Denver Broncos facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Denver Broncos
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Basic info
Established	August 14, 1959; 65 years ago (1959-08-14)
Stadium	Empower Field at Mile High Denver, Colorado
Headquartered	Broncos Park Powered by CommonSpirit, Englewood, 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: 15 AFC West: 1977, 1978, 1984, 1986, 1987, 1989, 1991, 1996, 1998, 2005, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015
Playoff appearances (23)
NFL: 1977, 1978, 1979, 1983, 1984, 1986, 1987, 1989, 1991, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2024
Owner(s)
Bob Howsam (1959–1961) Gerald Phipps (1961–1981) Edgar Kaiser Jr. (1981–1984) Pat Bowlen (1984–2019) Bowlen estate (2019–2022) Rob Walton and Greg Penner (2022–present)

The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They play in the National Football League (NFL) as part of the American Football Conference (AFC) West division. The team's main office is in Englewood, Colorado.

The Broncos 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 team is currently owned by the Walton-Penner group. Since 2001, the Broncos have played their home games at Empower Field at Mile High. Before that, they played at Mile High Stadium from 1960 to 2000.

The Broncos struggled in their early years, not having a winning season until 1973. They made their first playoffs in 1977 and reached Super Bowl XII. From 1973 to 2016, the Broncos had only a few losing seasons and won three Super Bowls, becoming one of the NFL's most successful teams. They have won eight AFC Championships and three Super Bowl titles: XXXII (1997), XXXIII (1998), and 50 (2015). They share the NFL record for the most Super Bowl losses (5). Many Broncos players, like John Elway and Terrell Davis, are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Team History

Early Years and First Playoff Appearance (1960–1980)

The Denver Broncos were founded on August 14, 1959. They won their first-ever AFL game against the Boston Patriots 13–10 on September 9, 1960. Seven years later, on August 5, 1967, they became the first AFL team to beat an NFL team in a preseason game, winning 13–7 against the Detroit Lions. However, the Broncos were not very successful in the 1960s. They were the only original AFL team that never played in the championship game and never had a winning season during the AFL's 10-year history.

In 1972, John Ralston became the head coach. In 1973, the team had its first winning season with a 7–5–2 record. After Ralston left, Red Miller became head coach. With their strong defense, nicknamed the "Orange Crush Defense", and quarterback Craig Morton, the Broncos had a great 12–2 record in 1977. They made their first playoff appearance and reached Super Bowl XII, where they lost to the Dallas Cowboys 27–10.

The John Elway Era (1981–2018)

In 1984, Pat Bowlen bought the team. He was the owner for many years.

Dan Reeves and John Elway (1981–1992)

Dan Reeves became the head coach in 1981. In 1983, star quarterback John Elway joined the Broncos through a trade. Elway was a top draft pick who wanted to play for certain teams, and the Broncos were one of them. Before Elway, the Broncos had many different starting quarterbacks.

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

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

Reeves and Elway led the Broncos to the playoffs six times, won five division titles, and reached three AFC championships. They also played in three Super Bowls: Super Bowl XXI, Super Bowl XXII, and Super Bowl XXIV. Unfortunately, they lost all three of these Super Bowls by large scores. The 55–10 loss in Super Bowl XXIV is still the biggest difference in score in Super Bowl history. Reeves was fired after the 1992 season.

Mike Shanahan and Back-to-Back Super Bowls (1995–2008)

In 1995, Mike Shanahan, who used to be the Broncos' offensive coordinator, returned as head coach. The team drafted rookie running back Terrell Davis. In 1996, the Broncos had a great 13–3 record but were upset in the playoffs by the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Winning Super Bowl XXXII (1997)

In the 1997 season, Elway and Davis led the Broncos to their first-ever Super Bowl victory! They beat the defending champion Green Bay Packers 31–24 in Super Bowl XXXII. Terrell Davis was amazing, rushing for 157 yards and scoring three touchdowns, even though he had a bad headache during the game. He won the Super Bowl Most Valuable Player Award.

Winning Super Bowl XXXIII (1998)

The Broncos won the Super Bowl again the very next season! They defeated the Atlanta Falcons 34–19 in Super Bowl XXXIII. John Elway was named Super Bowl MVP, throwing for 336 yards and a long touchdown pass.

Broncos' quarterback Jay Cutler in 2007.

After the 1998 season, John Elway retired. The team continued to compete, making the playoffs in 2000, 2003, 2004, and 2005. In 2005, quarterback Jake Plummer led the Broncos to a 13–3 record and won their division. They beat the defending Super Bowl champion New England Patriots in the playoffs, but then lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC Championship game.

The Broncos' defense in 2006 was very strong, allowing only one touchdown in their first five games, which is an NFL record. However, the team struggled later in the season. Head coach Mike Shanahan, who was the longest-serving and most successful coach in Broncos history, was fired after the 2008 season.

Changes and "Tebow Time" (2009–2014)

In 2009, Josh McDaniels became the new head coach. The team started strong with a 6–0 record but then lost many games. In 2010, McDaniels was fired after the team had a poor record and a videotaping issue.

