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The Broncos announced that running backs coach Eric Studesville would take over McDaniels' position on an interim basis.
"I am very grateful to Pat Bowlen and the Broncos organization for giving me the opportunity to be the head coach of such a proud franchise," McDaniels said in a statement released by the team. "I would like to thank all of the people who helped us over the last two years. I am especially appreciative of the efforts of every player, coach and member of the personnel department who worked so hard every day. I wish Pat Bowlen and the Broncos organization nothing but the best in the future."
McDaniels was rumored to be in trouble for weeks as the Broncos season quickly collapsed. Owner Pat Bowlen's decision to let McDaniels go comes four games shy of McDaniels' second full season as coach, and the day after the Broncos were formally eliminated from playoff contention by Sunday's 10-6 loss at Kansas City.
"My decision to relieve Josh McDaniels as head coach was not taken lightly," Bowlen said in a statement. "I will always be appreciative of his passion, enthusiasm and hard work, and I thank him for his efforts. In the end, I was not satisfied with the results and the direction this team was headed. The decision to make a change was extremely difficult but one that needed to be made for this organization and our fans."
Last week, Bowlen told FanHouse's Thomas George, "I am not interested in making a change" at the head-coaching spot. When asked if McDaniels would be back for the 2011 season, Bowlen replied, "Yes, he will." Bowlen later added, "I'm very happy with Josh. Josh is doing a good job."
Exactly one week later, Bowlen opted to strip McDaniels of his coaching duties and replace him, at least temporarily, with Studesville, who has no head-coaching experience.
"I am very appreciative of the trust that Mr. Bowlen and the entire Denver Broncos organization have shown in me," Studesville said. "Although the circumstances that this opportunity resulted from are unfortunate, I am excited to lead this football team. We have a great group of players and coaches who are committed to finishing the season on a promising note and making our fans proud of this team."
Studesville and Broncos chief operating officer Joe Ellis are slated to address a news conference on Tuesday.
McDaniels, the successor to Mike Shanahan in Denver, began his Broncos coaching career with a bang, going 6-0. But since then, the team has gone just 5-17. The loss to the Chiefs on Sunday was their seventh defeat in eight games, dropping the Broncos' 2010 record to 3-9.
Moreover, the organization was embarrassed by McDaniels' role in a videotaping scandal that resulted in the firing of a Broncos cameraman and league-imposed fines of $50,000 for both McDaniels and the team. A former team employee was found to have improperly taped a 49ers practice the day before the 49ers beat the Broncos in a game played at London's Wembley Stadium on Oct. 31.
The ex-employee, NFL investigators found, offered to show the tape to McDaniels, who refused to look at it and ordered it destroyed. But McDaniels failed to inform team brass or the league about the matter as required by league rules relating to the integrity of the game, leading to the fines.
McDaniels, who was dismissed after meeting with the media for his usual Monday news conference, also had been under fire for a series of personnel decisions in which he shipped away talented players such as Jay Cutler, Peyton Hillis and Brandon Marshall.
The Broncos traded Cutler and a fifth-round draft pick to Chicago in April of 2009, in exchange for Kyle Orton, first- and third-round picks in 2009 and a 2010 first-rounder. Denver then shipped Marshall to Miami after the 2009 season, following McDaniels' late-season benching of Marshall for disciplinary reasons. And the Broncos unloaded Hillis just prior to the 2010 draft, sending him and a pair of draft picks to Cleveland for Brady Quinn.
"Everyone, myself included, is accountable for our disappointing season and is now responsible for restoring the culture of winning that has been established by this franchise," Bowlen said. "Our entire organization is completely focused on returning to the level of prosperity that our fans expect and deserve from the Denver Broncos."
McDaniels was dismissed with a little more than two years remaining on his contract. The Broncos still owe him nearly $7 million. By the time a new hire is made, Denver could be paying for three coaches as Redskins coach Mike Shanahan, McDaniels' predecessor in Denver, is still owed money under his contract with the Broncos.
FanHouse TV's Dan Graziano takes a look back at McDaniels' rocky tenure:
Comments (Page 1 of 6)
'bout time!
HOORAY........long overdue...thought Bowlin was getting senile!
1.5 years is plenty of time . Why arent they in the super bowl
its about time maybe they can get a real coach in there
thank you mr. bowlen, now denver can initiate rebuilding
Think Denver would consider taking shanny back?
Signed Redskin fan
@dave
LOL, the shanahan malaise is not going to be revisited
No great surprise here. Cheating isn't tolerated unless you actually win.
I was just wondering.......Aren't THE PLAYERS responsible for at least SOME of the losses ???????????
It all goes back to Bowlen. Too bad we can't take the franchise away from the jerk.
Josh will end up being a sucessful head coach before his career is over. Shanahan was fired by the Raiders. Worked out for him. McDaniels record speaks for itself right now. It wasn't working and that's a fact. I commend him for getting rid of cry baby Cutler, and Brandon Marshall. Peyton Hillis, that was a killer, and job changer for Josh. I wish McDaniels well. I take no pride in seeing anyone lose their job, especially during the holidays. Now it's time to go forward.
good post . thanks
He has the stink of cheater on him and that isn't going to wash off anytime soon. Belichick can get away with it since he had already won a bunch before the scandal hit. Cheaters are only forgiven when they have winning records.
Toscani....another whinebag jealous Jets fan
Yes but look what Cutler has done compared to the person they traded him for.
Thesby D Tolbert - It works for both of us. I'm glad you have him. Great arm, great talent, and completely classless. The Jeff George of our time. One of the great misconceptions about Cutler is he's a winner. Until this year he hadn't won in college or the NFL. Chicago isn't winning because of him, their winning with defense. Maybe he's changed, become a decent person on and off the field. For team's sake I hope so. Time will tell.
Actually I'm a an impartial (as far as this discussion goes) Bears fan. Cutler's kind of squirrely, but he's sure as sh*t better than Kyle Orton. Thanks McDBag!
I wouldn't mind loosing my job with the holidays coming if I had $7,000,000.00 coming to me!!!!!!!!!!
jwfoust,
No worries about losing his job he will still be paid 7million due him. i would like a severance of that amount..lol
McLier sold you on the cry baby spin -- Cutler saw what he was -- a lying bully -- ask our former tight end