By Jordan Long
Mike Shanahan is the most successful coach in Denver Broncos’ history. He coached Denver to the first two Super Bowl wins in their history. He was also in Los Angeles and Washington.
Shanahan was originally a quarterback when he played football. He attended Eastern Illinois University. He was expected to be one of the quarterbacks on the team. In 1972 during practice, he was hit hard, rupturing one of his kidneys, ending his football career.
Shanahan spent 1975 to 1983 in the college ranks. His first big break in the NFL came with the Denver Broncos. He served as the receiver’s coach in 1984 before being the offensive coordinator from 1985 to 1987. With him calling the offense, the Broncos went to 2 Super Bowls but lost both of them.
The Los Angeles Raiders decided to take a chance on him in 1988. Shanahan was only 36 years old. He was a young minded coach and the Raiders were hoping he would change the franchise. Unfortunately, Raiders’ owner Al Davis and Shanahan never got along. Oakland went 7-9 and Davis fired him 4 games into the 1989 season with money left on his contract. To this day, Davis and the Raiders still haven’t paid Shanahan what is owed on that deal.
Shanahan returned to Denver and was the quarterback’s coach in 1990 and offensive coordinator in 1991. Shanahan was hired by the San Francisco 49ers prior to the 1992 season as offensive coordinator under George Seifert. He was there from 1992 to 1994. San Francisco went on to win Super Bowl 29.
The Denver Broncos were looking for a new head coach. They had just fired Wade Phillips. Wade went 16-16 with Denver. The Broncos wanted a coach who could put them over the top and Shanahan was the pick. He had a relationship from years past with quarterback John Elway.
In 1995 Denver was .500 at 8-8. The next year Denver had one of their best years in recent memory at 13-3. They were the #1 seed in the AFC playoffs. They were supposed to make it to the Super Bowl. Somebody forgot to tell the Jacksonville Jaguars that. Jacksonville ruined the party and upset Denver 30-27 which might be the most disappointing game in Broncos’ history.
Before the 1997 season, Denver changed the jerseys and the logos to what they are today. The new logo helped Denver go 12-4 but they didn’t win the AFC West. They reached the playoffs but Kansas City managed to go 13-3. Denver was the Wild Card team.
In the playoffs, Denver knocked off Jacksonville 42-17. In the AFC Divisional Round, they needed a goal-line stand to beat Kansas City 14-10. In the AFC Championship game, Denver faced Pittsburgh and survived 24-21. Denver finally won their first Super Bowl by defeating the Green Bay Packers in Super Bowl 32, 31-24.
In 1998, Denver had its’ best record in franchise history, finishing 14-2. Denver earned home field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs. They drummed Miami 38-3 in the divisional round. In the AFC Championship Game Denver was victorious over the New York Jets 23-10. In Super Bowl 33 Atlanta was no match for Denver with a final score of 34-19. Legendary Broncos’ quarterback John Elway retired after the year.
Denver made the postseason 4 times after that season. They couldn’t win a playoff game without John Elway until 2005. In the Divisional round, Denver knocked off New England 27-13. The next weekend Denver couldn’t get over the hump and lost to Pittsburgh 34-17.
Shanahan was let go following the 2008 season after a disappointing 8-8 finish. Shanahan became Washington’s Head Coach in 2010. He stayed there until 2013. In Washington he made one playoff appearance. His last year coaching was in 2013 when the Redskins finished 3-13.
Shanahan is the most successful coach in Denver Broncos history. In the Mile High City, he won 2 Super Bowls with an impressive record of 138-86. The wins rank #1 in Broncos’ history. Overall Shanahan’s record is 170-138, a winning percentage of .552.
Shanahan should be in the NFL Hall of Fame for his work as a head coach. He still awaiting that call. Since he stepped away from the sidelines, Shanahan is watching his son Kyle Shanahan coach the San Francisco 49ers.
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