David Shaw, the former Stanford coach, is making a return to the NFL by joining the Denver Broncos as the team’s Senior Personnel Executive. This move marks Shaw’s first NFL job in almost two decades, following his departure from Stanford after the 2022 season.
Shaw has a history with Denver Broncos coach Sean Payton, as they previously worked together when both were coaching for the Philadelphia Eagles back in 1997. Payton was the quarterbacks coach for the team, while Shaw served as a quality control coach during that time.
In 2005, Shaw took on the role of the Ravens’ wide receivers coach before transitioning to the college ranks in 2006. He joined Jim Harbaugh’s staff at San Diego for a season before moving to Stanford with Harbaugh. Shaw then served as the offensive coordinator for the Cardinal for four seasons before eventually taking over as the head coach when Harbaugh departed for the San Francisco 49ers.
Under Shaw’s leadership, Stanford continued its success, posting winning seasons in each of his first eight years with the school. The team’s performance was particularly impressive in Shaw’s early years, with a 34-7 record in his first three seasons and Andrew Luck being selected as the No. 1 pick in the 2012 NFL draft.
Despite being frequently mentioned as a candidate for NFL head coaching jobs, Shaw remained at Stanford and saw a decline in the team’s performance in his final years. Stanford struggled in Shaw’s last four seasons, with records of 4-8 in 2019, 3-9 in both 2021 and 2022, and a 4-2 record in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season. The lack of success in his final two seasons ultimately led to Shaw’s resignation after a loss to BYU in the 2022 season.
Shaw’s experience and expertise will bring a valuable perspective to the Denver Broncos’ front office. His extensive background in both college and NFL coaching roles will be instrumental in shaping the team’s personnel decisions moving forward. With Shaw on board, the Broncos are looking to benefit from his knowledge and strategic insights to strengthen their position in the league.