| Denver Broncos | |||||||||||||
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 Current season | |||||||||||||
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| General information | |||||||||||||
| Established | August 14, 1959; 66 years ago (1959-08-14)[1][2] | ||||||||||||
| Stadium | Empower Field at Mile High Denver, Colorado | ||||||||||||
| Headquartered | Broncos Park Powered byCommonSpirit,Dove Valley, Colorado[3][4] | ||||||||||||
| Colors | Sunset orange, midnight navy, summit white[5][6][7] | ||||||||||||
| Mascot | Thunder (live horse) Miles (costume suit) | ||||||||||||
| Website | denverbroncos | ||||||||||||
| Personnel | |||||||||||||
| Owner | Rob Walton[a] | ||||||||||||
| CEO | Greg Penner | ||||||||||||
| President | Damani Leech | ||||||||||||
| General manager | George Paton | ||||||||||||
| Head coach | Sean Payton | ||||||||||||
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| Team history | |||||||||||||
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| Home fields | |||||||||||||
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| League / conference affiliations | |||||||||||||
American Football League (1960–1969)
National Football League (1970–present)
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| Championships | |||||||||||||
| League championships: 3 | |||||||||||||
| Conference championships: 8 | |||||||||||||
| Division championships: 15 | |||||||||||||
| Playoff appearances (23) | |||||||||||||
| Owners | |||||||||||||
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TheDenver Broncos are a professionalAmerican football team based inDenver. The Broncos compete in theNational Football League (NFL) as a member of theAmerican Football Conference (AFC)West division. The team is headquartered inEnglewood, Colorado.[3][4]
The team began play in 1960 as a charter member of theAmerican Football League (AFL) and joined the NFL as part of themerger in 1970. The Broncos are currently owned by theWalton-Penner group. Since 2001, the Broncos have played their regular season home games atEmpower Field at Mile High; Denver previously played its home games atMile High Stadium from its inception in 1960 through the 2000 season.
The Broncos were barely competitive during their 10-year run in the AFL and their first three years in the NFL. They did not have a winning season until1973 and qualified for their first playoffs in1977, eventually advancing toSuper Bowl XII that season. From 1973 to 2016, the Broncos suffered only eleven losing seasons and won 3 Super Bowls, becoming one of the NFL's most successful teams.[8] They have won eightAFC Championships (1977,1986,1987,1989,1997,1998,2013,2015), and threeSuper Bowl championships (1997 (XXXII),1998 (XXXIII),2015 (50), and share the NFL record for most Super Bowl losses (five), tied with theNew England Patriots. The Broncos have nine primary members enshrined in thePro Football Hall of Fame:John Elway,Floyd Little,Shannon Sharpe,Gary Zimmerman,Terrell Davis,Champ Bailey,Steve Atwater, andRandy Gradishar, along with late club ownerPat Bowlen.[9]
According toForbes, the Broncos are valued at $6.8 billion in September 2025 making them the thirteenth most-valuable team in the NFL.[10]
The Denver Broncos were founded on August 14, 1959, whenminor league baseball ownerBob Howsam was awarded anAmerican Football League (AFL) charter franchise.[2] The Broncos won the first-ever AFL game over theBoston Patriots 13–10, on September 9,1960. Seven years later on August 5,1967, they became the first-ever AFL team to defeat anNFL team, with a 13–7 win over theDetroit Lions in a preseason game.[2] However, the Broncos were not successful in the 1960s, winning more than five games only once (7–7,1962), compiling a 39–97–4 (.293) record during the ten seasons of the AFL.[11]
Denver came close to losing its franchise in1965, until a local ownership group took control,[12][13] and rebuilt the team.[14] The team's first superstar, "Franchise"Floyd Little, was instrumental in keeping the team in Denver, due to his signing in1967 as well as hisPro Bowl efforts on and off the field. The Broncos were the only original AFL team that never played in the title game, as well as the only original AFL team never to have a winning season while a member of the AFL during the upstart league's 10-year history.[15]
In 1972, the Broncos hired formerStanford University coachJohn Ralston as theirhead coach.[16] In1973, he was theUPI'sAFC Coach of the Year, after Denver achieved its first winning season at 7–5–2. In five seasons with the Broncos, Ralston guided the team to three winning seasons. Though Ralston finished the1976 season with a 9–5 record, the team, as was the case in Ralston's previous winning seasons, still missed the playoffs. Following the season, several prominent players publicly voiced their discontent with Ralston, which soon led to his resignation.[17]
Red Miller, a long-time assistant coach, was hired and along with theOrange Crush Defense (a nickname originated in 1977, also the brand ofthe popular orange-flavored soft drink) and agingquarterbackCraig Morton, took the Broncos to what was then a record-setting 12–2 regular-season record and their first playoff appearance in1977, and ultimately made their first Super Bowl appearance inSuper Bowl XII, in which they were defeated by theDallas Cowboys (Morton's former team), 27–10.[18]
In1981, Broncos' ownerGerald Phipps, who had purchased the team in May 1961 from the original ownerBob Howsam, sold the team to Canadian financierEdgar Kaiser Jr., grandson of shipbuilding industrialistHenry J. Kaiser.[19] In1984, the team was purchased by another Canadian,Pat Bowlen, who placed team ownership into a family trust sometime before2004 and remained in day-to-day control until his battle withAlzheimer's disease forced him to cede the team toJoe Ellis in2014.[20][21][22]
Dan Reeves became the youngest head coach (37) in theNFL when he joined the Broncos in1981 as vice president andhead coach.QuarterbackJohn Elway, who played college football atStanford, arrived in1983 via a trade. Originally drafted by theBaltimore Colts as the first pick of thedraft, Elway proclaimed that he would shun football in favor ofbaseball (he was drafted by theNew York Yankees to playcenter field and was also a pitching prospect), unless he was traded to a selected list of other teams, which included the Broncos.[23] Prior to Elway, the Broncos had over 24 different starting quarterbacks in its 23 seasons to that point.[24]
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Reeves and Elway guided the Broncos to six post-season appearances, fiveAFC West divisional titles, threeAFC championships and threeSuper Bowl appearances (Super Bowl XXI, XXII and XXIV) during their 12-year span together. The Broncos lostSuper Bowl XXI to theNew York Giants, 39–20;Super Bowl XXII to theWashington Redskins, 42–10; andSuper Bowl XXIV to theSan Francisco 49ers, 55–10; the latter score remains the most lopsided scoring differential in Super Bowl history.[25] The last year of the Reeves-Elway era were marked by feuding, due to Reeves taking on play-calling duties after ousting Elway's favorite offensive coordinatorMike Shanahan after the1991 season, as well as Reeves drafting quarterbackTommy Maddox out ofUCLA instead of going with awide receiver to help Elway. Reeves was fired after the1992 season and replaced by his protégé and friendWade Phillips, who had been serving as the Broncos' defensive coordinator.[26][27][28] Phillips was fired after a mediocre1994 season, in which management felt he lost control of the team.[29]
