Reeves, Shanahan Join Belichick, Holmgren, Coughlin in Hall of Fame Coach Final
The subcommittee reduced the field from 14 candidates to five, all of whom coached in multiple Super Bowls, ahead of the November 17 selection meeting.
By Samuel Hayes ·
Fans of the Denver Broncos will see two former head coaches on the ballot for the Pro Football Hall of Fame class of 2027. The organization announced on Wednesday that Dan Reeves and Mike Shanahan are among the five finalists in the coach category.
The other three finalists are Bill Belichick, Mike Holmgren, and Tom Coughlin. Each of the five men coached in at least two Super Bowls during their careers. A subcommittee previously reviewed a larger group of 14 coaches and narrowed the list to these five candidates.
Belichick is considered the leading candidate for induction. His record includes six Super Bowl rings as a head coach. Shanahan is viewed as the next most likely selection from the current group. He won back-to-back Super Bowls with the Denver Broncos and won another as offensive coordinator for the San Francisco 49ers in 1994.
Shanahan has served as a multi-year finalist in recent years. He was a semifinalist in 2023, 2025, and 2026. His professional record stands at 178 wins, which ties him for 19th in NFL history. Former Broncos wide receiver Ed McCaffrey has publicly supported Shanahan’s case for enshrinement.
Reeves led teams to four Super Bowls, including three appearances with Denver in 1986, 1988, and 1989. The Broncos lost all three of those games. His career total is 201 wins as a head coach, tying him for ninth all time in the league. This places him one win ahead of current Broncos coach Sean Payton.
The subcommittee will meet on Nov. 17 to choose one coach from the five finalists. That single candidate will then be submitted to the full voting selection committee for a final vote on induction.
Reeves and Shanahan shared a complex history. Reeves fired Shanahan as offensive coordinator in 1992 due to tensions involving quarterback John Elway. Shanahan returned as head coach three years later. They faced each other in the 1998 Super Bowl, where Shanahan’s Broncos defeated Reeves’ Falcons 34 to 19. Shanahan described their relationship in a recent statement. “I’ll be honest,” he said. “We were best friends.” Reeves passed away on Jan. 1, 2022.
