UNC’s Ed McCaffrey Champions Former Denver Broncos’ HC Mike Shanahan for the Hall of Fame

Regardless of 5 consecutive dropping seasons, Denver Broncos’ GM George Paton has restored some religion within the franchise with the acquisition of quarterback Russell Wilson and a number of offensive and defensive veterans. The seemingly in a single day transformation has reignited a determined fan base with its eyes set on the postseason in 2022.

However lengthy earlier than the kickoff of the common season, it’s crucial to respect and perceive the expectations of one of many NFL’s most historic franchises of all time.

Mike Shanahan was the offensive architect of Denver’s greatness and group tradition throughout his 14 seasons as head coach. Between 1995 and 2008, the Illinois native compiled the very best successful share in franchise historical past (.646) and the best variety of wins (138). 

The title Shanahan remains to be on the helm of the league with Mike’s son Kyle main the San Francisco 49ers as head coach, together with quite a few branches of his teaching tree that reach out to NFL luminaries just like the Los Angeles Rams’ Sean McVay and the Inexperienced Bay Packers’ Matt LaFleur. 

Shanahan has three championship rings from his NFL teaching profession, two of which got here back-to-back as head coach of the Broncos. However regardless of all his success, the Professional Soccer Corridor of Fame hasn’t acknowledged Shanahan.

So, why no love for Shanahan?

On Thursday, former Broncos wideout, and considered one of Shanahan’s gamers in Denver within the Nineties, Ed McCaffrey, took to social media to query the exclusion of his former head coach from Canton.

“Solely six NFL coaches have received back-to-back Tremendous Bowls. Coach Lombardi, Shula, Noll, Johnson, Belichick, & Broncos Coach Mike Shanahan who’s the one eligible one on this group NOT within the Professional Soccer Corridor of Fame. Which begs the query: What’s up with that? C’mon man? Let’s do that,” McCaffrey tweeted. 

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Now the head coach of the College of Northern Colorado Bears, the participant previously often called ‘Eddie Mac’ made plain his displeasure with the Corridor of Fame, and it is shared by the remainder of Broncos Nation, who demand ‘Shanny’ be inducted. McCaffrey was initially drafted by the New York Giants in 1991 earlier than assembly Shanahan in San Francisco, the place they received their first championship ring collectively in 1994 (the Steve Younger Tremendous Bowl). 

The previous Stanford star later adopted his former offensive coordinator to Denver in 1995. In Shanahan’s high-powered offense, McCaffrey caught 462 passes in 121 video games for six,200 yards and 46 touchdowns. 

McCaffrey’s athletic expertise and soccer acumen have been spectacular, however his humility and willingness to dam for teammate and Corridor-of-Fame operating again Terrell Davis is what made him legendary in Broncos Nation. Shanahan and McCaffrey went on to win consecutive world titles with the Broncos in 1997 and 1998.

The 69-year-old, who presently consults together with his son Kyle, is the second head coach in NFL historical past to win two Tremendous Bowl championships throughout his first 4 years teaching the group, becoming a member of former Dolphins head coach and Corridor-of-Famer Don Shula. Shanahan broke into NFL teaching as an assistant in numerous stops, together with San Francisco because the offensive coordinator of the Tremendous Bowl XXIX champions with Younger below middle. 

Shanahan later discovered his manner again to Denver after incomes his first of three championship rings, and the remaining, as they are saying, is historical past. He applied offensive rules in Denver which might be nonetheless utilized in right this moment’s NFL and lots of of them have change into the cutting-edge philosophies of the league’s most revolutionary coaches. 

After his departure from Denver, Shanahan coached in Washington from 2010-13 earlier than retiring and finishing his head teaching profession. He left the NFL teaching ranks with a regular-season report of 170-138 and a postseason report of 8-6.

So as to add to his assortment of championships, Shanahan earned a Division I Nationwide Championship with Oklahoma as an assistant in 1975 and Division II Nationwide Championship from his alma mater Japanese Illinois as an offensive coordinator in 1978. Not solely was Shanahan the pinnacle coach of back-to-back Tremendous Bowl Championships in Denver, however his protégé, Gary Kubiak, received a title as Denver’s head man in 2015. 

Shanahan’s his fingerprints are all around the Broncos’ historical past and championship {hardware} and so he was inducted into the group’s Ring of Fame in 2021. The Broncos being perennial Corridor-of-Fame snubs has considerably modified with the current inductions of Davis (2017), Champ Bailey (2018), Pat Bowlen (2019), Steve Atwater (2020), John Lynch (2021), and Peyton Manning (2021).

However there’s completely no motive why Shanahan shouldn’t even be immortalized in Canton, OH.

Historical past calls for it. Outspoken gamers and coaches, like McCaffrey, championing Shanahan’s Corridor-of-Fame worthiness can solely assist convey scrutiny on his very deserving NFL resume. 

Comply with Luke on Twitter @LukePattersonLP.

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