John Elway returned to the team in 2011 as an executive. John Fox was hired as the new head coach. After a slow start in 2011, quarterback Tim Tebow became the starter. He led the Broncos to an 8–8 record and a playoff spot. In a memorable playoff game, Tebow threw an 80-yard touchdown pass to Demaryius Thomas on the first play of overtime to beat the Pittsburgh Steelers.

In 2012, the Broncos signed star quarterback Peyton Manning. Manning had missed the previous season due to neck surgeries. The Broncos traded Tim Tebow to the New York Jets. With Manning, the Broncos had a 13–3 record in 2012 and 2013. In 2013, Manning broke many passing records. They reached Super Bowl XLVIII but lost to the Seattle Seahawks 43–8.

In 2014, team owner Pat Bowlen stepped down due to Alzheimer's disease. The team finished 12–4 but lost in the playoffs again.

Super Bowl 50 Champions (2015–2016)

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

In 2015, Gary Kubiak became the new head coach. He had been a backup quarterback for John Elway and a former offensive coordinator for the Broncos. The team's defense, led by coordinator Wade Phillips, became one of the best in NFL history. Even though Peyton Manning had a tough season with injuries, the Broncos finished 12–4. They won their playoff games and defeated the Carolina Panthers 24–10 in Super Bowl 50 to win their third Super Bowl title!

Peyton Manning retired after the Super Bowl 50 win. The Broncos then looked for a new starting quarterback. In 2016, Trevor Siemian became the starter. The team finished 9–7 and missed the playoffs. Coach Gary Kubiak retired in 2017 due to health reasons.

Recent Years (2017–Present)

Vance Joseph became head coach in 2017. The team struggled with their offense and finished 5–11. In 2018, they signed quarterback Case Keenum. Running back Phillip Lindsay, who was not drafted by any team, became a fan favorite and made the Pro Bowl. The team finished 6–10, and Joseph was fired.

In 2019, Vic Fangio became the head coach. The Broncos traded for quarterback Joe Flacco. On October 6, 2019, the Broncos won their 500th game. Rookie quarterback Drew Lock started late in the season and led the team to a 4–1 record to finish 7–9.

The 2020 season was tough due to many injuries, including star linebacker Von Miller. In one game, all the Broncos' quarterbacks were unavailable due to health protocols, and wide receiver Kendall Hinton, who used to play quarterback in college, had to step in as the emergency quarterback. The team finished 5–11.

In 2021, the Broncos traded for quarterback Teddy Bridgewater. They also improved their defense by adding players like Patrick Surtain II. On October 31, 2021, Peyton Manning was added to the Broncos' Ring of Fame. Later, the team traded long-time star Von Miller to the Los Angeles Rams. The Broncos finished 7–10, and coach Vic Fangio was dismissed.

New Ownership and Sean Payton (2022–Present)

In 2022, Nathaniel Hackett was hired as head coach. The Broncos also announced that the team was for sale. On March 16, 2022, the Broncos traded for star quarterback Russell Wilson.

On June 7, 2022, a group led by Rob Walton (former Walmart chairman) agreed to buy the Broncos for $4.65 billion. The NFL approved the sale on August 10, 2022. Rob Walton, his daughter Carrie Walton Penner, and son-in-law Greg Penner are key members of the new ownership group. Greg Penner became the team's CEO.

After a difficult 4–11 start, Hackett was fired in December 2022. In January 2023, Sean Payton was hired as the new head coach. The Broncos started the 2023 season 1–5, including a big loss to the Miami Dolphins. However, they then won five games in a row, including against the Kansas City Chiefs for the first time since 2015. The team finished the 2023 season with an 8–9 record, their best since 2016, but still missed the playoffs.

After the season, the Broncos released Russell Wilson. On April 22, 2024, the Broncos showed off new uniforms called the "Mile High Collection," their first uniform change since 1997. They also brought back a classic 1977 "Orange Crush" uniform.

In the 2024 NFL draft, the Broncos picked Bo Nix as their new quarterback. Nix became the first Broncos rookie quarterback since John Elway in 1983 to start in Week 1. The team started 0–2 but then won five of their next six games. They finished the 2024 season with a 10–7 record, their first winning season since 2016 and their first 10-win season since 2015. This record earned them a playoff spot for the first time since winning Super Bowl 50. In the Wild Card Round, they lost to the Buffalo Bills.

Team Rivalries

AFC West Rivals

The Denver Broncos have three main rivals in their division, the AFC West: the Kansas City Chiefs, Las Vegas Raiders, and Los Angeles Chargers. All these teams were original members of the American Football League (AFL) and have played each other twice a year for over 60 years.

Kansas City Chiefs

The Broncos and Chiefs have had many exciting games. The Broncos beat the Chiefs in the 1997 playoffs on their way to their first Super Bowl win. As of the 2024 season, the Chiefs have won more games in their series history.

Las Vegas Raiders

The rivalry with the Raiders is very intense. It became even stronger in 1977 when the Broncos beat the Raiders in the AFC Championship to reach their first Super Bowl. The Raiders have won more games in this series as of the 2024 season.

