Ed McCaffrey has spoken.
McCaffrey, a former wide receiver who won three Super Bowls with Mike Shanahan during his 13-year career in the NFL, wants to see his former coach reach the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
“It’s Time for a Call from the Hall!” McCaffrey tweeted on Saturday in response to a story about Shanahan from the team’s official Twitter/X page.
⏰ It's Time for a Call from the Hall! ⏰ @ProFootballHOF #BroncosCountry https://t.co/tFSyI1VmkQ
— Ed McCaffrey (@87ed) August 17, 2024
The Broncos hosted the Green Bay Packers for a joint practice on Friday. Before that practice, Packers coach Matt LaFleur spoke to Denver media members about his connection to Shanahan.
“Coach Shanahan has had a tremendous impact,” LaFleur said, via the team’s official website. “He gave me really my first position job with Washington in 2010 as a quarterbacks coach. I learned so much from him, not only Xs and Os wise but how to manage a staff. … When you look back at it, we had a lot of guys who have gone on to be head coaches. I think it’s because we learned the right way from Coach Shanahan.”
Shanahan was a semifinalist for the 2024 Hall of Fame class but was not elected. He was an offensive coordinator with the San Francisco 49ers when they won Super Bowl XXIX. After that, Shanahan became head coach of the Broncos and he quickly signed McCaffrey, a fellow ex-Niner. Shanahan went on to win two more Super Bowls in Denver.
Elements of Shanahan’s offense are still seen across the NFL today and his coaching tree continues to bear fruit years after the coach’s retirement. Sean Payton, the Broncos’ current coach, has said Shanahan should already be in the Hall of Fame. Perhaps he’ll reach Canton as a member of the 2025 class.
