Shanahan signs three-year extension

DENVER (AP) -- The Denver Broncos have given coach Mike Shanahan a three-year contract extension, tying him to the franchise through 2008.

Team spokesman Jim Saccomano confirmed the extension, which was first reported Monday in The Denver Post. He said Shanahan would not be available for comment until the team's evening practice.

Saccomano declined to discuss specifics, including salary. Coaches' salaries are not filed with the NFL's management council or the players' association.

Shanahan, who had three years remaining on his previous deal, would be Denver's head coach for 14 years if he serves out the remainder of his new contract. That would be longer than Dan Reeves' team-record 12 years.

The extension should end speculation that Shanahan might be fired if the Broncos endure another mediocre season this year.

Shanahan guided the Broncos to back-to-back Super Bowl titles in the 1997 and 1998 seasons, but the Broncos have gone 34-30 since then with only one playoff appearance -- a first-round loss in 2000.

Despite that decline, the Broncos have remained one of the NFL's best offensive teams. Last season, Denver ranked second in the AFC and third in the NFL in offense. In Shanahan's eight years as head coach, the Broncos have boasted the AFC's top-ranked offense five times.

Following Denver's 8-8 season in 2001, Shanahan was interviewed for the University of Florida coaching job. At that time, owner Pat Bowlen promised Shanahan he could continue coaching in Denver as long as he wanted.

Shanahan then had four years left on his Denver contract, and Bowlen said, "I expect him to coach a lot longer than four years."

 

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