Denver Broncos facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Denver Broncos
Current season
Logo Wordmark Uniforms
Basic info
Established	August 14, 1959; 66 years ago (1959-08-14)
Stadium	Empower Field at Mile High Denver, Colorado
Headquartered	Broncos Park Powered by CommonSpirit, Dove Valley, Colorado
Colors	Sunset orange, midnight navy, summit white
Mascot	Thunder (live horse) Miles (costume suit)
Personnel
Owner(s)	Rob Walton
CEO	Greg Penner
President	Damani Leech
General manager	George Paton
Head coach	Sean Payton
Nicknames
Orange Crush (defense, 1977–1983) No Fly Zone (defense, 2014–2018)
Team history
Denver Broncos (1960–present)
Home fields
Mile High Stadium (1960–2000) Empower Field at Mile High (2001–present)
League / conference affiliations
American Football League (1960–1969) Western Division (1960–1969) National Football League (1970–present) American Football Conference (1970–present) AFC West (1970–present)
Championships
League championships: 3 Super Bowl championships: 3 1997 (XXXII), 1998 (XXXIII), 2015 (50)
Conference championships: 8 AFC: 1977, 1986, 1987, 1989, 1997, 1998, 2013, 2015
Division championships: 16 AFC West: 1977, 1978, 1984, 1986, 1987, 1989, 1991, 1996, 1998, 2005, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2025
Playoff appearances (24)
NFL: 1977, 1978, 1979, 1983, 1984, 1986, 1987, 1989, 1991, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2024, 2025
Owner(s)
Bob Howsam (1959–1961) Gerald Phipps (1961–1981) Edgar Kaiser Jr. (1981–1984) Pat Bowlen (1984–2019) Pat Bowlen Trust (2019–2022) Walton-Penner Family Ownership Group (2022–present)

The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team located in Denver, Colorado. They play in the National Football League (NFL) as part of the American Football Conference (AFC) West division. The team started playing in 1960 as one of the first teams in the American Football League (AFL). They joined the NFL in 1970 when the AFL and NFL merged.

The Broncos have a rich history, winning three Super Bowl championships. These victories happened in 1997 (Super Bowl XXXII), 1998 (Super Bowl XXXIII), and 2015 (Super Bowl 50). They also won eight AFC Championships. Many famous players and their former owner, Pat Bowlen, are honored in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The Broncos play their home games at Empower Field at Mile High.

The Denver Broncos' Journey

Early Years and First Success (1960s-1970s)

The Denver Broncos team started on August 14, 1959. They were one of the first teams in the American Football League (AFL). The Broncos won their very first AFL game in 1960. They also made history in 1967 by being the first AFL team to beat an NFL team in a preseason game.

However, the 1960s were tough for the Broncos. They didn't win many games. A local group helped save the team from possibly moving away in 1965. A star player named Floyd Little was very important in keeping the team in Denver. He was known as "Franchise" because of his impact. The Broncos were the only original AFL team that never reached the championship game during the AFL's 10-year history.

Things started to change in 1973 when the team had its first winning season. In 1977, the Broncos made it to the playoffs for the first time. They even reached their first Super Bowl XII, but they lost to the Dallas Cowboys. This era was known for the "Orange Crush Defense", a strong group of defensive players.

The John Elway Era (1980s-1990s)

In 1984, Pat Bowlen bought the team. He was a very important owner for many years. A big moment for the Broncos was when John Elway joined as quarterback in 1983. Elway was a talented player who chose to play for Denver. Before him, the team had many different quarterbacks.

John Elway (right) hands the ball for a rushing play against the Packers in 1984.

With Elway, the Broncos became a top team. They reached the Super Bowl three times in the 1980s (Super Bowl XXI, XXII, and XXIV). Unfortunately, they lost all three of these games. The last loss, Super Bowl XXIV, was a very tough game.

Super Bowl Champions! (1990s)

In 1995, Mike Shanahan became the head coach. He had been with the Broncos before. In 1996, the team had a great season with a 13–3 record. However, they were upset in the playoffs.

The Broncos defeated the Raiders in the 1977–78 AFC Championship Game to earn their first trip to the Super Bowl.

The Broncos finally won their first Super Bowl in 1997! They beat the Green Bay Packers in Super Bowl XXXII. Even though John Elway had a rushing touchdown, Terrell Davis was the star of the game. He rushed for 157 yards and three touchdowns, earning the Super Bowl MVP award.

The team won again the very next season in 1998! They defeated the Atlanta Falcons in Super Bowl XXXIII. John Elway was named Super Bowl MVP for his amazing performance. After this second championship, Elway retired as a legendary player.