In1995,Mike Shanahan, who had formerly served under Reeves as the Broncos' offensive coordinator, returned as head coach.[30] The team went 8–8 in 1995.[31] Shanahan drafted rookierunning backTerrell Davis. In1996, the Broncos were the top seed in the AFC with a 13–3 record, dominating most of the teams that year. The fifth-seededJacksonville Jaguars, however, upset the Broncos 30–27 in the divisional round of the playoffs, ending the Broncos' 1996 run.[32][33]
During the1997 season, Elway and Davis helped guide the Broncos to their first Super Bowl victory, a 31–24 win over the defending championGreen Bay Packers inSuper Bowl XXXII. Though Elway completed only 13 of 22 passes, throwing one interception and no touchdowns (he did, however, have a rushing touchdown), Davis rushed for 157 yards and a Super Bowl-record three touchdowns to earn theSuper Bowl Most Valuable Player Award—this while overcoming a severe migraine headache that caused him blurred vision.[34][35]
The Broncos repeated as Super Bowl champions the following season, defeating theAtlanta Falcons (led by Elway's longtime head coachDan Reeves) inSuper Bowl XXXIII, 34–19. Elway was named Super Bowl MVP, completing 18 of 29 passes for 336 yards, with an 80-yard touchdown to wide receiverRod Smith and one interception.[36]
John Elway retired following the1998 season, andBrian Griese started atquarterback for the next four seasons. After a 6–10 record in1999, mostly due to a season-ending injury to Terrell Davis, the Broncos recovered in2000, earning a Wild Card playoff berth, but losing to the eventualSuper Bowl championBaltimore Ravens.[37][38] After missing the playoffs the following two seasons,[39][40] formerArizona Cardinals' quarterbackJake Plummer replaced Griese in2003, and led the Broncos to two straight 10–6 seasons, earning Wild Card playoff berths both years.[41][42] However, the Broncos went on the road to face theIndianapolis Colts in back-to-back seasons and were blown out by more than 20 points in each game, allowing a combined 90 points.[17]
In the years following the back-to-back championships, a league investigation found that the team had circumvented the salary cap in both seasons and the 1996 season by deferring additional money to Elway and Davis outside of the salary cap. In addition, they purposefully avoided waiving certain players before a certain date. Denver claimed the moves did not give them additional competitive advantage. The NFL gave no formal statement, although between two separate punishments stripped the team of their third-round picks in the2002 and2005 drafts and fined them nearly $2 million combined.[43][44]
Plummer led the Broncos to a 13–3 record in2005 and their firstAFC West division title since 1998.[45] After a first-roundbye, the Broncos defeated the defending Super Bowl championNew England Patriots, 27–13, denying New England from becoming the firstNFL team ever to win three consecutive Super Bowl championships.[46] They were the first team to beat the Patriots in the playoffs during the Tom Brady era. The Broncos' playoff run came to an end the next week, after losing at home to thePittsburgh Steelers in the AFC Championship game, 34–17.[47]
The Broncos' defense began the first five games of the2006 season allowing only one touchdown — an NFL record that still stands. ESPN commentator and Super Bowl-winning quarterback Joe Theismann gave the 2006 defense the name "Bad Blue" onMonday Night Football as they played the Ravens. However, the team struggled down the season stretch. Plummer led the team to a 7–2 record, but struggled individually with inconsistent performance and more interceptions than touchdown passes. As a result, he would be replaced by rookie quarterbackJay Cutler. Cutler went 2–3 as a starter, and the Broncos finished with a 9–7 record, losing the tiebreaker to theKansas City Chiefs for the final playoff spot.[48] Cutler's first full season as a starter in2007 became the Broncos' first losing season since 1999, with a 7–9 record.[49]
The2008 season ended in a 52–21 loss at theSan Diego Chargers, giving the Broncos an 8–8 record and their third straight season out of the playoffs.[50]Mike Shanahan, the longest-tenured and most successfulhead coach in Broncos' franchise history, was fired after 14 seasons.[51]
On January 11, 2009, two weeks after Shanahan was fired, the Broncos hired former New England Patriots' offensive coordinatorJosh McDaniels as the team's new head coach.[52] Three months later, the team acquired quarterbackKyle Orton as part of a trade that sent Jay Cutler to theChicago Bears.[53]
Under McDaniels and Orton, the Broncos jumped out to a surprising 6–0 start in2009. However, the team lost eight of their next ten games, finishing 8–8 for a second consecutive season and missing the playoffs.[54] The next season (2010), the Broncos set a new franchise record for losses in a single season, with a 4–12 record.[55] McDaniels was fired before the end of the 2010 season following a combination of the team's poor record and the fallout from a highly publicizedvideotaping scandal.[56] Running backs coachEric Studesville was named interim coach for the final four games of the 2010 season.[57] He chose to start rookie first-round draft choiceTim Tebow at quarterback for the final three games.[58]
Following the2010 season,Joe Ellis was promoted from chief operating officer to team president, whileJohn Elway returned to the organization as the team's executive vice president of football operations.[59] In addition, the Broncos hiredJohn Fox as the team's 14thhead coach. Fox previously served as theCarolina Panthers' head coach from 2002 to 2010.[60]
Following a 1–4 start to the2011 season,Tim Tebow replacedKyle Orton as the Broncos' startingquarterback, and "Tebow Time" was born.[61] Tebow led the Broncos with toughness, determination and miraculous come-from-behind victories which gave the Broncos hope and were the catalyst for better things to come. Tebow led the Broncos to an 8–8 record and garnered the team's first playoff berth and division title since2005. The Broncos defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers in the Wild Card round on a memorable 80-yard touchdown pass from Tebow towide receiverDemaryius Thomas on the first play of overtime, setting a record for the longest play from scrimmage in overtime inNFL history.[62] However, the Broncos lost to theNew England Patriots in the Divisional round.[63]
In March 2012, the Broncos reached an agreement on a five-year,$96 million contract with former longtimeIndianapolis Colts' quarterbackPeyton Manning, who had recently missed the entire2011 season following multiple neck surgeries.[64][65] This resulted in the Broncos subsequently trading incumbent quarterback Tim Tebow to theNew York Jets.[66] The Broncos finished with a 13–3 record and theAFC's No. 1 seed in the2012 playoffs, but weredefeated by the Baltimore Ravens in the Divisional round.[67]
