Broncos pick a new coach

When the Denver Broncos hired Mike Shanahan, he was a young, dynamic, up-and-coming offensive assistant. They followed the same formula to replace him, hiring New England Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels to be the team's next coach, a Broncos official confirmed late Sunday.

The hiring was first reported Sunday night by ESPN. McDaniels, who will replace Shanahan a little less than two weeks after Shanahan was fired after an 8-8 season, will turn 33 in April, but he has a proven NFL track record.

He spent eight seasons as a Patriots assistant coach, the last three as the offensive coordinator.

New England's offense set many NFL records under McDaniels' tutelage in 2007.

The 16-0 Patriots scored 589 points that season, a league record.
Quarterback Tom Brady set an NFL record with 50 touchdowns in 2007, which should mean good things for Broncos quarterback Jay Cutler. By hiring an offensive-minded coach, the Broncos are accentuating their biggest strength. Denver finished second in the NFL in yards gained in 2008.

McDaniels added to his résumé during the 2008 season, when Brady suffered a season-ending knee injury in the first quarter of New England's first game.

New England plugged in Matt Cassel, who hadn't started a game at quarterback since high school, finished fifth in the NFL in total offense and went 11-5.

McDaniels' hiring comes at the end of a process in which seven candidates were interviewed, including defensive coordinators Steve Spagnuolo of the New York Giants and Leslie Frazier of Minnesota. The Broncos' defense was 29th in the NFL last season, and one of McDaniels' biggest challenges will be putting together a new defensive staff.

The Denver Post is reporting that Patriots special assistant/secondary coach Dom Capers will join McDaniels' staff. Capers was an assistant/secondary coach with the Patriots this season after serving eight years as an NFL coach with the Carolina Panthers and Houston Texans.

CONTACT THE WRITER: 476-4891 or frank.schwab@gazette.com.