Denver Broncos

The Denver Broncos are a National Football League team based in Denver, Colorado. The Broncos were founded in 1960 as a charter member of the American Football League and joined the NFL as part of the AFL-NFL Merger.

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 had the first black place-kicker in American professional football, Gene Mingo. They were the first AFL team ever to defeat an NFL team, on August 5, 1967 when they beat the Lions 13-7. They were the first pro football team to wear vertically-striped socks (and the first to burn their socks in a public ceremony!). Despite their relative lack of early success, the Broncos produced some memorable games, like the 38-38 tie against the Buffalo Bills in 1960.

Related Topics:
Denver Broncos - American Football League - Lionel Taylor - Floyd Little - Boston Patriots - Gene Mingo - NFL - 1967 - Buffalo Bills - 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.

Related Topics:
Super Bowl - 1997 - 1998 - 1973 - 1965

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

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 Bronco history. Ralston coached the team until 1976, when well-publicized clashes between Ralston and his players led to Ralston's removal.

Related Topics:
1967 - Lou Saban - 1973 - John Ralston - Oakland - Monday Night Football - 1976

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Rookie coach Red Miller along with the Orange Crush Defense and aging quarterback Craig Morton, promptly took Denver to its first playoff appearance -- and ultimately first Super Bowl -- in 1977. Prior to 1977 season, Denver had received very little national attention and was rarely featured on nationally-televised games.

Related Topics:
Red Miller - Orange Crush Defense - Craig Morton - Super Bowl - 1977

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Quarterback John Elway arrived in 1983. Originally drafted by the Baltimore Colts as the number one pick of the draft, Elway proclaimed that he would shun football in favor of baseball unless he was traded to a selected list of other teams, which included Denver. Prior to Elway, Denver had had over two dozen different starting quarterbacks in its twenty-three 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. Since 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). However, they lost all three times in the wild card round.

Related Topics:
Quarterback - John Elway - 1983 - Baltimore Colts - Baseball - Dan Reeves - Mike Shanahan - Super Bowl XXXIII - 1998 - 1999 - 2000 - 2003 - 2004

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

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 1000 yards." To wit: Terrell Davis, Olandis Gary, Mike Anderson, Clinton Portis, and, most recently, Reuben Droughns have all posted 1000-yard rushing seasons in Denver, with Davis shattering the 2000-yard barrier in 1998. 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.

Related Topics:
Tuesday Morning Quarterback - Gregg Easterbrook - Terrell Davis - Olandis Gary - Mike Anderson - Clinton Portis - Reuben Droughns - 1998

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Season-by-season