Like in2012, the2013 Broncos finished with a 13–3 record and the AFC's No. 1 seed.[68] The Broncos broke all offensive records and QB Peyton Manning shattered many quarterback records that season as well.[69] In the2013 playoffs, they defeated theSan Diego Chargers in the Divisional round and theNew England Patriots in the AFC Championship.[70][71] However, the Broncos lost to theSeattle Seahawks inSuper Bowl XLVIII by a score of 43–8, the Broncos' firstSuper Bowl berth since winning back-to-back Super Bowls in1997 and1998.[72]
Prior to the start of the2014 season, the Broncos announced thatPat Bowlen, the team's owner since1984, relinquished control of the team due to his battle withAlzheimer's disease, resulting in team president Joe Ellis and general manager John Elway assuming control of the team.[22] The Broncos finished the 2014 season with a 12–4 record and the AFC's No. 2 seed.[73] However, the Broncos were defeated by theIndianapolis Colts in the Divisional round of the2014 playoffs, marking the third time in four seasons that the Broncos lost in the Divisional round of the playoffs.[74] Quarterback Peyton Manning had been playing with strained quadriceps for the final month of the 2014 season.[75]
On January 12, 2015, one day after the divisional playoff loss to the Colts, the Broncos andhead coachJohn Fox mutually agreed to part ways.[76] Fox left the Broncos with a .719 winning percentage in his four seasons as the Broncos' head coach—the highest in franchise history.[77] One week later, the Broncos hiredGary Kubiak as the team's 15th head coach.[78] Kubiak served as a backup quarterback to executive vice president/general manager John Elway from 1983 to 1991, as well as the Broncos' offensive coordinator from 1995 to 2005.[79]
Shortly after Kubiak became head coach, the Broncos underwent numerous changes to their coaching staff and players, including the hiring of defensive coordinator, defensive mastermindWade Phillips, under whom the Broncos' defense went from middle of the road to being ranked No. 1 in the NFL. By the2015 season, it would go on to be considered one of the greatest NFL defenses of all time — along with the 1985 Bears, 2000 Ravens and 2002 Buccaneers.[80] The Broncos finished with a 12–4 record and the AFC's No. 1 seed, despitePeyton Manning having his worst statistical season since his rookie year with theIndianapolis Colts in1998.[81] Backup quarterbackBrock Osweiler started the last six games of the regular season due to Manning suffering from a foot injury.[82] Manning led the Broncos throughout theplayoffs. The Broncos defeated thePittsburgh Steelers 23–16 in the Divisional Round and theNew England Patriots 20–18 in the AFC Championship.[83][84] They were victorious against theCarolina Panthers 24–10 inSuper Bowl 50 for their third Super Bowl title.[85]
On March 7, 2016, quarterback Peyton Manning retired after 18 NFL seasons during a press conference at the team'sDove Valley headquarters.[86][87]
Following Manning's retirement, the Broncos scrambled to find the team's next starting quarterback after backup quarterback Brock Osweiler departed on a four-year contract to theHouston Texans.[88] The Broncos acquiredMark Sanchez from thePhiladelphia Eagles and selectedPaxton Lynch during the2016 draft.[89][90] Sanchez, Lynch and second-year quarterbackTrevor Siemian competed for the starting quarterback spot during the off-season and preseason. Prior to theregular season, Sanchez was released and Siemian was named the starter.[91][92] The Broncos finished the season 9–7 and missed the playoffs for the first time since 2010.[93][94]
On January 2, 2017, coach Gary Kubiak announced his retirement, citing health as the main reason for retiring.[95]
The Broncos hiredMiami Dolphins defensive coordinatorVance Joseph as head coach on January 11, 2017.[96] The Broncos finished 5–11 in 2017 as a result of an unimpressive offense led by a quarterback committee ofTrevor Siemian,Brock Osweiler, andPaxton Lynch.[97]
In an effort to address poor production from the offense, the Broncos signed quarterbackCase Keenum on March 14, 2018, and traded away Trevor Siemian to theMinnesota Vikings on March 19, 2018.[98][99]
On May 1, 2018, the Broncos signed localundrafted free agentrunning backPhillip Lindsay, who became a fan favorite due to his underdog mentality, explosive play style and local roots.[100] Lindsay became the first undrafted player in NFL history with 100+ scrimmage yards in each of their first two games[101] and on December 18, 2018, Lindsay was voted to the2019 Pro Bowl, making him the first undrafted offensive rookie in NFL history to be voted to a Pro Bowl.[102]
After getting off to a strong start, their2018 season was up and down, eventually finishing with a 6–10 record and placing third in theAFC West.[103] Coupled with the 5–11 season in2017, the Broncos had back-to-back losing seasons for the first time since1971–1972.[104] Shortly after the conclusion of the regular season, head coach Vance Joseph was fired after recording a poor 11–21 record in two seasons.[105]
On January 10, 2019, the Broncos hiredChicago Bears defensive coordinatorVic Fangio to become the 17th head coach in franchise history.[106] Fangio was chosen overMike Munchak, the Broncos' offensive line coach. Fangio received a four-year contract with a team option for an additional season.[107]
On February 13, 2019,Joe Flacco was traded to the Broncos from the Baltimore Ravens.[108] On October 6, 2019, the Broncos defeated theLos Angeles Chargers for their 500th win, bringing their win–loss record to 500–432.[109]
On December 1, 2019, the Broncos startedMizzou rookie quarterbackDrew Lock for the first time.[110] He led the Broncos to a 4–1 record to end the2019 season. The Broncos finished 2nd place in the AFC West Division at 7–9, missing the playoffs for a fourth consecutive year. In five games, Lock finished with 1,020 passing yards, seven touchdowns, and three interceptions.[111]
Due to theCOVID-19 pandemic, the2020 NFL season did not have a preseason or full training camps,[112] which likely contributed to an abnormally large amount of injuries that plagued the Broncos and other NFL teams. StarlinebackerVon Miller suffered a season-ending ankle tendon injury before the regular season started, and startingwide receiverCourtland Sutton suffered a season-ending tornACL during a week two game.[113][114]
On November 29, 2020, after all three of the Broncos'quarterbacks were placed in COVID-19 protocol, the Broncos were forced to turn to undrafted wide receiver and former college quarterbackKendall Hinton as the emergency quarterback.[115][116] Hinton completed only one pass for 13 yards in 9 attempts—the fewest pass completions in a single game in franchise history—and was intercepted twice. The Broncos' only scoring play was a 58-yard field goal byplacekickerBrandon McManus in a 31–3 loss to theNew Orleans Saints. In July 2021, thePro Football Hall of Fame announced that Hinton's quarterback wristband would be added to the Hall of Fame as part of a display.[117]
