The Fan is turning 30! For three decades, the station has been covering Denver sports, serving as a media outlet of record for the biggest events over the past 30 years.
There have been a lot of them. From championships to MVPs, from historic seasons to improbable victories, The Fan has been there for all of them.
What were the best of the best? During a six week span, Denver Sports will chronicle the moments that stood out the most. It’s a countdown from No. 30 to No. 1, in a series called “Mile High Milestones.”
Enjoy the trip down memory lane!
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In 2009, the Broncos were looking to go in a new direction. They had parted ways with Mike Shanahan, the team’s head coach for 14 seasons and the architect behind two Super Bowl champions, and were ready for change.
They found it in New England.
On January 11, 2009, Denver introduced Josh McDaniels as their new head coach. Just 32 years old, the Patriots offensive coordinator was considered a wunderkind. And the Broncos went all in to bring the hottest coaching prospect to the Mile High City, giving McDaniels a four-year, $8-million contract.
He was in such demand because of the work he had done the previous season. McDaniels had helped guide New England to an 11-5 record despite losing Tom Brady for the season in Week 1. He did it by turning Matt Cassel, a quarterback who never started a game in college, into a viable NFL signal caller.
If McDaniels could get 10 wins, 3,693 yards and 21 touchdowns out of a complete unknown, teams around the league thought he could solve their QB issues, as well. And in Denver, he seemed the like perfect fit to develop Jay Cutler, a gunslinger who was coming off of his first Pro Bowl season.
That was the plan. But it didn’t last long.
In March, rumors surfaced that McDaniels was looking to trade Cutler and bring Cassel to Denver. That didn’t go over well with the quarterback, creating a rift that was beyond repair. Ultimately, Cutler was traded to Chicago.
Initially, the moved looked like a stroke of genius. The Broncos started the 2009 season with six-straight wins, making McDaniels the toast of the town. But it didn’t last long.
After their bye, Denver lost eight out of their last 10 games. Eight of those defeats were by more than 10 points; three were by 20-plus. The bloom was definitely off the rose, as the Broncos finished 8-8 and missed the playoffs.
The following season, the wheels completely came off. After a 2-2 start, Denver lost seven of their next eight games. Mixed into that run of futility was a 59-14 loss at home to the Raiders, one of the most-embarrassing performances in franchise history. But it was the next week that would prove to be McDaniels downfall.
The Broncos traveled to London to play the 49ers at Wembley Stadium. They lost, falling 24-16, but it wasn’t the final score that was the problem. It was something that happened during the week leading up to the game that became an issue.
Denver’s video staff was caught taping San Francisco’s practice, creating a mini-scandal. During McDaniels time in New England, the Patriots had been embroiled in Spygate. The misstep in London reeked of the coach bringing the less-than-above-board tactics to the Mile High City.
Pat Bowlen wasn’t about to have his franchise tarnished by a young, maverick head coach. Four weeks later, after a 10-6 loss at Kansas City dropped the Broncos record to 3-9, McDaniels was relieved of his duties.
But the damage was done. A promising, young quarterback was shipped out of town. Coaches and front office personnel were run off, as well. Everyone around the organization was on pins and needles. The overall culture around the team had become toxic.
An 11-17 record isn’t good, but it doesn’t even begin to encapsulate how bad things were during the two seasons that McDaniels was in Denver. He left a path of destruction that went well beyond wins and losses, making him one of the most-loathed figures in franchise history.
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THE COUNTDOWN
30: Ubaldo Jimenez has a magical season
29: Todd Helton get enshrined in Cooperstown
28: Valeri Nichushkin goes missing in the postseason – twice!
27: The Avalanche win their second Stanley Cup
26: The Nuggets come back from two 3-1 deficits in the bubble
25: The seemingly never-ending Broncos ownership saga
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Wanna hear more about this Mile High Milestone? Tune into “The Rundown” at noon or check out the show on YouTube to hear Richie Carni and a special guest take a walk down memory lane.