denver broncos

The Broncos were a small-market team that met with little success in their early years but have since become one of the elite franchises of the league after having advanced to the Super Bowl six times, based on such success, the Broncos are now widely considered one of the most popular teams in the National Football League in terms on not just on the field; but in fan support, measured both in TV ratings and merchandising. In their first four Super Bowl appearances, they suffered successively lopsided defeats, achieving near-legendary status as frustrated losers before winning back-to-back Super Bowl championships in 1998 and 1999 under quarterback John Elway, running back Terrell Davis and coach Mike Shanahan.

Franchise history

Although the Denver Broncos' 39-97-4 record was the worst of any of the original eight American Football League teams, the franchise had many proud moments and several AFL superstars, including Lionel Taylor and Floyd Little. The Broncos won the first-ever American Football League game over the Boston Patriots, 13-10, on September 9, 1960. They were the first AFL team ever to defeat an NFL team, on August 5, 1967 when they beat the Detroit Lions 13-7 in a preseason game. Despite their relative lack of early success, the Broncos produced some memorable games, like the 38-38 tie against the Buffalo Bills in 1960.

Denver has reached the Super Bowl six times, winning it in the 1997 and 1998 seasons. It is odd to remember a time, then, when Denver was the lowliest of teams, managing its first winning season in 1973 after thirteen years of futility. Denver, in fact, came close to losing its franchise in 1965, but a local ownership group took control that year and began to build the team.

In 1967, under head coach Lou Saban, Denver took the field with almost two dozen rookies on its roster; though Saban's tenure was unsuccessful, it set the stage for later successes. In 1973, John Ralston coached the now-mature Broncos to a 7-5-2 record, including a dramatic tie with Oakland in Denver's first-ever Monday Night Football appearance that is still remembered as a pivotal game in Broncos history. Ralston coached the team until 1976, when well-publicized clashes between Ralston and his players led to Ralston's removal.

Rookie coach Red Miller, along with the Orange Crush Defense (a nickname originating in the early '70's) and aging quarterback Craig Morton, promptly took Denver to its first playoff appearance – and, ultimately first Super Bowl – in 1977, where they were defeated by the Dallas Cowboys, 27-10. Prior to 1977 season, Denver had received very little national attention and was rarely featured on nationally televised games.

Quarterback John Elway arrived in 1983. Originally drafted by the Baltimore Colts as the #1 pick of the draft, Elway proclaimed that he would shun football in favor of baseball (he was drafted by the New York Yankees to play center field) unless he was traded to a selected list of other teams, which included Denver. Prior to Elway, Denver had had over 24 different starting quarterbacks in its 23 seasons to that point. Elway would remain the quarterback through five Super Bowls, three under head coach Dan Reeves and two under Mike Shanahan, and would end his career as the MVP of Super Bowl XXXIII, his last NFL game. The Broncos would lose Super Bowl XXI to the New York Giants 39-20, Super Bowl XXII to the Washington Redskins 42-10 and Super Bowl XXIV to the San Francisco 49ers 55-10, the most lopsided Super Bowl in history.

In 1995, the Broncos debuted rookie running back Terrell Davis, who, in 1997 would lead the Broncos to their first Super Bowl victory, in Super Bowl XXXII, over the Green Bay Packers 31-24. Although Elway was unable to complete more than 11 of his 22 passing attempts, throwing one interception and no touchdowns, Terrell Davis was able to overcome a severe migraine headache that caused him blurred vision and rush for 157 yards and three touchdowns to earn MVP honors.

The Broncos repeated the following year, defeating the Dan Reeves led Atlanta Falcons 34-19 to win Super Bowl XXXIII. Since Elway's retirement following the 1998 season, Denver has only had one losing season (1999) and has made the playoffs as a wild card three times (in 2000, 2003 and 2004), and as a division champion once (2005). However, they have won only one playoff game since Elway's retirement. Prior to the 2005 season, the Broncos were plagued by early season success followed by late season flops. In both 2003 and 2004 they started the season 5-1 and ended 10-6. In 2005, the Broncos would have a much-improved season, going 13-3 and earning a bye week in the playoffs with the #2 seed in the AFC. They would finally win a playoff game without Elway, defeating the defending Super Bowl champion New England Patriots 27-13, ending the Patriots' 10 game playoff winning streak. The following weekend, the hosting Broncos were defeated at home by the visiting Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC Championship by a score of 34-17.