The Broncos finished the 2020 season with a record of 5–11, last in theAFC West, and missed the playoffs for the fifth consecutive year.[118]
Following another season of uninspiringquarterback performances, the Broncos were the subject of multiple quarterback trade rumors during the 2021 offseason.Aaron Rodgers andDeshaun Watson were two names rumored to be of interest for the Broncos, but ultimately the Broncos traded for quarterbackTeddy Bridgewater on April 28, 2021. Bridgewater won the subsequent quarterback competition between himself and Drew Lock during the preseason, and he was named the Broncos' starting quarterback on August 25, 2021.[119]
The Broncos also made notable improvements in thedefensive secondary, signing former All-ProcornerbackKyle Fuller and cornerbackRonald Darby, as well as draftingAlabama cornerbackPatrick Surtain II with the ninth overall pick in the2021 NFL draft.Running backPhillip Lindsay was replaced byUNC rookie running backJavonte Williams, who was drafted in the second round of the2021 NFL draft by the Broncos.[120]
On October 31, 2021,Peyton Manning (who won two AFC Championships,Super Bowl 50, and anNFL MVP during his four seasons as a Bronco) was inducted to the Broncos'Ring of Fame during a game againstWashington.[121]
On November 1, 2021, the Broncos traded franchise legend Von Miller to theLos Angeles Rams in exchange for a 2nd and 3rd round pick in the2022 NFL draft.[122] At the time of the trade, Miller was the longest-tenured Bronco on the team, and the only remaining non-special teams player from Denver's Super Bowl 50 roster.[123]
After another mediocre performance in the2021 season with the Broncos going 7–10, head coach Vic Fangio was dismissed on January 8, 2022, after losing to theKansas City Chiefs.[124]
The Broncos announced the hiring ofGreen Bay Packers offensive coordinatorNathaniel Hackett as head coach on January 27, 2022.[125]
The Broncos then announced on February 1, 2022, that they were now up for sale and that they would be parting ways with the Bowlen family, the former owners of the franchise.[126]
Hackett's first hire as head coach wasJustin Outten as offensive coordinator. He was hired on February 2, 2022.[127]
On March 16, 2022, the Broncos tradedDrew Lock,Noah Fant,Shelby Harris, Denver's 2022 first-round pick (No. 9), its 2022 second-round pick (No. 40), its 2023 first- and second-round picks, and its 2022 fifth-round pick forRussell Wilson and theSeattle Seahawks' 2022 fourth-round pick.[128]
On June 7, 2022, the Broncos announced that a consortium led by formerWalmart chairmanRob Walton had entered in an agreement to acquire the Denver Broncos for $4.65 billion.[129][130] The NFL approved the bid on August 10, 2022. On that day, the members of Walton's partnership, known as the Walton-Penner Family Ownership Group, were introduced to the press. The group includes Rob Walton, his daughterCarrie Walton Penner, son-in-law and current Walmart chairmanGreg Penner, Starbucks chairwomanMellody Hobson, former Secretary of StateCondoleezza Rice, and Formula One driverLewis Hamilton.[131][132] Walton delegated most of his authority to Penner, who became CEO and operating head of the franchise as well as the public face of the Walton-Penner Group. Penner is recognized as the team's controlling owner by the NFL, and represents the Broncos at league meetings.[133][134]
On December 26, with the Broncos sitting at 4–11 following a 51–14Christmas Day loss to theLos Angeles Rams, Hackett was fired and replaced by interim head coachJerry Rosburg.[135][136] Hackett became the fifth head coach to not finish his first season afterLou Holtz in1976,Pete McCulley in1978,Bobby Petrino in2007, andUrban Meyer in2021.[137]
On January 31, 2023,Sean Payton reported that he had accepted the head coaching job for the Denver Broncos, and he was officially hired as head coach for the2023 season three days later.[138]
The Broncos started the season off 1–5, including a 20–70 loss to theMiami Dolphins in week 3.[139] However, after a 21–31 loss to theNew York Jets, the team rallied off five straight wins, including victories over theBuffalo Bills,Green Bay Packers, andKansas City Chiefs; their first win against the Chiefs since 2015,[140] to get to 6–5. After a loss to theHouston Texans and a victory over theLos Angeles Chargers, the Broncos won just one of their final four games, including a 23–26 loss to theNew England Patriots at home on Christmas Eve. After the loss, reports surfaced about contract disputes between Russell Wilson and Broncos management over an injury clause, causing Wilson to be benched by the team the final two games of the season.[141] The Broncos finished the 2023 season 8–9, good enough for their best record since the2016 season. However, the team finished under .500 for the seventh consecutive season, and missed the playoffs for the eighth consecutive season.[142]
Following the season, the Broncos released Russell Wilson, taking on $85M in dead-cap money, the largest in NFL history.[143][144]
On March 7, the Broncos released veteran safetyJustin Simmons. Simmons was the longest tenured player on the Broncos followingBrandon McManus' departure the previous offseason.[145]
On April 22, The Broncos unveiled a new set of uniforms known as the "Mile High Collection," which was the team's first uniform change since the1997 season. A throwback uniform also pays homage to the 1977 Orange Crush uniforms that feature the iconic royal blue "D" helmets.[146]
In the2024 NFL draft, the Broncos selectedBo Nix with the team's first-round pick to succeed Russell Wilson as the teams quarterback.[147] Nix was named the starter prior to the2024 NFL season, beating outZach Wilson andJarrett Stidham, and becoming the first Broncos quarterback sinceJohn Elway in1983 to start week 1 of his rookie season.[148]
The Broncos started the season 0–2, before winning five of their next six games to get to 5–3. After back-to-back losses against theBaltimore Ravens andKansas City Chiefs, the team won four straight games to improve to 9–5, marking an improvement over their 8-win campaign the previous season. Despite back-to-back losses to theLos Angeles Chargers andCincinnati Bengals, the Broncos would defeat the Kansas City Chiefs in week 18 to finish the season with a record of 10–7, their first 10-win season since2015, and the teams first winning season since 2016. With the victory, the Broncos clinched a playoff spot for the first time since winningSuper Bowl 50.[149][150] In theWild Card Round of the NFL playoffs, the Broncos lost to theBuffalo Bills 7–31.[151]
The Denver Broncos have threeAFC West rivals-theKansas City Chiefs,Las Vegas Raiders, andLos Angeles Chargers. All teams, along with the Broncos, were charter members of theAmerican Football League (AFL), with each team placed in the AFL Western Division, forerunner of today's AFC West. The four teams have played each other twice a year for over 60 years, making the entire division one huge rivalry. The Broncos were barely competitive during the AFL years (1960–69), going a combined 10–49–1 against the Chiefs, Raiders, and Chargers.
