National Football League

Glazer: D-coordinator parts ways with Broncos

Published Jan. 18, 2010 12:00 a.m. ET

foxsports

On a day when a shocking candidate emerged in Buffalo, a move just as shocking has occurred across the country in Denver.

Broncos head coach Josh McDaniels and defensive coordinator Mike Nolan have “mutually decided” to part ways.

FOXSports.com was the first to report this.

The Broncos defense was 29th the year before McDaniels and Nolan arrived in Denver. Under Nolan’s coaching, the unit shot all the way up and finished 7th. However, for most of the season the Denver defense was actually ranked in the top 3 of most defensive categories.

It’s unknown why the two decided to part ways but Nolan now becomes the hottest defensive coaching candidate on the open market. Teams that need coordinators include the Dolphins, Bills and Bears.

Nolan is the third member of coach McDaniels' staff to depart following a 8-8 finish. Offensive line coach Rick Dennison left for Houston and longtime running backs coach Bobby Turner was reunited with former Broncos coach Mike Shanahan in Washington. Both Dennison and Turner were holdovers from the Shanahan era.

"I have great respect for Mike and wish him success in the future," McDaniels said in a statement released Monday by the team.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.