Mike Shanahan’s wait for Canton continues.
On Wednesday, the Pro Football Hall of Fame announced its five finalists across the coach, contributor, and senior categories for the Class of 2026. And while Bill Belichick rightfully earned the coaching nomination - a nod that was all but inevitable given his six Super Bowl titles and two-decade reign of dominance with the Patriots - it means that once again, Shanahan is left on the outside looking in.
It’s not a shock, but it is a shame.
Shanahan was a semifinalist in the coaching category, but with Belichick entering the mix for the first time, the odds were never in his favor this cycle. The Hall of Fame doesn’t typically induct multiple coaches in the same class, and when the greatest of all time becomes eligible, everyone else tends to take a backseat.
Still, it’s hard to ignore what Shanahan has accomplished - and even harder to justify why he’s not already enshrined in Canton.
Let’s talk resume. Shanahan posted a 170-138 record as an NFL head coach, including a stellar 138-86 mark over 14 seasons in Denver.
He led the Broncos to back-to-back Super Bowl titles in the late '90s, cementing John Elway’s legacy and delivering the franchise its first championships. That alone is Hall of Fame-worthy.
But Shanahan’s impact goes well beyond the win column.
His offensive system revolutionized the way the NFL runs the football. The zone-blocking scheme he popularized - with its emphasis on stretch runs and decisive one-cut backs - became the blueprint for modern offenses.
It turned late-round picks into 1,000-yard rushers and laid the foundation for the wide-zone concepts that dominate today’s game. Just look around the league: from Kyle Shanahan in San Francisco to Sean McVay in Los Angeles and Matt LaFleur in Green Bay, the fingerprints of Mike Shanahan’s system are everywhere.
That’s not just influence - that’s legacy.
And yet, year after year, Shanahan’s name gets floated, only to fall short. He wasn’t selected last year.
Or the year before that. And now, with Belichick rightfully taking the spotlight, Shanahan’s campaign is once again pushed down the road.
He’s not alone in that frustration. Former Broncos head coach Dan Reeves also missed out this year, another casualty of a loaded coaching ballot. But Shanahan’s case feels particularly overdue, especially considering how much of today’s NFL is built on the foundation he helped lay.
No one’s arguing against Belichick’s selection. His place in the Hall is as certain as any coach in league history. But Shanahan’s continued omission feels like a gap that needs to be addressed - and soon.
So here we are again, waiting. Maybe 2026 will finally be the year. Maybe the Hall of Fame committee will recognize not just the wins and rings, but the innovation, the influence, and the coaching tree that continues to shape the game.
Because Mike Shanahan isn’t just a great coach. He’s a Hall of Famer - and it’s time the plaque matched the legacy.