The Broncos have had several memorable matchups with the Chiefs, particularly during the years in whichJohn Elway was the Broncos' startingquarterback (1983–98). The Broncos defeated the Chiefs atArrowhead Stadium in the divisional round of the1997 NFL playoffs, en route to their firstSuper Bowl victory. As of the2024 season, the Chiefs hold a 73–57 series lead over the Broncos, including the aforementioned 1997 divisional playoff game.[152]
Historically, the most heated divisional matchup for Denver is with the Raiders. The rivalry was ignited in its present form in1977, when the Broncos advanced to their firstSuper Bowl by defeating the defending champion Raiders in the1977 AFC Championship.[153] The rivalry intensified in the mid-1990s, whenMike Shanahan was hired as the Broncos'head coach in1995. Shanahan coached the Raiders in1988 before being fired four games into the1989 season. As of the2024 season, the Raiders hold a 73–56–2 series lead over the Broncos, including 1–1 in the playoffs.[154]
Unlike their record against the Chiefs and Raiders, as of the 2024 season, the Broncos have a winning record against the Chargers, with a 73–57–1 series lead, including 1–0 in the playoffs.[155] The Broncos pulled off one of the largest comebacks inMonday Night Football history, whenPeyton Manning led the Broncos from a 24–0 halftime deficit to a 35–24 win atSan Diego'sQualcomm Stadium during the2012 season. The two teams met in the playoffs for the first time on January 12, 2014, atDenver'sSports Authority Field at Mile High, with the Broncos winning 24–17.[156]
Aside from the aforementionedAFC West teams, the Broncos have had intra-conference rivalries over the years with theCleveland Browns,New England Patriots, andPittsburgh Steelers.
The Broncos had a brief rivalry with the Browns that arose from threeAFC championship matches in 1986, 1987 and 1989. In the1986 AFC Championship[broken anchor],quarterbackJohn Elway ledThe Drive to secure a tie in the waning moments atCleveland Municipal Stadium; the Broncos went on to win in 23–20 in overtime.[157] One year later, the two teams met again in the1987 AFC Championship atMile High Stadium. Denver took a 21–3 lead, but Browns' quarterbackBernie Kosar threw four touchdown passes to tie the game at 31–31 halfway through the 4th quarter. After a long drive, John Elway threw a 20-yard touchdown pass to running backSammy Winder to give Denver a 38–31 lead. Cleveland advanced to Denver's 8-yard line with 1:12 left, but Broncos' safetyJeremiah Castille stripped Browns' running backEarnest Byner of the football at the 2-yard line—a play that has been calledThe Fumble by Browns' fans. The Broncos recovered it, gave Cleveland an intentional safety, and went on to win 38–33.[158] The two teams met yet again in the1989 AFC Championship at Mile High Stadium, which the Broncos easily won by a score of 37–21.[159] The Broncos did not win the Super Bowl after any of the championship games where they defeated the Browns, losing by an aggregate of 136–40. As of the2024 season, the Broncos lead the all-time series 26–7.[160]
The Broncos and Patriots met twice annually during theAmerican Football League (AFL) years from 1960 to 1969, and played in the first-ever AFL game on September 9, 1960.[161] Since1995, the two teams have met frequently during the regular season, including nine consecutive seasons from 1995 to 2003.[162] The teams' first playoff match on January 4, 1987, was John Elway's first career playoff win,[163] while the teams' second playoff match on January 14, 2006, game was the Broncos' first playoff win since Elway's retirement after the1998 season.[164] The game was also notable forChamp Bailey's 100-yard interception that resulted in a touchdown-saving tackle byBenjamin Watson at the 1-yard line.[165] On October 11, 2009, the two teams met with former Patriots' offensive coordinator,Josh McDaniels as the Broncos'head coach. Both teams wore their AFL 50th anniversary jerseys.[166] The game featured a 98-yard drive in the fourth quarter, with a game-tying touchdown pass fromKyle Orton toBrandon Marshall, followed by an overtime drive led by Orton that resulted in a 41-yard game-winning field goal byMatt Prater.[167] The two teams met in the Divisional round of the2011 playoffs, with the Patriots blowing outTim Tebow and the Broncos by a score of 45–10.[63] The Broncos' rivalry with the Patriots later intensified when longtimeIndianapolis Colts' quarterbackPeyton Manning became the Broncos' starting quarterback from 2012 to 2015. Manning and Patriots' quarterbackTom Brady maintained a legendaryrivalry from2001[168] until Manning's retirement after the2015 season.[169] Though Brady dominated Manning in regular season play, winning nine of twelve meetings, Manning won three of five playoff meetings, including the Broncos' 26–16 win in the2013 AFC Championship and the Broncos' 20–18 win in the2015 AFC Championship.[170] As of the 2024 season, the Broncos lead the all-time series 31–24.[171]
As of the end of the 2024 season, the Broncos and Steelers have met in postseason play eight times, tied with five other pairings for the second-most frequent playoff matchups inNFL playoff history.[172] The Broncos currently own a 5–3 playoff record vs. the Steelers.[173] Perhaps the most memorable postseason matchup occurred in the1997 AFC Championship, in which the Broncos defeated the Steelers 24–21 atThree Rivers Stadium, en route to their firstSuper Bowl victory. Eight years later, the Steelers returned the favor atINVESCO Field at Mile High, defeating the Broncos 34–17 in the2005 AFC Championship, and subsequently wonSuper Bowl XL.[174] In the Wild Card round of the2011 playoffs, in a game dubbedThe 3:16 game, the Broncos stunned the Steelers 29–23 on the first play of overtime, when quarterback Tim Tebow connected withwide receiverDemaryius Thomas on an 80-yard game-winning touchdown pass.[175] The teams met again in the Divisional round of the2015 playoffs at Denver, where the Broncos defeated the Steelers 23–16 on their way to a victory inSuper Bowl 50.[176] The Broncos lead the all-time series 20–14–1.[177]
The Broncos had an old rivalry with theSeattle Seahawks, who were members of theAFC West from 1977 to 2001, prior to the Seahawks' move to theNFC West as part of theNFL's2002 re-alignment.[178] During the 25 years in which the Seahawks resided in the AFC West, the Broncos went 32–18 against the Seahawks, including a loss at Seattle in the1983 NFL playoffs. Since 2002, the Broncos have won three of five interconference meetings,[179] and the two teams met inSuper Bowl XLVIII on February 2, 2014, with the Seahawks winning by a score of 43–8.[180] As of the2024 season, the Broncos lead the all-time series 35–23.[181]
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For most of their history, the Denver Broncos played inMile High Stadium. TheAFL Broncos played at theUniversity of Denver'sHilltop Stadium from time to time, including the first victory of an AFL team over anNFL team: The Broncos beat theDetroit Lions on August 5, 1967, in a preseason game. The team has sold out every home game (including post-season games) since theAFL–NFL merger in1970, with the exception of two replacement games during the1987 strike (but both were sold out before the strike).
