Report: Broncos nearly brought in Mike Shanahan, Kirk Cousins last offseason

Denver Broncos general manager John Elway was close to replacing head coach Vance Joseph with Mike Shanahan last offseason, multiple sources told Woody Paige of The Gazette.

The team's former longtime head coach was in serious discussions with Elway about returning, but Broncos CEO Joe Ellis wouldn't approve the deal, according to Paige's sources.

Additionally, Shanahan and then-free-agent quarterback Kirk Cousins reportedly met in private and Cousins agreed to play for Denver on a team-friendly contract if Shanahan returned to the sidelines.

Following Ellis' decision, the Broncos ultimately kept Joseph and signed quarterback Case Keenum to a two-year contract in free agency.

Shanahan coached the Broncos from 1995-2008, capturing back-to-back Super Bowls in the 1997 and '98 campaigns with Elway at quarterback. He finished with a 138-86 record across 14 seasons with the team.

The 66-year-old Shanahan later drafted and coached Cousins with the Washington Redskins, where he named the quarterback the starter over former No. 2 overall pick Robert Griffin III during the 2013 season.

After going 5-11 with the Broncos last year - his first as their head coach - Joseph's endured similar struggles in 2018. At 6-8, the team was eliminated from playoff contention with a loss to the Cleveland Browns on Saturday in Week 15.