When it comes to the Pro Football Hall of Fame and their short list of coach candidates ripe for enshrinement, there is one in the mind of NFL analyst Peter King that has continued to be overlooked: former Denver Broncos coach Mike Shanahan.
Shanahan was straight from the San Francisco 49ers, right out of Hall of Fame coach Bill Walsh’s West Coast offense, one of the most potent offensive schemes in NFL history. Shanahan won a Super Bowl as an offensive coordinator for the 49ers before coming to Denver and turning the fortune of the Broncos in a championship trajectory. In his third and fourth seasons as Broncos coach, Shanahan helped Denver win their first titles in team history, eventually becoming the most successful coach in franchise history (138-86), which is good for 20th in all-time victories.
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In a recent appearance on “The Dan Patrick Show,” King fiercely advocated for Shanahan’s recognition.
“I think it’s ridiculous,” King said of Shanahan not being in the Hall of Fame.
Patrick agreed with King, asking, “How do you not put the guy who might have the best coaching tree, or one of the best coaching trees and success in the history of the sport?”
“When I was a voter (for the Pro Football Hall of Fame), I staunchly advocated for Shanahan,” King said.
King went on to tell a story about Super Bowl XXXII, where Shanahan pinpointed Green Bay Packers defensive back Leroy Butler as the most pivotal player of the game. In order to take away Butler’s influence, Shanahan put Hall of Fame tight end Shannon Sharpe out wide in the formation, taking Butler almost completely out of the game.
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“When John Elway tells me that Mike Shanahan, far and away was the major reason we won that Super Bowl, says something to me,” King said.
You can see the clip below.
In the past year, King again pleaded for Shanahan’s inclusion in the Hall of Fame. King is not alone in his opinion, as Hall of Famer Champ Bailey came out earlier this year in Shanahan’s defense for enshrinement.
Shanahan’s coaching tree is one of the most successful in the NFL today. You can see his fingerprints throughout the league, from Sean McVay’s Los Angeles Rams to Liam Coen’s Jacksonville Jaguars, and of course, Kyle Shanahan’s San Francisco 49ers.
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The Pro Football Hall of Fame recently overhauled its voting guidelines after the snub of Bill Belichick from the Class of 2026, which could slow down Shanahan’s bid to get his bronze bust displayed in Canton.
He certainly has his fair share of defenders and advocates to help get him there, and Shanahan figures to eventually reach the Hall of Fame.
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This article originally appeared on Broncos Wire: Peter King says it’s ‘ridiculous’ Mike Shanahan isn’t in Hall of Fame