Shanahan gets the chop as Broncos punish playoff disaster

DENVER: Denver fired head coach Mike Shanahan on Tuesday after the Broncos lost their final three regular season games to miss out on the playoffs.

Shanahan, who became head coach in 1995, was the second-longest tenured coach in the NFL behind Jeff Fisher, who took over as head coach of the Tennessee Titans in November 1994.

"After giving this careful consideration, I have concluded that a change in our football operations is in the best interests of the Denver Broncos," said owner Pat Bowlen in a statement on the team's website (www.denverbroncos.com).