Mike Shanahan returns to Broncos for 1st time since 2008
The Denver Broncos were treated to a blast from the past Saturday.
Two-time Super Bowl champion head coach Mike Shanahan - who hadn't been back to the team's headquarters since being fired in 2008 after 14 seasons -was in attendance for Broncos training camp.
Welcome back, Mike Shanahan! pic.twitter.com/usUAu56pc8
— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) July 20, 2019
Mike Shanahan is back at Dove Valley for the first time since 2008. pic.twitter.com/Tb5PuyueSg
— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) July 20, 2019
Former Broncos coach Mike Shanahan is back at the practice facility for the first time since 2008. All smiles. pic.twitter.com/vE2vzUrIgL
— Kyle Fredrickson (@kylefredrickson) July 20, 2019
This is coach Shanahan’s first visit to practice since 2008. He’s been at facility since then, but not practice. Told Vic Fangio and Rich Scangarello, who coached with Kyle Shanahan last few years, helped facilitate the visit. Good to see coach here. #Denver7 pic.twitter.com/LRbWfLrcOW
— Troy Renck (@TroyRenck) July 20, 2019
Shanahan's messy exit led many to believe that a reunion would never come to pass.
However, the coach showed up when the Broncos honored their 1997 Super Bowl team in 2015. In addition, he was reportedly almost chosen to replace ex-head coach Vance Joseph during the 2018 offseason before CEO Joe Ellis overruled general manager John Elway.
"I talked to (head coach) Vic (Fangio) and John and made sure it was OK to come out on a Saturday," Shanahan told Mike Klis of 9News on Friday. "I'm looking forward to going back. You forget it's been 11 years since you've been out there. I actually haven't been through the new facility."
Shanahan hasn't coached in the NFL since being dismissed by the Washington Redskins in 2012 after two seasons.