Broncos Replace Shanahan With Pats Offensive Coordinator McDaniels

January 12, 2009 1:00 p.m. EST

Denver, CO (AHN) - In a move than many analysts are comparing to the past hire of Mike Shanahan, Denver reached agreement with Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels Sunday to be the team's new head coach.

McDaniels, 32, replaces Shanahan, who was fired Dec. 30 after 14 years on the job. The team is expected to announce the deal Monday.

ESPN's Mike Greenberg compared the two, McDaniels and Shanahan, and said that before being hired by the Broncos, the two were both offensive geniuses with limited or no head coaching experience.

In addition to McDaniels, NFL.com reported that former 49ers head coach Mike Nolan is expected to join Denver as the team's defensive coordinator.

The Broncos finished 8-8 last year and missed the playoffs after blowing a three-game division lead with three games to go.

It has been a downward spiral for the Broncos, who haven't made the playoffs in three years.

McDaniels has worked in the NFL for eight seasons, all with New England.

He joined the Patriots in 2001 as a personnel assistant in the scouting department and assisted the defensive coaching staff for three seasons.

He began serving as the Patriots' quarterbacks coach in 2004 and was named offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach on Jan. 20, 2006.

Before that, McDaniels worked in 1999 as a graduate assistant at Michigan State, working under head coach Nick Saban.

Under McDaniels, Tom Brady broke records in 2007, then backup Matt Cassel led the Pats to an 11-5 campaign this year.