2005 Season

Further information: 2005 Denver Broncos season

2006 Season

Further information: 2006 Denver Broncos season

Logo and uniforms

When the Broncos debuted in 1960, their original uniforms were vilified by the public. It consisted of brown helmets, brown pants, white and mustard yellow jerseys, and vertically striped socks. The club eventually got rid of these jerseys two years later, and celebrated the occasion by holding a public bonfire to burn the striped socks.

The team then unveiled a new logo featuring a bucking horse, and changed their team colors to orange, blue, and white. The 1962 uniform design consisted of white pants, orange helmets, and either orange or white jerseys.

In 1968, the Broncos debuted a design that became known as the "Orange Crush". Their logo was redesigned so that the horse was coming out of a "D". Also, the helmets were changed to blue, thin stripes were put onto the sleeves, and other minor modifications were added. From 1969 to 1971, and again from 1978 to 1979), the team wore orange pants with their white jerseys.

The club then radically changed their logo and uniforms in 1997, a design that they continue to use to this day. The current logo is a profile of a horse's head. They wear "Broncos Navy Blue" jerseys instead of orange ones. This new uniform design also features a streak that runs down the sides of both the jerseys and the pants; its orange on the blue jerseys and blue on the white jerseys. When they debuted, these uniforms were also vilified by the press and fans, until the Broncos won their first ever Super Bowl in the new design.

The Broncos have also designed a new jersey that has been criticized by many fans as an eyesore. The new jerseys are bright orange with a navy blue stripe going up the side. The jerseys were first and last used in the 2004 game against the Oakland Raiders in the pouring down snow. Many believe that the jersey is only to be used in the snow, such as the 2004 game.

Home field

For most of their history they played in Mile High Stadium, which became one of the shrines of professional football for its record unbroken string of sell-outs: every game from 1970 to 2004, with the exception of two replacement games during the 1987 strike (but both were sold out before the strike), for a total of 282 games, including post-seasons. The stadium's legendary home-field advantage is regarded as the best in the NFL, especially during the post-season. Mile High Stadium was one of the NFL's loudest stadiums, with steel flooring instead of concrete, which may have given the Broncos an advantage over opponents. Since 2001, they have played at INVESCO Field at Mile High, built next to the former site of Mile High Stadium. Sportswriter Woody Paige, along with many of Denver's fans, however, often refuse to call the new stadium by its full name, preferring to use Mile High Stadium because of its storied history and sentimental import.

The Shanahan Era

The team's head coach is currently Mike Shanahan, a position he held since 1995. Since the Shanahan era began, the Broncos have been known for having high-yardage running backs. Tuesday Morning Quarterback writer Gregg Easterbrook once mused that Denver’s helmets should have a label that says "Insert running back, gain 1,000 yards." To wit: Terrell Davis, Olandis Gary, Mike Anderson, Clinton Portis, and, Reuben Droughns have all posted 1000-yard rushing seasons in Denver with Davis shattering the 2,000 yard barrier in 1998. In 2005, Mike Anderson rushed for more than 1,000 yards for the first time in five seasons. Anderson's backfield mate, Tatum Bell, fell 79 yards short of 1,000 with 921 while missing a game to injury. That would have made them the first two running backs in over 20 years to break 1,000 yards in a single season on the same team.

So the debate rages on: is it Denver's system, or their running backs, that are responsible for the huge numbers year-in and year-out? Football Outsiders did a study to determine just that, and found some evidence that Denver's system of zone-blocking did aid running backs, and that most rushers who succeed in Denver will have a drop-off elsewhere. The study can be found here. It must be noted that both Droughns and Portis have had great success with their new teams after leaving the Broncos.

