McDaniels, Denver agree on 4-year deal

Indianapolis’ Tony Dungy announced his retirement after seven years as coach.

Associated Press

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Josh McDaniels, the man behind the New England Patriots’ scoring machine, inherits an offense in Denver that needs only an oil change.

The defense? Well, that needs an overhaul.

The 32-year-old McDaniels signed a four-year deal with the Broncos to replace Mike Shanahan, the only NFL head coach to get fired by a team he led to consecutive Super Bowl wins.

McDaniels, a Canton McKinley High graduate, guided an offense that had led New England to 18 straight victories before a stunning loss to the New York Giants in last season’s Super Bowl. That team scored an NFL-record 75 touchdowns and 589 points. McDaniels’ father, Thom, was the head coach at Warren Harding for seven seasons.

Bowlen thought enough of McDaniels to bypass defensive sages Steve Spagnuolo of the Giants, Raheem Morris of the Buccaneers and Leslie Frazier of the Vikings even though Denver’s defense allowed more points and had fewer takeaways than any other team in the NFL last season.

McDaniels helped the defensive staff in New England for three seasons before serving as quarterbacks coach in 2004. Bill Belichick promoted him to offensive coordinator in 2006, and his career took off.

Colts

Tony Dungy always considered football just a career path, not his life’s mission.

On Monday, Dungy began the transition from head coach to full-time dad and devoted volunteer by announcing his retirement after seven years leading the Indianapolis Colts.

“We just felt this was the right time,” Dungy said. “Don’t shed any tears for me. I got to live a dream most people don’t get to live.”

The move triggered a succession plan Indianapolis put in place a year ago, making Jim Caldwell, the associate head coach, Dungy’s replacement.

Saints

The New Orleans Saints promoted Pete Carmichael Jr. to offensive coordinator Monday and also hired former Northwestern assistant Bret Ingalls as the team’s running backs coach.

Saints coach Sean Payton also promoted Aaron Kromer from running backs coach to offensive line coach and Joe Lombardi from offensive assistant to quarterbacks coach. Before joining the Saints, Kromer was an offensive line assistant with Tampa Bay.

Lions

Tennessee Titans defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz interviewed with the Detroit Lions for a second time about the team’s head coaching vacancy.

The chance to lead the NFL’s first 0-16 team seemed to only motivate him to get the job and succeed at it.

“I don’t shy away from a challenge,” Schwartz said at a news conference that was scheduled as part of his day at the team’s headquarters.

Schwartz said he expected to meet with team owner William Clay Ford as part of his visit.

49ers

Denver Broncos offensive coordinator Rick Dennison interviewed with the 49ers to run their offense.

He’s the fourth coach to interview for the job on Mike Singletary’s staff that was vacated when Mike Martz was fired last month.

Dennison was an assistant to former Broncos coach Mike Shanahan for 14 years, also coaching the offensive line.

He won’t be retained on new Denver coach Josh McDaniels’ staff, but his interview with San Francisco was set up before Shanahan was fired.

Former St. Louis coach Scott Linehan, Indianapolis receivers coach Clyde Christensen and Cleveland offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski already have interviewed with Singletary.