Denver ends Shanahan era

Coach fired after late-season collapse

Denver — Mike Shanahan became the latest and most stunning victim of the NFL coaching purge, fired Tuesday by the Denver Broncos after a late-season collapse knocked the team out of the playoffs for the third straight year.

Shanahan joined Eric Mangini, Rod Marinelli and Romeo Crennel on the unemployment line after going 24-24 over the last three seasons, including three straight losses in 2008 that turned a three-game division lead to an 8-8 record.

Despite that, and the 52-21 loss to the Chargers that ended Denver’s season Sunday, this was a shocker: the ouster of a 14-year coaching veteran who won two Super Bowl titles for Denver and was considered by many in Denver to be a lifer.

Shanahan’s record was 146-89, but the Broncos remained stuck at only one postseason victory since John Elway retired in 1999 after Denver’s second championship.

This season included a historic collapse that saw Denver become the first team since divisional play started in 1967 to blow a three-game lead with three games left.

Shanahan had three years left on his contract, worth about $20 million.