The Denver Broncos are one of the historic franchises within the NFL.
With three Super Bowl titles, it is a franchise that has boasted quite a few big-time stars through the years. This makes it particularly troublesome to reply the query: who’re the best gamers in crew historical past?
FOX Sports Research took on the duty of answering that query, breaking down the numbers and rating the ten finest Broncos of all time.
While there are some apparent decisions on the high of the checklist, there are additionally some shocking names that made our checklist.
Where does your favourite Bronco slot in?
Let’s have a look:
10. Karl Mecklenburg (1983-1994)
A ferocious linebacker who spent his whole profession in Denver, Karl Mecklenburg recorded 79 sacks in 12 seasons, the third-most in franchise historical past. He is one in all three gamers in Broncos historical past to report 4 sacks in a recreation, and the one one to ever accomplish that twice. Mecklenburg was chosen to 5 All-Pro groups and 6 Pro Bowls earlier than being inducted into the Broncos Ring of Fame in 2001.
9. Floyd Little (1967-1975)
The first 1,000-yard rusher in Broncos historical past, Floyd Little was a flexible working again who spent his whole nine-year profession in Denver. At the time of his retirement, he was Denver’s all-time chief in scrimmage yards (8,741) and scrimmage touchdowns (52) – and nonetheless ranks within the high 5 in each classes. If you embody his talents as a returner, Little is second all-time in all-purpose yards (12,157) in Broncos historical past. He made an All-Pro crew and was chosen to the Pro Bowl 5 occasions, earlier than being inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2010.
8. Rod Smith (1995-2006)
Easily the best vast receiver in Broncos historical past, no participant has extra receptions (849), receiving yards (11,389) or receiving touchdowns (68) than Smith in Denver’s illustrious historical past. He spent all 12 years of his profession with the Broncos, and can also be the franchise’s all-time chief in playoff receiving yards (860) and receiving touchdowns (six) – with two Super Bowl titles beneath his belt as effectively . Smith made two All-Pro groups and was chosen to a few Pro Bowls earlier than being inducted into the Broncos Ring of Fame.
7. Randy Gradishar (1974-1983)
Considered one of many cornerstones of the protection nicknamed the “Orange Crush,” Randy Gradishar was a dominant linebacker who spent all 10 seasons of his profession with the Broncos. He most notably gained Defensive Player of the Year in 1978, and is one in all solely 10 linebackers ever with at the least seven Pro Bowls, 20 interceptions and 10 fumble recoveries. The different 9 are all Hall of Famers. Gradishar completed his profession with 5 All-Pro picks and 7 Pro Bowl nominations, and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2024.
6. Steve Atwater (1989-1998)
One of essentially the most impactful safeties in NFL historical past, Steve Atwater was a staple within the Broncos’ secondary for 10 seasons, taking part in 167 video games and profitable two Super Bowls in Denver. In his 1997 season, he recorded 83 tackles, two interceptions, eight passes defensed, two fumble recoveries and a sack to assist the Broncos win their first Super Bowl in franchise historical past. He recorded over 1,000 profession tackles together with 24 interceptions, incomes three All-Pro picks and eight Pro Bowl nominations. Atwater was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2020.
5. By Miller (2011-2021)
Von Miller, MVP of Super Bowl 50, performed an instrumental function within the Broncos’ run to their third Super Bowl title within the 2015 season. With two appearances beneath his belt – one coming with the Rams – he’s tied for essentially the most profession sacks in Super Bowl historical past with 4.5. He is at the moment sixteenth all-time in sacks with 129.5, together with 110.5 with Denver. Holds franchise information for profession sacks, sacks in a single season (18.5), sacks in a playoff recreation (6.5), sacks in a single postseason (5) and sacks in a playoff recreation (2.5) . Miller was chosen to seven All-Pro groups and eight Pro Bowls whereas in Denver, and is at the moment a member of the Bills.
4. Shannon Sharpe (1990-1999, 2002-2003)
A two-time Super Bowl champion with the Broncos and inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2011, Shannon Sharpe is one in all 5 tight ends with 10,000 profession receiving yards. His 2002 recreation towards the Chiefs is undoubtedly his most memorable. That day, he totaled 214 receiving yards, setting the NFL single-game reception report for a decent finish. He additionally ranks fifth in receptions (815) on the place and eighth in landing receptions (62). Sharpe was chosen to 5 All-Pro groups and eight Pro Bowls.
3. Champ Bailey (2004-2013)
Champ Bailey got here out working, turning into the youngest participant in NFL historical past to report three interceptions in a recreation in 1999. He spent his first 5 seasons in Washington earlier than being traded to Denver within the 2004 season, taking part in in 215 video games in the course of the his profession. profession — and beginning in all however three of these contests. Bailey made seven All-Pro groups and earned 12 Pro Bowl nominations earlier than being inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2019. No defensive participant has ever made extra Pro Bowls than him.
2. Terrell Davis (1995-2001)
Despite solely taking part in seven seasons, Terrell Davis’ affect on the Broncos was monumental. He was the defensive again for each of the Broncos’ Super Bowl titles in 1997 and 1998, most notably speeding for over 2,000 yards within the latter season. Only 9 gamers in NFL historical past have reached this milestone. Davis was additionally the Super Bowl MVP within the 1997 season, speeding for a formidable 157 yards and three touchdowns. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2017.
1. John Elway (1983-1998)
A two-time Super Bowl champion and former Broncos MVP, John Elway was the league’s all-time chief in wins (148) when he retired on the finish of the 1998 season. He nonetheless ranks within the high 10 in that class, in addition to incomes 9 Pro Bowl picks and three All-Pro groups throughout his 16-year profession. One of essentially the most memorable moments of his profession got here in January 1987, when he engineered a 98-yard landing run to beat the Browns within the AFC title recreation, which was later nicknamed “The Drive.” Elway was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2004.
HONORABLE MENTION
- Gary Zimmermann
- Louis Wright
- Dennis Smith
- Peyton Manning
- Jason Elam
- Marco Schlereth
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