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The 2026 Pro Football Hall of Fame class has already stirred controversy for those who will not be enshrined this year. Former New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick and executive Robert Kraft were both denied entry into pro football's most exclusive club by voters in the "Coach and Contributor" category, a decision that ignited backlash from across the NFL.
However, according to sportswriter Peter King, there is another deserving coach who will once again be excluded from Canton: Former Denver Broncos head coach Mike Shanahan.
“Other than Belichick, Mike is the most deserving coach not in the Hall of Fame," said King during an interview on the Between the Tackles podcast earlier this week. "He's got the best coaching tree in this century. And it's not even close. I'm a broken record on Shanahan. It’s ridiculous he's not in.”
King acknowledged Shanahan's second act as Washington's head coach was not pretty; but Shanahan is a three-time Super Bowl winner and a proven seeker of talent.
"He had four head coaches in the league... whose offenses were in the top 11 in the NFL, so all of his stuff is still being done," King said. You can view King's entire comments about Shanahan's snub below:
Shanahan led the Broncos from 1995-2008, and was one of the most dominant figures of his era. Shanahan helped lead Denver to their first Super Bowl titles in 1997 and 1998, and led deep playoff runs in several seasons. Mentored by San Francisco 49ers legend Bill Walsh, Shanahan brought the "West Coast Offense," one of the most successful schemes of all time, into the 21st century.
Shanahan's fingerprints were all over the 2025 NFL playoffs, and all across the NFL. Shanahan's coaching tree is something of legend. Shanahan has had two former assistants go on to win Super Bowls as head coaches (Sean McVay, Washington in 2013; Gary Kubiak, Denver 1995-2005).
Shanahan's staff in Washington alone has produced several successful head coaches in the league right now. Shanahan's staff included his son Kyle (who now coaches the 49ers), McVay (Rams), Mike McDaniel (former head coach of the Miami Dolphins), Raheem Morris (former head coach of the Atlanta Falcons) and Matt LeFleur (Green Bay Packers). The coaches extending from those branches (Mike's 'grand-coaches') include Tennessee Titans head coach Robert Saleh, Houston Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans, Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor and Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Liam Coen.
Shanahan was honored by the Broncos in the Ring of Fame in 2021, and he has been a steady face around the franchise. Shanahan is still regarded as one of the best head coaches of his generation, and he will surely be a Hall of Famer one day. Unfortunately for him, 2026 will not be his year.
Social: Follow Broncos Wire on Facebook and Twitter/X! Did you know: These 25 celebrities are Broncos fans.
This article originally appeared on Broncos Wire: Peter King: 'Ridiculous' Mike Shanahan is not in Hall of Fame
Continue reading...
However, according to sportswriter Peter King, there is another deserving coach who will once again be excluded from Canton: Former Denver Broncos head coach Mike Shanahan.
“Other than Belichick, Mike is the most deserving coach not in the Hall of Fame," said King during an interview on the Between the Tackles podcast earlier this week. "He's got the best coaching tree in this century. And it's not even close. I'm a broken record on Shanahan. It’s ridiculous he's not in.”
King acknowledged Shanahan's second act as Washington's head coach was not pretty; but Shanahan is a three-time Super Bowl winner and a proven seeker of talent.
"He had four head coaches in the league... whose offenses were in the top 11 in the NFL, so all of his stuff is still being done," King said. You can view King's entire comments about Shanahan's snub below:
Shanahan led the Broncos from 1995-2008, and was one of the most dominant figures of his era. Shanahan helped lead Denver to their first Super Bowl titles in 1997 and 1998, and led deep playoff runs in several seasons. Mentored by San Francisco 49ers legend Bill Walsh, Shanahan brought the "West Coast Offense," one of the most successful schemes of all time, into the 21st century.
Shanahan's fingerprints were all over the 2025 NFL playoffs, and all across the NFL. Shanahan's coaching tree is something of legend. Shanahan has had two former assistants go on to win Super Bowls as head coaches (Sean McVay, Washington in 2013; Gary Kubiak, Denver 1995-2005).
Shanahan's staff in Washington alone has produced several successful head coaches in the league right now. Shanahan's staff included his son Kyle (who now coaches the 49ers), McVay (Rams), Mike McDaniel (former head coach of the Miami Dolphins), Raheem Morris (former head coach of the Atlanta Falcons) and Matt LeFleur (Green Bay Packers). The coaches extending from those branches (Mike's 'grand-coaches') include Tennessee Titans head coach Robert Saleh, Houston Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans, Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor and Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Liam Coen.
Shanahan was honored by the Broncos in the Ring of Fame in 2021, and he has been a steady face around the franchise. Shanahan is still regarded as one of the best head coaches of his generation, and he will surely be a Hall of Famer one day. Unfortunately for him, 2026 will not be his year.
Social: Follow Broncos Wire on Facebook and Twitter/X! Did you know: These 25 celebrities are Broncos fans.
This article originally appeared on Broncos Wire: Peter King: 'Ridiculous' Mike Shanahan is not in Hall of Fame
Continue reading...
