding the defense during the offseason. That’s a freaking no brainer. Now, we start back with the corner stone, itself, restructuring instead. I hope Bowlen plans on taking the time it will demand to do what it takes. Because if he don’t, we’ll be like the Jets, Chiefs, and many others, who start going through coaches like hot cakes.
Frustrated or not, not only did Pat Bowlen just shoot himself, the team and all of us loyal fans in the foot, but he just hit the bullseye right smack in the heart. Way to go Bowlen, you really screwed up this time.
Shanahan was a master and one day he will be in the hall of fame. Consider this case scenario. Multiple Super Bowl wins in Dallas for Shanahan as he goes down in the Hall of Fame as a freaking Cowboy. Well that did, there goes my lunch.
If you call yourself a Bronco fan and throw all the blame off on the coach, well then you should be ashamed of yourself as well. Pat Bowlen controls the cash not Shannahan and if you don’t already know that, then don’t forget it now. What about the rest of the administration? Do you REALLY think they deserve the credit for what Shannahan and his coaches have done for the team over the years? If so, then you better put the blame on them as well, because that’s actually where it’s due.
I’ve been cheering for the Broncos, since the beginning, and I will always love the Broncos. Mike Shanahan you are the man. There was never a team put together like your two runs to the Super Bowl. Although I don’t want to see you leave, I hope you had the time of your life.
sign BRANDON MARSHALL LONG TERM FAST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HE IS GONNA BE THE BEST WIDE RECIEVER IN FOOTBALL WE NEED HIM TO GET A BIG CONTRACT AND WE NEED TO GET VILMA IN FREE AGENCY HIM AND DJ WILLIAMS WERE TEAMMATES AND VILMA IS A BEAST SURE TACKLER WHICH WE NEED