Go to the mobile version of this Web site.

Login | Contact Us | Site Map | Paid archives | Electronic edition | Subscription Questions | Extras

Heimerdinger: It was 'real hard' to leave

By Jeff Legwold, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published January 18, 2008 at 12:45 a.m.

Text size  
Mike Heimerdinger says he'll help if Vince Young wants it.

Mike Heimerdinger says he'll help if Vince Young wants it.

Related Stories

More Denver Broncos

More stories »

Facing a decision between working for an organization that put two Super Bowl rings on his fingers and is coached by a lifelong friend or an opportunity for total control of an offense, Mike Heimerdinger said it was "hard, real, real hard" to leave the Broncos.

Heimerdinger officially was hired as the Tennessee Titans' offensive coordinator Thursday.

"It was just a chance to run the whole (offense)," Heimerdinger said. "Just a chance to call all the plays, run everything, that's the main thing. It was a tough, tough call.

"I wouldn't have gone any place else, wouldn't have considered any other place. But I know (Titans coach) Jeff (Fisher) - I've been there."

In a statement, Fisher said, "Mike was at the top of my list and we are fortunate he was available to come back. We know each other very well and he is without a doubt the right person to help the offense take the next step."

It leaves the Broncos searching for an offensive coach for Mike Shanahan's staff.

Former UCLA coach Karl Dorrell is considered the front-runner now that Chan Gailey has been hired as the Kansas City Chiefs' offensive coordinator.

The Broncos have contacted Dorrell in recent days.

Shanahan could not be reached for comment.

It concludes Heimerdinger's second stint with the Broncos - he was the team's receivers coach from 1995 to 1999, a span that included the team's two Super Bowl victories.

He also is one of Shanahan's closest friends in coaching, the two having been roommates at Eastern Illinois University.

"The Broncos franchise is at the tops in the NFL; working for Mike, working for Mr. (Pat) Bowlen has been a great thing," Heimerdinger said. "It's real hard to leave a situation, an organization like that, that's a lifelong friend there."

The deal came together quickly, with the Titans having fired offensive coordinator Norm Chow on Tuesday and the Broncos on Wednesday morning having formally granted the Titans permission to talk with Heimerdinger.

The Titans are looking to improve quarterback Vince Young's play.

Heimerdinger was asked Thursday if he could help Young, who was the league's Rookie of the Year in 2006 only to take a step back in an offense that was filled with injuries this season.

"I would hope I could," Heimerdinger said. "I've only seen him play against us and only saw two series because my head was down doing other things. . . . Part of that will be if Vince wants help."

Comments

  • January 17, 2008

    6:52 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    Broncos4Life writes:

    If it was so hard of a decision, why did the whole thing happen within two days? Sounds like another assistant that was tired of not having any input under the Shanahan dictatorship! Forget Dorrell, hire Norm Chow. He will do wonders with a passing quarterback that shows some smarts on the field. Unlike the Titans situation where they drafted "an athletic" quarterback. That's code for a bad passer and poor decision maker who only knows how to run.

  • January 17, 2008

    11:09 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    irish4ever writes:

    Forget Dorrell, forget Chow....hire Elway. He ran this offense to 2 Championships, has a good relationship with Shanahan, and is a Hall of Famer on top of it. I think his son Jack is done at Cherry Creek, so this would be good timing for John as well. Besides, all that he has done for the Broncos, it would be a great move to pull him back in as a coach/coordinator. Cutler would benefit greatly!!!!

  • January 18, 2008

    12:04 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    rwlightburn writes:

    I agree with some previous comments. Forget Dorrell and hire Norm Chow. Norm was fired because Vince Young is a lousy QB and that is all there is to it.

  • January 18, 2008

    2:53 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    gwats writes:

    It is amazing to watch the rats jump the ship when they smell professional death.

  • January 18, 2008

    3:48 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    ToddDixon36 writes:

    How about Bill Musgrave? I played in high school with Bill and he is a very smart guy. Maybe I am being a home towner but Bill could do well in this role. He is not a "rah rah" type of guy, but he does konw football and I think he could help Cutler get to the next level. He was hired to mentor vick but the dips**t could not get past his "culture" of wanting to hang wiht the boys and watch dogs kill each other. Not Bill's fault the Atlanta situation went south. Bill has not been able to hit his stride in the NFL as a coach but could be a great understudy to Shanahan...plus he played underneath him at San Fran and Denver when Shanahan had some of his best coaching years.

    Bill may want to return to his home state and Mike could use some additional brain power from a guy that achieved his success as a player mostly from his mind, not his athletic ability. There is somethign to be said for a guy that overachieved based on his physical talent and still played in the pro's. That is the type of guy who will scheme and game plan better than most. He knows the x's and o's....just a thought.

  • January 18, 2008

    6:20 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    Brent writes:

    Whoever takes over part or all of the responsibilities, they couldn't possibly be any worse in the red zone. Congratulations, Tennessee!

    Maybe the Broncos can get back to having a single offensive identity. It has seemed like they can't decide who they are - and that grew more and more over the last 2 years under Dinger.

  • January 18, 2008

    7:30 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    R8R_H8R writes:

    Rick Dennison is labeled as the Offensive Coordinator on the BRoncos official website, and has been for the last 2 years. So what's all this talk about hiring an Offensive Coordinator?
    Any bonehead that's ever seen an interview with John Elway knows that he will never! be a coach because of the long hours. I like the 'hire Musgrave' idea. And Dorrell would be good too. But I would by FAR prefer Norm Chow. He had prolific offenses @ USC, he simply had no legitimate quarterback to run his passing attack at the Titans. Only a guy who runs real fast, and throws alot of interceptions.

  • January 18, 2008

    10:19 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    OrangeCrush_77 writes:

    Nothing against Chow, but the Broncos are not going to hire anyone who doesn't run the West Coast Offense. Why would they? It's all Shanny believes in, and it's what Cutler has spent the past two years learning.

    As much as I think that some changes need to be made, asking Cutler to start over in another offense would be a step back. The better move would be to bring in someone who can give the West Coast some fresh energy & direction. The WR screen to Marshall is going to get him hurt, and is only effective if you run it a few times a year (not 8 times a game).

  • January 18, 2008

    11:24 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    ibanez4206 writes:

    irish4ever - You are an idiot. Yes, Elway is a HOFer, and noone can take that way from him. But he was not running the offense. Kubiak was. Get your facts straight before you open your trap.

  • January 18, 2008

    11:48 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    serfrocker writes:

    Maybe I'm the only one who remembers, because people are constantly bringing this up... Heimerdinger was given the title "Assistant Head Coach - Offense" because he was already an Offensive Coordinator under contract with another team. The only way the Broncos were allowed to hire him away was to make it a promotion. Aside from the inflated title, he was the OC. Dennison has the Coordinator plaque on his office door, but he's the O-Line coach. The Broncos still need a playcaller.

  • January 21, 2008

    2:18 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    irish4ever writes:

    So ibanez4206, when Kubiak sent plays into the offense, what did they do??? They RAN the play. Therefore, a quarterback can RUN the offense. I guess I should have used executed,as in running the plays, when speaking of what role Elway played in Kubiak's/Shanahan's offense. Maybe you should try looking in a thesaurus before opening yours.