During home games, the attendance is announced to the crowd, along with the number of no-shows (the fans subsequently boo the no shows). The fans are also known to chant "IN-COM-PLETE!" every time the visiting team throws anincomplete pass.[182] The stadium's legendary homefield advantage is regarded as one of the best in the NFL, especially during the playoffs. The Broncos had the best home record in pro football over a 32-year span from 1974 to 2006 (191–65–1). Mile High Stadium was one of the NFL's loudest stadiums, with steel flooring instead ofconcrete, which may have given the Broncos an advantage over opponents, plus the advantage of altitude conditioning for the Broncos. In2001, the team moved into then-namedInvesco Field at Mile High, built next to the former site of the since-demolished Mile High Stadium. SportswriterWoody Paige, along with many of Denver's fans, however, often refused to call the stadium by its full name, preferring to use "Mile High Stadium" because of its storied history and sentimental import. Additionally,The Denver Post had an official policy of referring to the stadium as simply "Mile High Stadium" in protest, but dropped this policy in 2004.[183]
Prior to the2011 season,Englewood-basedsporting goodsretailerSports Authority claimed thenaming rights of Invesco Field, which became known asSports Authority Field at Mile High.[184][185] However, in the summer of 2016, Sports Authority went bankrupt, the stadium was renamed Broncos Stadium at Mile High, and the Broncos sought out a naming rights sponsor until September 2019 when they agreed to rename the stadiumEmpower Field at Mile High.[186]
The altitude has also been attributed as part of the team's home success. The stadium displays multiple references to the stadium's location of 5,280 feet (1.000 mi) above sea level, including a prominent mural just outside the visiting team's locker room. The team training facility, Broncos Park Powered byCommonSpirit (formerly known as the Paul D. Bowlen Memorial Broncos Centre), is a state-of-the-art facility located inDove Valley. With 13.5 acres (5.5 ha) of property, the facility hosts three full-size fields, a complete weight and training facility, and a cafeteria.[187][188]
In their more than half-century of existence, the Broncos have never been shut out at home, a streak of over 400 games as of the2016 season.[189]
In late 2012, the Broncos announced that the stadium would receive $30 million upgrades including a new video board in the south end zone three times larger than the previous display. The renovations were finished before kickoff of the 2013 season.[190]
In September 2025, the Bronco officially designated Burnham Yard, a 58-acre, state-owned formerrailyard in downtown Denver, as the preferred site for their future stadium,New Broncos Stadium. The plan calls for a privately financed,retractable-roof facility anchored within an expansivemixed-use development featuring retail, hotels, offices, residences, and dynamic public spaces, supported by public infrastructure improvements. The development is scheduled to be completed in time for the 2031 NFL season, coinciding with the expiration of the Broncos’ lease at Empower Field at Mile High.[191]
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When the Broncos debuted in1960, their original uniforms were said to have drawn as much attention as their play on the field. They featured white and mustard yellow jerseys, contrasting brown helmets, brown pants, and vertically striped socks. Two years later, the team unveiled a new logo featuring a bucking horse and changed their team colors to orange, royal blue and white. The1962 uniform consisted of white pants, orange helmets, and either orange or white jerseys.[192][193]
In1968, the Broncos debuted a design that became known as "Orange Crush". Their logo was redesigned so that the horse was coming out of a "D". Additionally, the helmets were changed to royal blue, and the sleeves had thin stripes with other minor modifications added. From 1969 to 1971, and again from 1978 to 1979, the team wore orange pants with their white jerseys.[194] In 1975, the face masks were changed to white from grey.
The Broncos wore their white jerseys at home throughout the1971 season, as well as for1980 home games against theSan Diego Chargers andDallas Cowboys, the latter in hopes to bring out the "blue jersey jinx" which has followed the Cowboys for decades. (The Broncos won 41–20.) The Broncos wore their white jerseys for1983 home games against thePhiladelphia Eagles,Los Angeles Raiders andCincinnati Bengals, but did not wear white at home again for two decades —see next section.[194][195]
In1994, in honor of the 75th anniversary season of theNFL, the Broncos wore their1965throwback uniforms for two games—a Week 3 home game against the Raiders and a road game at theBuffalo Bills the following week.[194]
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The Broncos radically changed their logo and uniforms in1997, a design that the team used until 2023. The new logos and uniforms were unveiled on February 4, 1997.[196] Navy blue replaced royal blue on the team's color scheme. The current logo is a profile of a horse's head, with an orange mane and navy blue outlines.[197] The Broncos' popular live animal mascotThunder was the inspiration to incorporate a horse-head profile as part of the logo on the team's helmets.[198] During a February 4, 1997, press conference introducing the new logo, the team president and the art director forNike, who were the creators of the new design, described it as "a powerful horse with a fiery eye and mane."[199]
The Broncos began wearing navy blue jerseys, replacing their longtime orange jerseys that had been the team's predominant home jersey color since 1962. This new uniform design features a new word mark, numbering font and a streak that runs up and down the sides of both the jerseys and the pants. On the navy blue jerseys, the streak is orange, with an orange collar and white numerals trimmed in orange, while on the road white jerseys, the streak is navy blue, with a thin orange accent strip on both sides, a navy collar and navy numerals trimmed in orange; the helmet facemasks became navy blue. When they debuted, these uniforms were vilified by the press and fans, until the Broncos won their first-everSuper Bowl in the new design that same season. The navy blue jerseys served as the team's primary home jersey until the end of the2011 season —see next section.[197]
In2002, the Broncos introduced an alternate orange jersey that is a mirror image of the aforementioned navy blue jerseys, but with orange and navy trading places. Like the road white jerseys, the white pants with the navy blue streaks running down the sides are worn with this uniform. This jersey was used only once in the 2002 and2004 seasons, and were used twice per season from 2008 to 2011.Mike Shanahan, the team'shead coach from 1995 to 2008, was not a big fan of the alternate orange jerseys.[200] The Broncos previously wore orange jerseys as a throwback uniform in aThanksgiving Day game at theDallas Cowboys in2001.[201]
The team also introduced navy blue pants in2003, with orange side streaks to match with the navy blue jerseys. Though they were part of the uniform change in 1997 (in fact, they were worn for a couple of 1997 preseason games) and most players wanted to wear them, the only player who vetoed wearing them wasJohn Elway, thereby delaying their eventual introduction.[202] From 2003 to 2011, these pants were primarily used for select prime-time and late-season home games (excluding the2008 season), and since2012, are used exclusively with the now-alternate navy blue jerseys —see next section.
