The Denver Broncos shocked the NFL world when they decided late Monday to part ways with head coach John Fox.
The split has left the Broncos with a gaping hole at the top of their organization that GM and president of football operations, John Elway, is now tasked with filling.
According to a recent report from Bleacher Report NFL Insider Jason Cole, if Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning has anything to say about the next head coach hire, it may be former Denver head coach, Mike Shanahan, who ends up leading the franchise for the aging signal caller's final season or two.
"One name that would be very interesting, and interested, in the Broncos position is former Broncos coach, Mike Shanahan," Cole said. "According to sources he has been talking with president of football operations, John Elway, in recent weeks, they have been talking football matters and assistant coaches."
Shanahan was formerly the head coach of the Broncos from 1995 to 2008, during which he and Elway found monumental success together when Elway was still an NFL player.
Shanahan led the team to an NFL-record 46-10 mark and two Super Bowl victories from 1996-1998.
Manning would be interested in working with Shanahan because he both respects Shanahan's offensive approach and has a personal relationship with the gruff coach.
"In addition, on Sunday night after the game against Indianapolis, I ran into quarterback Peyton Manning and brought up Shanahan's name to him. When discussing Shanahan, I could just say that I thought that Manning's interest was piqued when we discussed him. Not only does he have a respect for Shanahan and his great offensive acumen, in addition, Shanahan and Manning have a personal relationship because Manning rented Shanahan's home during the 2012 season when Shanahan was coaching the Washington Redskins," Cole said.
After Elway's retirement, Shanahan was never quite able to recreate the team's prior success, going seven seasons without a playoff win. He was eventually fired after the 2008 season.
Perhaps with another veteran quarterback in Manning running the offense and his former pupil, Elway, stocking the team with talent, Shanahan can again bring glory to the already talented, but frustrated, Broncos franchise.