Los Angeles Chargers

The Broncos have a winning record against the Chargers. In 2012, Peyton Manning led the Broncos to a huge comeback win against the Chargers on Monday Night Football. The Broncos won their first playoff game against the Chargers in 2014.

Other AFC Rivals

The Broncos also have rivalries with the Cleveland Browns, New England Patriots, and Pittsburgh Steelers.

Cleveland Browns

The Broncos had a short but intense rivalry with the Browns in the late 1980s. They met in three AFC Championship games. In 1986, John Elway led "The Drive" to tie the game and win in overtime. In 1987, the Broncos won again in a game known as "The Fumble" where the Browns lost the ball near the goal line. The Broncos easily won the 1989 AFC Championship.

New England Patriots

The Broncos and Patriots have played each other often since 1960. Their rivalry became even bigger when Peyton Manning joined the Broncos in 2012, creating a legendary matchup between Manning and Patriots quarterback Tom Brady. While Brady won more regular season games, Manning won three of their five playoff meetings, including the 2013 and 2015 AFC Championship games. As of the 2024 season, the Broncos lead the all-time series.

Pittsburgh Steelers

The Broncos and Steelers have played each other eight times in the playoffs, which is one of the most frequent playoff matchups in NFL history. The Broncos have won five of these eight playoff games. Memorable games include the 1997 AFC Championship, which the Broncos won on their way to their first Super Bowl, and the 2011 Wild Card game where Tim Tebow threw an 80-yard touchdown pass in overtime to win. The Broncos also beat the Steelers in the 2015 playoffs on their way to Super Bowl 50.

Historical Rivalry

Seattle Seahawks

The Broncos had a rivalry with the Seattle Seahawks when the Seahawks were in the AFC West division from 1977 to 2001. The Broncos had a winning record against them during that time. The two teams met 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 most of their history, the Denver Broncos played at Mile High Stadium. The team has sold out every home game since 1970. Fans at home games are known to cheer loudly and 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, 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 facility in Dove Valley with multiple fields and training areas.

Empower Field at Mile High has been the Broncos' home since 2001

The Broncos have never been shut out (scored zero points) at home in over 400 games. In 2012, the stadium received $30 million in upgrades, including a much larger video board.

Team Logos and Uniforms

Classic Designs (1968–1996)

Denver Broncos uniform set from 1967 to 1996.

When the Broncos started in 1960, their first uniforms were very unique, with white and mustard yellow jerseys and brown helmets. In 1962, they changed their colors to orange, royal blue, and white, and introduced a new logo with a bucking horse.

In 1968, the Broncos debuted their famous "Orange Crush" look. The logo was updated to show a horse coming out of a "D". The helmets became royal blue. For some years, they also wore orange pants with their white jerseys.

Modern Look (1997–2023)

Thunder (mascot)

The Broncos completely changed their logo and uniforms in 1997. Navy blue replaced royal blue in their color scheme. The new logo features a horse's head with an orange mane, inspired by their live horse mascot, Thunder.

The team started wearing navy blue jerseys at home, replacing their traditional orange. These new uniforms had a streak design on the sides. Even though some people didn't like them at first, the Broncos won their first Super Bowl in these new uniforms that same season, making them very popular.

The Denver Broncos uniform set from 2012 to 2023.

In 2002, the Broncos introduced an alternate orange jersey. In 2003, they also started wearing navy blue pants with orange stripes for some home games.

Starting in 2012, the orange jerseys became the main home jersey again because fans really wanted them back. The navy blue jerseys became the alternate. In 2016, the Broncos introduced a special "Color Rush" uniform with orange pants and a throwback look, which they wore for certain games.

New Era Uniforms (2024–Present)

On April 22, 2024, the Broncos revealed a new, simpler uniform design. They removed the mismatched stripes and went back to a more classic number style. The new uniforms come in orange, white, and navy blue, and can be worn with matching pants. The stripes on the uniforms are inspired by the Rocky Mountains. The team also brought back a 1977 "Orange Crush" throwback uniform with a royal blue helmet featuring the "D-horse" logo.

Team Statistics and Records

Season Records

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

Players of Note

Retired Numbers

The Broncos have retired three jersey numbers to honor special players:

† Note: Number 18 was used by Peyton Manning from 2012 to 2015 with permission from Frank Tripucka. Manning's name was added to the retired number's banner.

Pro Football Hall of Famers

Hall of Fame CB Champ Bailey

Hall of Fame RB Terrell Davis

Hall of Fame QB John Elway

Hall of Fame RB Floyd Little

Many Broncos players and coaches have been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame:

Ring of Fame

The Broncos have a Ring of Fame at Empower Field at Mile High to honor important players and people from the team's history.

Super Bowl MVPs

Three Broncos players have won the Super Bowl MVP award:

Radio and Television

The Broncos' main radio station is KOA 850AM. Dave Logan is the play-by-play announcer. Preseason games not shown on national TV are broadcast on KUSA channel 9, an NBC affiliate. The Broncos also partner with KJMN 92.1 FM for Spanish-language radio broadcasts.

See also

In Spanish: Denver Broncos para niños