On November 16, 2003, the Broncos wore their white jerseys at home for the first time since1983, in a game vs. theSan Diego Chargers. This was compensation for a uniform mix-up, after the teams' first meeting atSan Diego'sQualcomm Stadium in Week 2 earlier that season, when the Chargers were the team that was supposed to declare their uniform color. The Chargers were planning to wear their white jerseys, but the visiting Broncos came to the stadium in white, and were fined$25,000 by theNFL as a result. When the two teams met atINVESCO Field at Mile High later that season (Week 11), the NFL allowed the visiting Chargers to choose their uniform color in advance, and they chose navy blue, forcing the Broncos to wear their white jerseys at home.[202]
In2009, in honor of their 50th anniversary season as one of the eight originalAmerican Football League teams, the Broncos wore their 1960 throwback uniforms (brown helmets, mustard yellow and brown jerseys) for games against two fellow AFL rivals—a Week 5 home game vs. theNew England Patriots, as well as the following week at the San Diego Chargers.[203][204]
Beginning in2012, the orange jerseys that served as the alternate colored jerseys from 2002 to 2011 became the primary home jersey, while the navy blue jerseys that served as the primary home jersey from 1997 to 2011 switched to alternate designation.[205] The change was made due to overwhelming popularity with the fans, who pressured the Broncos to return to orange as the team's primary home jersey color.[197] Since the 2012 uniform change, the team has worn the alternate navy blue jerseys for at least one home game per season, with the exception of2013, in which the Broncos wore their alternate navy blue uniforms for an October 6, 2013, road game at theDallas Cowboys, which the Broncos won in a shootout, 51–48.[206] The team will either wear the navy blue or the white pants – with the orange side stripes – to match with the alternate navy blue jerseys. The team initially did not wear the white pants with the orange side stripes, until a November 1, 2015, game vs. theGreen Bay Packers, in which the Broncos wore said design to match the uniform ensemble that was used during the team'sSuper Bowl XXXII win over the Packers.[207] On October 30, 2022, the Broncos debuted a new combination of white jerseys and alternate navy blue pants in anNFL London Game at theJacksonville Jaguars, with mismatched side stripes of navy blue (white jersey) and orange (navy blue pants).[208]
As the designated home team inSuper Bowl 50, the Broncos – who have a 0–4Super Bowl record when using their standard orange jerseys – chose to wear their white jerseys as the designated "home" team.[209][210]
In2016, the Broncos' unveiled a newColor Rush uniform, which the team wore for aThursday Night game at theSan Diego Chargers on October 13, 2016. The uniform kit contained the following features: orange pants, which the team wore for the first time since 1979, orange socks and shoes, along with block-style numerals trimmed in navy blue that mirrored the team's 1968–1996 uniform style. Due to theNFL's one-helmet rule implemented in 2013, the helmets remained the same, with the team temporarily replacing the modern primary logo with the throwback "D-horse" logo.[211] The same uniform was used for a Thursday night game against theIndianapolis Colts during the2017 season and again during a 2018 game against thePittsburgh Steelers.[212] In a Week 2 game vs. theWashington Commanders in2023, the Broncos wore their white jerseys at home for the first time since2003, to honor the 25th anniversary of theSuper Bowl XXXIII team.[213] In 2023, the Color Rush uniforms were paired with a white alternate helmet, again using the modernized "D-horse" logo,[214] and were discontinued at the end of that season, with the arrival of a new uniform kit in 2024—see next section.
On April 22, 2024, the Broncos unveiled a simpler uniform design, eliminating the mismatched jersey and pant stripes that characterized their 1997 redesign and reverting to a more vintage block number style and letters inspired by the signage ofColorado's national parks. The set consists of a primary home orange and road white uniform, and an alternate navy blue uniform; all uniforms could be worn with either orange, white or navy blue pants.[5] The striping on the uniform is a nod to theRocky Mountains. The primary helmets remain navy blue while the alternate remains white; both feature the current Broncos logo with triangle clusters on top to represent Denver's elevation. The Broncos also unveiled a throwback 1977 "Orange Crush" uniform along with the royal blue "D-horse" helmet; this is due to the NFL allowing teams with new uniforms to unveil a second alternate helmet this season.[5][6][215][216]
Since their first season in 1960, the Broncos have an all-time record of 518–472–10 as of the2024 season.[217]
| Denver Broncos retired numbers | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Player | Position | Career | Retired |
| 7 | John Elway | QB | 1983–1998 | September 13, 1999 |
| 18 | Frank Tripucka | QB | 1960–1963 | 1963–2012 |
| Peyton Manning | QB | 2012–2015† | 2016† | |
| 44 | Floyd Little | RB | 1967–1975 | 1984 |
† Note: No. 18 was re-issued forPeyton Manning after Tripucka gave his approval; it was used by Manning from the2012 season until his retirement after the2015 season.[218] Manning's name was added to the retired number's banner as an honorable mention.[219][220][221]
| Denver Broncos Hall of Famers | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Players | ||||
| No. | Name | Position(s) | Season(s) | Inducted |
