Broncos fire Shanahan after 14 years
He was known as a genius, a mastermind and a Super Bowl champion. Shockingly, though, Mike Shanahan has a new title: unemployed coach.
Shanahan became the latest and most unexpected victim of the NFL coaching purge, fired Tuesday by the Denver Broncos after a late-season collapse knocked the team out of the playoffs for the third straight year.
Shanahan became the fourth coach to be fired this week, joining Eric Mangini, Rod Marinelli and Romeo Crennel, after going 24-24 over the last three seasons, including three straight losses in 2008 that turned a three-game division lead to an 8-8 record.
“After giving this careful consideration, I have concluded that a change in our football operations is in the best interests of the Denver Broncos,” owner Pat Bowlen said.
Shanahan finishes at 146-91 over 14 seasons in Denver, including playoffs.
The Cleveland Browns, Detroit Lions, New York Jets, Oakland Raiders and St. Louis Rams are seeking new coaches and are moving forward with the process.
The Buffalo Bills won’t join them after team owner Ralph Wilson announced he was retaining Dick Jauron despite a third consecutive 7-9 season.
The Browns scheduled an interview Tuesday night with fired Jets coach Mangini. Mangini’s old team was going to talk to Bill Cowher, a person familiar with the search told The AP. The Jets will also meet with New York Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo on Saturday, according to another person familiar with the coaching search.
Cleveland is also trying to schedule a meeting with Spagnuolo. The Lions also reportedly have sought permission to talk to Spagnuolo. Two other teams made major changes to their assistant coaching staffs.
Mike Martz, the headstrong coach who took St. Louis to the 2002 Super Bowl, was fired as offensive coordinator after one season by San Francisco.
Houston Texans coach Gary Kubiak fired defensive coordinator Richard Smith and two other assistants.
Ryan tops rookie field
Matt Ryan found a quick way to make fans forget Michael Vick, Bobby Petrino and all the ugliness of Atlanta football.
The quarterback led a sensational turnaround from laughingstock franchise to Super Bowl contender, for which Ryan earned The Associated Press 2008 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year award.
Ryan was a landslide winner in balloting by a nationwide panel of 50 sports writers and broadcasters who cover the league. He collected 44 votes.
Around the league
Outgoing Seattle Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren said he won’t be analyzing any playoff games this weekend on television because he has family events planned. He had told KIRO Radio earlier that he’s been talking with NBC about a possible role on playoff games and maybe the Super Bowl. … Jets quarterback Brett Favre reportedly has a torn biceps tendon in his right arm that will not need major surgery to repair, ESPN reported. … The NFL confirmed that next season’s Pro Bowl will be played in Miami’s Dolphin Stadium a week before the Super Bowl is played at the same venue.