New Challenges and Peyton Manning (2000s-2010s)

After Elway retired, the Broncos had some good seasons but struggled to reach the Super Bowl again. They made the playoffs several times with quarterbacks like Brian Griese and Jake Plummer. In 2005, they reached the AFC Championship game but lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

In 2009, Josh McDaniels became the head coach. The team started strong but then had some difficult seasons. In 2010, they had a tough year with a 4–12 record.

A big change happened in 2011 when John Fox became head coach. The team made the playoffs with quarterback Tim Tebow, winning an exciting overtime game against the Steelers.

In 2012, the Broncos signed superstar quarterback Peyton Manning. He had been a legendary player for the Indianapolis Colts. With Manning, the Broncos became an offensive powerhouse. They had amazing regular seasons in 2012 and 2013, breaking many records. In 2013, they reached Super Bowl XLVIII but lost to the Seattle Seahawks.

Super Bowl 50 Champions! (2015)

In 2015, Gary Kubiak became the head coach. The team's defense, led by coordinator Wade Phillips, became one of the best in NFL history. Despite Peyton Manning having a challenging season due to injury, the Broncos finished with a 12–4 record.

The Broncos made it to Super Bowl 50 and defeated the Carolina Panthers 24–10! This was their third Super Bowl title. Von Miller was named Super Bowl MVP for his incredible defensive play. After this victory, Peyton Manning retired from football.

Recent Seasons and New Ownership (2017-Present)

After Manning's retirement, the Broncos faced challenges finding a consistent starting quarterback. They had a few tough seasons. In 2018, Phillip Lindsay became a fan favorite as an undrafted rookie running back, even making the Pro Bowl.

Broncos' quarterback Jay Cutler in 2007.

Gary Kubiak won Super Bowl 50 in his first season as the Broncos head coach.

In 2019, Vic Fangio became head coach. The team continued to search for a long-term quarterback. The 2020 season was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to many injuries. In one unusual game, wide receiver Kendall Hinton had to play quarterback because all the team's regular quarterbacks were unavailable.

In 2022, the Broncos got new owners, the Walton-Penner Family Ownership Group, led by Rob Walton. They also hired Nathaniel Hackett as head coach and traded for star quarterback Russell Wilson. However, the team struggled, and Hackett was replaced by interim coach Jerry Rosburg during the season.

In 2023, Sean Payton became the new head coach. The team had a challenging start but improved during the season, finishing with an 8–9 record. They released Russell Wilson after the season.

In 2024, the Broncos drafted Bo Nix as their new quarterback. He became the first rookie quarterback since John Elway to start Week 1 for the Broncos. The team had a strong season, finishing 10–7 and making the playoffs for the first time since their Super Bowl 50 win. They lost in the Wild Card Round.

The 2025 season was even better! The Broncos finished with a 14–3 record, tying their best win total ever. They earned the top seed in the AFC playoffs. They won their first playoff game since Super Bowl 50, but their quarterback Bo Nix got injured. They then lost a close AFC Championship game to the New England Patriots.

Team Rivalries

Divisional Rivals

The Broncos have three main rivals in their division, the AFC West: the Kansas City Chiefs, Las Vegas Raiders, and Los Angeles Chargers. These teams have played each other twice a year for over 60 years!

• Kansas City Chiefs: The Broncos and Chiefs have had many exciting games. A memorable playoff win for the Broncos against the Chiefs happened in 1997 on their way to their first Super Bowl.
• Las Vegas Raiders: This rivalry became very strong in 1977 when the Broncos beat the Raiders to reach their first Super Bowl.
• Los Angeles Chargers: The Broncos have a winning record against the Chargers. One famous game was in 2012 when Peyton Manning led a huge comeback win on Monday Night Football. They also met in the playoffs in 2014, with the Broncos winning.

Conference Rivals

The Broncos also have rivalries with other teams in the AFC, like the Cleveland Browns, New England Patriots, and Pittsburgh Steelers.

• Cleveland Browns: This rivalry was big in the late 1980s. The Broncos beat the Browns in three AFC Championship games. Two of these games had famous plays: "The Drive" and "The Fumble".
• New England Patriots: The Broncos and Patriots have a long history, playing since the AFL days. The rivalry became even more intense when Peyton Manning played for the Broncos against Tom Brady and the Patriots. They had many important playoff games.
• Pittsburgh Steelers: The Broncos and Steelers have met many times in the playoffs. The Broncos beat the Steelers in the 1997 AFC Championship on their way to their first Super Bowl. In 2011, Tim Tebow threw an 80-yard touchdown pass in overtime to beat the Steelers in the playoffs.