| 24 | Brown, WillieWillie Brown | CB | 1963–1966 | 1984 |
| 33 | Tony Dorsett | RB | 1988 | 1994 |
| 7 | John Elway | QB | 1983–1998 | 2004 |
| 65 | Gary Zimmerman | OT | 1993–1997 | 2008 |
| 44 | Floyd Little | RB | 1967–1975 | 2010 |
| 84 | Shannon Sharpe | TE | 1990–1999 2002–2003 | 2011 |
| 30 | Terrell Davis | RB | 1995–2001 | 2017 |
| 20 | Brian Dawkins | SS | 2009–2011 | 2018 |
| 24 | Champ Bailey | CB | 2004–2013 | 2019 |
| 26 | Ty Law | CB | 2009 | 2019 |
| 27 | Steve Atwater | FS | 1989–1998 | 2020 |
| 47 | John Lynch | SS | 2004–2007 | 2021 |
| 18 | Peyton Manning | QB | 2012–2015 | 2021 |
| 94 | DeMarcus Ware | LB | 2014–2016 | 2023 |
| 52, 53 | Randy Gradishar | LB | 1974–1983 | 2024 |
| Coaches and Contributors | ||||
| Name | Position(s) | Season(s) | Inducted | |
| Pat Bowlen | Owner/CEO | 1984–2019 | 2019 | |
The Broncos have a Ring of Fame on the Level 5 facade ofEmpower Field at Mile High, which honors the following:[222][223]
| Denver Broncos Ring of Fame | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Name | Position(s) | Seasons | Inducted |
| 23 | Goose Gonsoulin | S | 1960–1966 | 1984 |
| 87 | Rich Jackson | DE | 1967–1972 | 1984 |
| 44 | Floyd Little | RB | 1967–1975 | 1984 |
| 87 | Lionel Taylor | E | 1960–1966 | 1984 |
| — | Gerald Phipps | Owner | 1961–1981 | 1985 |
| 12 | Charley Johnson | QB | 1972–1975 | 1986 |
| 70 | Paul Smith | DT | 1968–1978 | 1986 |
| 18 | Frank Tripucka | QB | 1960–1963 | 1986 |
| 36 | Billy Thompson | S | 1969–1981 | 1987 |
| 7 | Craig Morton | QB | 1977–1982 | 1988 |
| 25 | Haven Moses | WR | 1972–1981 | 1988 |
| 15 | Jim Turner | K | 1971–1979 | 1988 |
| 53 | Randy Gradishar | LB | 1974–1983 | 1989 |
| 57 | Tom Jackson | LB | 1973–1986 | 1992 |
| 20 | Louis Wright | CB | 1975–1986 | 1993 |
| 7 | John Elway | QB,General manager | 1983–1998 2011–2020 | 1999 |
| 77 | Karl Mecklenburg | LB | 1983–1995 | 2001 |
| 49 | Dennis Smith | S | 1981–1994 | 2001 |
| 65 | Gary Zimmerman | T | 1993–1997 | 2003 |
| 27 | Steve Atwater | S | 1989–1998 | 2005 |
| 30 | Terrell Davis | RB | 1995–2001 | 2007 |
| 84 | Shannon Sharpe | TE | 1990–1999, 2002–2003 | 2009 |
| 80 | Rod Smith | WR | 1994–2006 | 2012 |
| 66 | Tom Nalen | C | 1994–2007 | 2013 |
| 21 | Gene Mingo | HB, K | 1960–1964 | 2014 |
| — | Dan Reeves | Head coach | 1981–1992 | 2014 |
| 80 | Rick Upchurch | WR,PR,KR | 1975–1983 | 2014 |
| — | Pat Bowlen | Owner | 1984–2013 | 2015 |
| 1 | Jason Elam | K | 1993–2007 | 2016 |
| 73 | Simon Fletcher | LB | 1985–1995 | 2016 |
| 47 | John Lynch | S | 2004–2007 | 2016 |
| — | Red Miller | Head coach | 1977–1980 | 2017 |
| 24 | Champ Bailey | CB | 2004–2013 | 2019 |
| — | Mike Shanahan | Head coach | 1984–1987 (WR Coach / QB Coach / Offensive Coordinator) 1989–1991 (QB Coach / Offensive Coordinator) 1995–2008 (Head Coach) | 2020 |
| 18 | Peyton Manning | QB | 2012–2015 | 2021 |
| 43 | Steve Foley | S | 1976–1986 | 2024 |
| 88 | Riley Odoms | TE | 1972–1983 | 2024 |
| 88 | Demaryius Thomas | WR | 2010–2018 | 2025 |
The Denver Broncos announced the club's 50th anniversary team on September 15, 2009.[224] The anniversary team was voted on by users at DenverBroncos.com from June 6 to September 4, 2009.
| Position | Player | Tenure |
|---|---|---|
| Offense | ||
| QB | John Elway | 1983–1998 |
| RB | Terrell Davis | 1995–2001 |
| Floyd Little | 1967–1975 | |
| WR | Ed McCaffrey | 1995–2003 |
| Rod Smith | 1994–2007 | |
| TE | Shannon Sharpe | 1990–1999, 2002–2003 |
| OT | Matt Lepsis | 1997–2007 |
| Gary Zimmerman | 1993–1997 | |
| G | Keith Bishop | 1980–1989 |
| Mark Schlereth | 1995–2000 | |
| C | Tom Nalen | 1994–2008 |
| Defense | ||
| DE | Simon Fletcher | 1985–1995 |
| Rich Jackson | 1967–1972 | |
| DT | Trevor Pryce | 1997–2005 |
| Rubin Carter | 1975–1986 | |
| LB | Karl Mecklenburg | 1983–1994 |
| Randy Gradishar | 1974–1983 | |
| Tom Jackson | 1973–1986 | |
| CB | Champ Bailey | 2004–2013 |
| Louis Wright | 1975–1986 | |
| S | Steve Atwater | 1989–1998 |
| Dennis Smith | 1981–1994 | |
| Special teams | ||
| K | Jason Elam | 1993–2007 |
| P | Tom Rouen | 1993–2002 |
| RS | Rick Upchurch | 1975–1983 |
| Source:[225] | ||
The Broncos have had three players win Super Bowl MVP in franchise history.[226]
| Super Bowl MVP Winners | ||
|---|---|---|
| Super Bowl | Player | Position |
| XXXII | Terrell Davis | RB |
| XXXIII | John Elway | QB |
| 50 | Von Miller | LB |
The Broncos have had 20 head coaches serve in the capacity in franchise history.[227]
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The Broncos' flagship radio station is currentlyKOA, 850AM, a 50,000-watt station owned byiHeartMedia.[238]Dave Logan is the play-by-play announcer, with former Broncos' wide receiverEd McCaffrey serving as the color commentator beginning in 2012, replacingBrian Griese.[239] Ed McCaffrey was replaced by Rick Lewis. Until 2010, preseason games not selected for airing on national television were shown onKCNC, channel 4, which is aCBSowned-and-operated station, as well as other CBS affiliates around theRocky Mountain region. On May 26, 2011, the Broncos announced thatKUSA channel 9, anNBC affiliate also known as9NEWS in the Rocky Mountain region, will be the team's new television partner for preseason games.[240]
In 2011, the Broncos began a partnership withKJMN, 92.1 FM, a leadingSpanish language radio station owned byEntravision Communications (EVC). The partnership also includes broadcasting rights for a half-hour weekly TV show onKCEC, the localUnivision affiliate operated by EVC.[240]
Notes
Further reading
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| National | |
| Other | |
