Broncos fire Mike Shanahan

Dec 30, 2008 - 11:37 PM ENGLEWOOD, Colorado (Ticker) -- The Mike Shanahan era in the Mile High City is over.

Shanahan, who won two Super Bowls and built the Denver Broncos into a perennial contender, was fired Tuesday.

The stunning move came two days after Broncos completed a collapse in which they lost their final three games to finish 8-8 and lose the AFC West to the San Diego Chargers. Denver became the first team in league history to blow a three-game lead with three games left.

"After giving this careful consideration, I have concluded that a change in our football operations is in the best interest of the Denver Broncos," owner Pat Bowlen said. "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.

"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."

Denver had a three-game lead over San Diego (8-8) in the AFC West with three games to play. With the division title on the line, the Broncos were routed by the Chargers, 52-21, in Sunday's season finale.

It marked the third straight season that the Broncos missed the playoffs since they advanced to the conference title game in 2005. The Broncos have gone just 24-24 over the last three seasons.

Bowlen and Shanahan will meet the media Wednesday morning.

Shanahan spent 21 total years with the Broncos, coming to the franchise as an assistant under Dan Reeves in 1984.

One of two active coaches along with Bill Belichick to win multiple Super Bowls, Shanahan compiled a 138-86 regular-season record and 8-5 playoff record with the Broncos. His 138 wins rank 10th all-time for a coach with one franchise.

Shanahan etched himself as one of the great coaches in NFL history when he guided the Broncos to back-to-back Super Bowl titles in 1997-98. Overall, he led the Broncos to seven playoff appearances and three division titles.

Shanahan, who just completed his 14th season, was tied with Jeff Fisher of the Tennessee Titans as the longest-tenured coaches in the NFL.

Also fired as the club's executive vice president of football operations, the 56-year-old Shanahan had three years worth about $20 million remaining on his contract.

Shanahan's biggest downfall this season was his failure to upgrade what already was a suspect defense. Denver ranked 30th in the league in scoring defense and allowed 448 points, the second-worst mark in franchise history.

Considered one of the best offensive minds in football, Shanahan enjoyed his most success with the Broncos in the 1990s with Hall of Fame quarterback John Elway at the helm.

However, Shanahan has failed to enjoy the same postseason success without Elway. Since Elway retired after leading the Broncos to their second Super Bowl in 1998, Shanahan has been to the playoff four times but managed just a 1-4 postseason record over that span.

While the latest collapse is of epic proportions, the Broncos endured a similar fate in 2006 when they lost five of their final seven games to miss the playoffs. That season concluded with a dismal 26-23 home loss to the lowly San Francisco 49ers.

Shanahan, a future Hall of Famer, likely will be in demand around the league. The New York Jets, Detroit Lions and Cleveland Browns all have coaching vacancies.