Bowlen's job description for Shanahan successor: 'Win the Super Bowl'
January 1
Rocky Mountain News columnist Jeff Legwold
"For the first time since Broncos owner Pat Bowlen rang in the new year in 1995, he is searching for a new coach for his football team.
And on Wednesday, he officially offered the job description.
"I want somebody to come in here and win the Super Bowl, that's my No. 1 goal," Bowlen said. "That's what I want to do, it's what I'm here for. Good coaching, good players, good personnel and all the rest of the stuff."
With that, Bowlen will go about the business of what he called a "historic change" in the organization, the business of replacing Mike Shanahan, a two-time Super Bowl winner for the Broncos who also is the franchise's winningest coach.
But while Shanahan had the final say on all football matters, Bowlen on Wednesday also signaled another fundamental change in how the team does its business. The new coach will not have that kind of power.
The new coach will oversee the team's coaching staff, strength and conditioning program and direct the team's on-field strategy and offseason activities. The personnel department, currently directed by Jim Goodman, will oversee the draft and free agency.
And it is Bowlen, with a small circle of advisers that will include Broncos chief operating officer Joe Ellis, at the end of the line.
"I felt Mike was doing both those jobs and doing them well, and I don't anticipate the next coach having both those jobs," Bowlen said. "But, ultimately, it ends up on my desk, I'm here every day, I make the decisions, that's going to continue. . . . I run the show."
Because of that, Bowlen said the Broncos will be focused on finding a new coach because he said his plan is to leave the team's personnel department intact.
Asked about the possibility of hiring a new general manager to oversee personnel, Bowlen said, "I haven't even thought of hiring a general manager. My focus would be a coach."
And already the team appears to be positioning itself toward a run at a coach with a defensive background as well as revamping its defensive philosophy.
After all of Shanahan's assistants met with Bowlen and Ellis on Wednesday, several were told they are free to pursue other jobs, including defensive coordinator Bob Slowik and several of the other defensive assistants.
Of the defensive staff, only line coach Bill Johnson and linebackers coach Jim Ryan, a former Broncos player, attended Bowlen's and Shanahan's news conferences. Almost the entire offensive coaching staff was present.
Shanahan said Bowlen was "going to keep the offensive staff intact, as much as he can. We've got to make some changes, obviously, on the defensive side."
Bowlen initially said none of the assistant coaches would be retained, but he clarified later through a spokesman the assistant coaches who remain when a new coach arrives will be evaluated by the new coach, then decisions will be made.
But Shanahan and quarterback Jay Cutler have lobbied for the team's offensive
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