Historical Rivalry

• Seattle Seahawks: The Seahawks used to be in the same division as the Broncos until 2002. They played each other in Super Bowl XLVIII in 2014, where the Seahawks won.

Team Facilities

Mile High Stadium was the home of the Broncos from 1960 to 2000

For many years, the Denver Broncos played at Mile High Stadium. The team has sold out every home game since 1970! Fans are known to chant "IN-COM-PLETE!" when the other team throws an incomplete pass. The stadium's high altitude (5,280 feet above sea level) is thought to give the Broncos an advantage.

In 2001, the team moved to a new stadium built next to the old one. It is now called Empower Field at Mile High. Many fans still call it "Mile High Stadium" because of its history. The team's training facility, Broncos Park Powered by CommonSpirit, is a modern place with several fields and training areas.

Empower Field at Mile High, the Broncos' home since 2001, as seen in 2011 (left) and 2025 (right)

In September 2025, the Broncos announced plans for a new stadium, New Broncos Stadium, in downtown Denver. This new stadium is planned to open for the 2031 NFL season.

Logos and Uniforms

Uniform History

Denver Broncos uniform set from 1967 to 1996. The logo was designed by Edwin Guy Taylor of Denver. A contest was held through Public Service of Denver to come up with a new logo for the team. Taylor's submission was selected late in 1967 and adopted the next season. The team briefly wore orange pants with the away jerseys between 1969 and 1971 and 1978–1979.

When the Broncos first started in 1960, their uniforms were quite unique. They had white and mustard yellow jerseys with brown helmets and pants. In 1962, they changed their colors to orange, royal blue, and white.

In 1968, the Broncos introduced the "Orange Crush" design. Their logo showed a horse coming out of a "D". The helmets became royal blue. This look became very famous.

Thunder (mascot)

In 1997, the Broncos changed their logo and uniforms. Navy blue replaced royal blue. The new logo featured a horse's head with an orange mane. This design was inspired by their live horse mascot, Thunder. The team started wearing navy blue jerseys at home. These new uniforms became popular when the Broncos won their first Super Bowl in them that same season.

Over the years, the team also used orange alternate jerseys. In 2012, the orange jerseys became the main home jersey color again, which fans loved. The team also had special "Color Rush" uniforms, which were all orange.

Current Uniforms (2024-Present)

The Denver Broncos uniform set from 2024 to present, known as the "Mile High Collection."

On April 22, 2024, the Broncos showed off new uniforms called the "Mile High Collection." These uniforms have a simpler design with block numbers. The stripes on the uniforms are inspired by the Rocky Mountains. The team has primary orange and white uniforms, and an alternate navy blue uniform. They also brought back a special 1977 "Orange Crush" throwback uniform with a royal blue helmet.

In 2025, the Broncos also wore all-navy blue uniforms with their primary navy blue helmet. They also wore all-white uniforms with their alternate white helmet.

Team Statistics and Records

Season-by-season records

Since their first season in 1960, the Broncos have an all-time record of 518–472–10 as of the 2024 season.

Players of Note

Current roster

Retired Numbers

The Broncos honor special players by retiring their jersey numbers. This means no other player on the team can wear that number.

† Note: Number 18 was re-issued for Peyton Manning after Frank Tripucka gave his permission. Manning used it from 2012 until he retired in 2015. Manning's name was added to the retired number's banner as an honorable mention.

Pro Football Hall of Famers

The Pro Football Hall of Fame honors the best players, coaches, and contributors in professional football history.

Hall of Fame CB Champ Bailey

Hall of Fame RB Terrell Davis

Hall of Fame QB John Elway

Hall of Fame RB Floyd Little

Ring of Fame

The Broncos have a special "Ring of Fame" at Empower Field at Mile High. It honors important players, coaches, and owners who made a big difference to the team.

Super Bowl MVPs

These players were named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) in a Super Bowl game.

Staff and Head Coaches

Head Coaches

The Broncos have had 20 head coaches in their history.

Current Staff

Radio and Television

You can listen to Broncos games on their flagship radio station, KOA 850AM. Dave Logan is the play-by-play announcer. Preseason games are shown on KUSA channel 9, an NBC affiliate. The Broncos also partner with KJMN 92.1 FM for Spanish language radio broadcasts.

Images for kids

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  A ticket for the 1987–88 AFC Championship Game between the Browns and the Broncos.

See also

In Spanish: Denver Broncos para niños