Josh McDaniels: "The Magic Man"

Change is the epitome of life and our decisions. Time had come for change in the Denver Broncos organization and apart of that change was a new head coach.

After 14 unforgettable seasons and 2 Super Bowl wins with the Broncos, Mike Shanahan’s time was done. It was time for a new face to take the reins and get this team back on track. This new change came on January 12, 2009 when owner Pat Bowlen introduced a new head coach that will give the Broncos (fans included) new hope for the upcoming season.

I give you, Josh McDaniels, the 12th head coach in Broncos history.

At 33 years old, he is the fifth-youngest head coach in NFL history at the time of his hire with the Broncos and is the second-youngest active head coach in the league.

This is only the beginning of the Josh McDaniels story.

Born in Barberton, Ohio on April 22, 1976, was a young boy that would later become an NFL head coach, something only so many dream about, let alone make it reality. McDaniels grew up in one of the most football-wealthy regions in the country as a quarterback and kicker at Canton McKinley High School in Canton, Ohio.

He competed for a program, located near the Pro Football Hall of Fame, which has received national recognition for its success. His high school played their games at Fawcett Stadium, the same place the annual Hall of Fame Game is played.

McDaniels went on to be recruited by John Carroll University as a quarterback, however he spent most of his college career as a wide receiver from 1995-1998. He graduated from the school in University Heights, Ohio in 1999 with a bachelor’s degree in mathematics.

McDaniels joined Pro Football Hall of Fame Head Coach Don Shula as John Carroll alumni.

After his graduation in 1999, McDaniels began his coaching career at Michigan State University as a graduate assistant. While he had the privilege to work along side Head Coach Nick Saban, he was apart of the staff and team that helped the Spartans reach a 10-2 winning record including a Citrus Bowl victory.

Soon enough March 1, 2001 came around and that is when Josh McDaniels began his NFL coaching career by joining the New England Patriots as a personal assistant in scouting players. In the first three years of his NFL career he served as an assistant to the defensive coaching staff.

In 2004, he moved up the ladder and became the quarterbacks coach for the Patriots. Two years later in 2006, he received another title in addition to QB coach, Offensive Coordinator.

During his 8-year run with New England, he was apart of three Super Bowl wins in 2001 (XXXVI), 2003 (XXXVIII) and 2004 (XXXIX).

For three straight seasons (2006-2008), McDaniels had a hand in making the Patriots stand out from all the other teams.

He helped direct the offense in leading the NFL with an average of 28.8 points per game, ranking 2nd in the league with 370.8 yards per game, allowing only 63 turnovers in 3 seasons while also ranking fourth in the league on third-downs (44.4%).

With the amount of talent the Broncos have we will surely surprise doubters, when they see the "magic" McDaniels can work in with his new team.

It will be a sight to see, mark my words.

While he earned his way up to higher ground with the Patriots, he worked on a personal level with Tom Brady and helped him earn several Pro Bowl trips. He lent a helping hand to Brady’s success and one can only imagine what McDaniels could do for an underrated quarterback like Kyle Orton in Denver.

The success McDaniels was a part of in coaching Tom Brady turned the New England franchise into something other teams envied.

Then when you take the time to reflect on what McDaniels did with Matt Cassel when Brady got a season-ending injury at the beginning of the 2008 season, the possibilities he could give Denver are endless.

With a quarterback that has been frowned upon and underestimated, McDaniels will surely work his "magic" with Kyle Orton and turn him into something special for the Broncos.

Orton has the potential to become a great quarterback and I truly believe his time has come now that Denver has McDaniels as their head coach.

Surely, it could take a few years for this team to turn into a real success or this 2009 season could start the success this team has been lacking for a decade. With the amount of talent, leadership and teamwork this team will show this season, our playoff hopes could become reality for the first time since 2005.

Not only do we have better chances of reaching the playoffs, it’s time we reclaim the AFC West division. It belongs to the Broncos, plain and simple.

Head Coach McDaniels could be the difference in all that. Based on the success he had in New England, he has the ability to completely turn this team around for the better.

Both McDaniels and Orton are with a new team this season and Orton will have the chance to learn a new offense. This change could become epic for this team. This is like a brand new team and as fans, we have no idea what to expect. The difference between this team and the 2008 team we had last year could turn out to be positive or negative for the Broncos.

However, I encourage every Bronco fan out there to look at this situation in a positive light. Instead of thinking “they will be worse this year” or “Orton will just fall short like always”, your power of positive thinking will go farther than you can imagine.

It isn’t easy to be positive especially after the dead-end seasons we’ve had but we owe it to our Broncos to support them. Life is not a certainty when it comes to football, but we do have the ability to remain positive for the sake of this team.

This is the time to support our new team AND new coach while also watching this new season unfold.

Every fan should give all the new players and coaches a chance to prove themselves and show what they can turn this team into. The players and coaches are excited and enthusiastic about the new season and changes.

I say the time has come for the fans to join in on that excitement.

Josh McDaniels has had plenty of success in his career and one can only imagine how successful he could make the new Denver Broncos team. It is a very exciting time in this organization and what a thrill it would be to celebrate the 50th anniversary with a blowout season.

I hear a winning season knocking on our door and McDaniels is here to help make it happen. Our Broncos feed off the excitement and support of their fans in the same way we feed off the production and success of the players and coaches.

Positive thoughts breed positive results.

The 2009 season is upon us in full force.
Get ready Bronco fans!