Season-by-season records

Note: W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties

* = Current Standing

Players of note

Current players

Pro Football Hall of Famers

• 24, Willie Brown, CB, (1963-66) Class of 1984
• 33, Tony Dorsett, RB, (1988) Class of 1994
• 7, John Elway, QB, (1983-98) Class of 2004

Retired numbers

• John Elway – #7
• Frank Tripucka – #18
• Floyd Little – #44

Ring of Fame

The Broncos have a Ring of Fame on the Level 5 facade of INVESCO Field at Mile High, which honors the following:

• 23 Goose Gonsoulin, S, 1960-66, inducted 1984
• 44 Floyd Little, RB, 1967-75, inducted 1984
• 87 Lionel Taylor, WR, 1960-66, inducted 1984
• 87 Rich Jackson, DE, 1967-72, inducted 1984
• Gerald Phipps, team owner, 1961-81, inducted 1985
• 12 Charley Johnson, QB, 1972-75, inducted 1986
• 18 Frank Tripucka, QB, 1960-63, inducted 1986
• 70 Paul Smith, DE, 1968-78, inducted 1986
• 36 Billy Thompson, CB, 1969-81, inducted 1987
• 7 Craig Morton, QB, 1977-82, inducted 1988
• 15 Jim Turner, K, 1971-79, inducted 1988
• 25 Haven Moses, WR, 1972-81, inducted 1988
• 53 Randy Gradishar, LB, 1976-83, inducted 1989
• 57 Tom Jackson, LB, 1973-86, inducted 1992
• 20 Louis Wright, S, 1975-86, inducted 1993
• 7 John Elway, QB, 1983-98, inducted 1999
• 49 Dennis Smith, S, 1981-94, inducted 2001
• 77 Karl Mecklenburg, LB, 1983-94, inducted 2001
• 65 Gary Zimmerman, OT, 1993-97, inducted 2003
• 27 Steve Atwater, S, 1989-98, inducted 2005

Colorado Sports Hall of Fame

• 23 Goose Gonsoulin, S, 1960-66
• 44 Floyd Little, RB, 1967-75
• 87 Lionel Taylor, WR, 1960-66
• 87 Rich Jackson, DE, 1967-72
• Gerald Phipps, team owner, 1961-81
• 18 Frank Tripucka, QB, 1960-63
• 36 Billy Thompson, CB, 1969-81
• 7 Craig Morton, QB, 1977-82
• 25 Haven Moses, WR, 1972-81
• 53 Randy Gradishar, LB, 1976-83
• 57 Tom Jackson, LB, 1973-86
• 80 Rick Upchurch, WR, 1975-83
• 20 Louis Wright, S, 1975-86
• Red Miller, Head Coach, 1977-80
• Dan Reeves, Head Coach, 1981-92
• 7 John Elway, QB, 1983-98
• 77 Karl Mecklenburg, LB, 1983-94
• 84 Shannon Sharpe, TE, 1990-99, 2002-03
• 30 Terrell Davis, RB, 1993-2001

Head coaches

• Frank Filchock (1960-1961)
• Jack Faulkner (1962-1964)
• Mac Speedie (1964-1966)
• Ray Malavasi (1966)
• Lou Saban (1967-1971)
• Jerry Smith (1971)
• John Ralston (1972-1976)
• Red Miller (1977-1980)
• Dan Reeves (1981-1992)
• Wade Phillips (1993-1994)
• Mike Shanahan (1995-present)

Current staff

• Head Coach - Mike Shanahan
• Assistant Head Coach - Mike Heimerdinger

Offensive coaches

• Offensive Coordinator - Rick Dennison
• Quarterbacks Coach - Pat McPherson
• Running Backs Coach - Bobby Turner
• Wide Receivers Coach - Steve Watson
• Tight Ends Coach - Tim Brewster
• Offensive Line Coach - TBA
• Offensive Assistant - TBA

Defensive coaches

• Defensive Coordinator - Larry Coyer
• Defensive Line Coach - Andre Patterson
• Linebackers Coach - Kirk Doll
• Defensive Backs Coach - Bob Slowik
• Defensive Assistant - Jim Ryan

Special Teams coach

• Special Teams Coach - Ronnie Bradford

Conditioning coach

• Strength and Conditioning - Rich Tuten

Equipment manager

• Equipment Manager - Chris Valenti

Personnel

• General Manager - Ted Sundquist
• Assistant to General Manager - Pam Papsdorf
• Director of Pro Personnel - Rick Smith
• Director of College Scouting - Jim Goodman
• Director of Football Administration - Mike Bluem

External links

• Official Website
• The Orange Mane - Denver Broncos News & Community
• BroncosFreak
• Denver Broncos news and opinion sources
• 2005 Team Statistics at NFL.com