November 1st 2024.
It's time to speak some hard truths. We can't keep making excuses or playing politics when it comes to the Pro Football Hall of Fame's coach's wing. It's simply not credible until we see Mike Shanahan inducted. And with his recent advancement to the group of nine semifinalists, it's time for the blue-ribbon committee to do the right thing and choose him for Hall of Fame consideration.
I mean, let's be real here. Shanahan has 170 career victories under his belt. If that's not enough to make him a shoo-in for the Hall of Fame, then what exactly are we doing? This whole process has become a frustrating and confusing dance. Are the voters waiting for an AI to come along and explain to them why logic has been missing from their discussions for so long?
Let's not forget that Shanahan was a Hall of Famer the day he retired and he remains one today. If the committee has any sense of justice, they will recommend him for induction next month. It's been 11 years since he last coached, yet he continues to be overlooked for immortality. It's a shame.
For a long time, Broncos fans have been disappointed to see their star players snubbed for the highest honor in football. But things started to change when Floyd Little was finally inducted, paving the way for others like owner Pat Bowlen and a parade of players including John Elway, Terrell Davis, Steve Atwater, Shannon Sharpe, Gary Zimmerman, Champ Bailey, and John Lynch. And who do you think coached all of them in Denver? Certainly not Ted Lasso.
But somehow, Shanahan is still waiting. How did Bill Cowher and Tony Dungy, among others, receive their gold jackets while Shanahan is left waiting like he's in boarding Group C on a Southwest Airlines flight? Other than the fact that there are a lot of candidates vying for one spot, there's no valid argument against Shanahan's inclusion. It's simple, really. He won two Super Bowls in back-to-back seasons, a feat that only seven other coaches have accomplished. And all of them are already in the Hall of Fame, except for Shanahan.
Let's not forget that Shanahan is responsible for some major innovations in the game. His version of the West Coast offense is used by about 65% of the league, and even coaches like Sean Payton admit to stealing plays from him. Former Broncos player Mark Schlereth estimates that about 65% of the league is running Shanahan's offense, and it's no surprise considering all the innovations he brought to the game.
But despite all of this, Shanahan is still waiting. And the way the Hall of Fame voting process works in football is just plain frustrating. Unlike baseball, where voters can make their decisions in private, football requires a discussion among committee members. This creates a political process where candidates are stumped for and there's a lack of transparency, which leads to suspicion.
It's been suggested that Mike Holmgren will get the nod in this year's group, which includes Shanahan, Bill Arnsparger, Tom Coughlin, Chuck Knox, Dan Reeves, Marty Schottenheimer, George Seifert, and Clark Shaughnessy. But let's not forget that Holmgren only won one Super Bowl, and even then it was against Shanahan's team. Out of all the candidates, only Coughlin and Seifert have won multiple Super Bowls, and neither did it in consecutive seasons. Only seven coaches in the Hall of Fame have more career wins than Shanahan, and he's not just a compiler. He also holds the record for most wins in a three-year period with the Broncos.
Shanahan has been an innovator since the early days of his coaching career. His version of the West Coast offense has been adopted by coaches throughout the league and has led to numerous successful offenses. And his coaching tree is full of talented coaches, from Sean McVay and Matt LaFleur to his own son Kyle Shanahan and Gary Kubiak. This is not the resume of someone who should have to fight for a spot in the Hall of Fame.
Let's not forget that greatness is measured by how well you perform against the best. Shanahan has a winning record against nine coaches who are already in the Hall of Fame, and he's even knocked three of them out of the playoffs. And while some may argue that he only had success because of Elway, he still reached the playoffs four times without him and even made a magical run with rookie Robert Griffin III in Washington.
It's a shame that Shanahan's case has to be made at all. He's an inspiration to countless coaches in the league, and his impact on the game cannot be denied. So when the committee meets on November 19th, I urge them to make things right and finally induct Mike Shanahan into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. As a Broncos fan and a voter for the baseball Hall of Fame, I know the power of making the wrong right. Let's not let this opportunity pass us by. And for all the latest news on the Broncos, be sure to sign up for the Broncos Insider.
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