Ed McCaffrey, a former All-Pro wide receiver with the Denver Broncos, will not return as the coach at FCS Northern Colorado after three seasons, the university announced Monday. The Bears did not play football during the 2020 pandemic season, but McCaffrey led UNC to a 6-16 record across two seasons in the Big Sky Conference. 

The firing ends what became a strange tenure for one of Colorado's most well-known athletes. McCaffrey was hired at Northern Colorado despite not having any coaching experience above the high school level. He served as coach at Valor Christian High School, but previously worked as commissioner of Pacific Pro Football, a failed pro league, and a radio analyst for Denver Broncos games. 

"This is never an easy decision," said Northern Colorado athletic director Darren Dunn in a statement. "We appreciate all the work, time and energy Coach McCaffrey has put into the program and we wish him the best in the future."