Denver Broncos facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Denver Broncos |
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| Basic info | |||||||||||||
| Established | August 14, 1959 | ||||||||||||
| Colors | Sunset orange, midnight navy, summit white |
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| Mascot | Thunder (live horse) Miles (costume suit) |
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| Personnel | |||||||||||||
| Owner(s) | Rob Walton | ||||||||||||
| CEO | Greg Penner | ||||||||||||
| President | Damani Leech | ||||||||||||
| General manager | George Paton | ||||||||||||
| Head coach | Sean Payton | ||||||||||||
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| Team history | |||||||||||||
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| Home fields | |||||||||||||
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| League / conference affiliations | |||||||||||||
American Football League (1960–1969)
National Football League (1970–present)
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| Championships | |||||||||||||
League championships: 3
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Conference championships: 8
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Division championships: 15
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| Playoff appearances (22) | |||||||||||||
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The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team from 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 Dove Valley, Colorado.
The Broncos started playing in 1960 as a founding member of the American Football League (AFL). They joined the NFL in 1970 when the AFL and NFL merged. Today, the team is 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. They didn't have a winning season until 1973 and reached the playoffs for the first time in 1977, making it to Super Bowl XII. From 1973 to 2016, the Broncos had many successful seasons, winning three Super Bowl championships: 1997 (XXXII), 1998 (XXXIII), and 2015 (50). They have also won eight AFC Championships. The Broncos have several famous players in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, including John Elway, Floyd Little, and Terrell Davis.
In July 2022, Forbes magazine estimated the Broncos were worth $4.65 billion, making them one of the most valuable teams in the NFL.
Contents
Team History
Early Years (1960–1980)
The Denver Broncos were created 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 against the Boston Patriots 13–10 on September 9, 1960. They also made history on August 5, 1967, by becoming the first AFL team to beat an NFL team in a preseason game, winning 13–7 against the Detroit Lions.
However, the Broncos didn't win much in the 1960s. They only had one season where they won more than five games. 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. Ralston led the team to three winning seasons in five years. Even though they had a good record in 1976, they still didn't make the playoffs.
Red Miller became the head coach in 1977. With a strong defense called the "Orange Crush Defense" and quarterback Craig Morton, the Broncos had a great season, winning 12 games and making the playoffs for the first time. They reached their first Super Bowl, Super Bowl XII, but lost to the Dallas Cowboys 27–10.
New Ownership and John Elway Era (1981–2018)
In 1981, Edgar Kaiser Jr. bought the team. Then, in 1984, Pat Bowlen bought the Broncos. He was the owner for many years and was very important to the team's success.
Dan Reeves and John Elway (1981–1992)
Dan Reeves became the head coach in 1981. He was the youngest head coach in the NFL at 37. In 1983, the Broncos got John Elway, a talented quarterback, through a trade. Before Elway, the Broncos had many different starting quarterbacks.
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Reeves and Elway led the Broncos to the playoffs six times. They won five division titles and three AFC championships, reaching the Super Bowl three times (Super Bowl XXI, XXII, and XXIV). However, they lost all three Super Bowls by large scores. After the 1992 season, Reeves was replaced by Wade Phillips, who was later replaced in 1995.
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 they were upset in the playoffs by the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Super Bowl XXXII Champions (1997)
During the 1997 season, Elway and Davis led the Broncos to their first Super Bowl victory! They beat the 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. He won the Super Bowl Most Valuable Player Award.
Super Bowl XXXIII Champions (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 to Rod Smith.
John Elway retired after the 1998 season. Brian Griese became the starting quarterback for the next four seasons. After a tough 1999 season, the Broncos made the playoffs in 2000 but lost to the Baltimore Ravens. In 2003, Jake Plummer became quarterback and led the team to two straight playoff appearances, but they lost to the Indianapolis Colts both times.
In 2005, 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, stopping them from winning three Super Bowls in a row. However, the Broncos lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC Championship game.
The Broncos' defense was very strong in 2006, allowing only one touchdown in their first five games, which is an NFL record. However, the team struggled later in the season. Rookie quarterback Jay Cutler took over as starter. The Broncos finished 9–7 and missed the playoffs. Cutler's first full season in 2007 was a losing one for the team.
After the 2008 season, Mike Shanahan, the most successful head coach in Broncos history, was no longer with the team after 14 seasons.
Changes and New Coaches (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 and finished 8–8. In 2010, the Broncos had a tough season, finishing with a 4–12 record. McDaniels was let go before the season ended.
After the 2010 season, John Elway returned to the Broncos as an executive. The team hired John Fox as the new head coach.
In 2011, after a slow start, Tim Tebow became the starting quarterback. 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. They later lost to the New England Patriots.
In 2012, the Broncos signed superstar quarterback Peyton Manning. This led to the team trading Tim Tebow. With Manning, the Broncos had a fantastic 13–3 record and were the top team in the AFC playoffs. However, they lost a close game to the Baltimore Ravens.
In 2013, the Broncos again finished 13–3 and were the top seed in the AFC. They broke many offensive records, and Peyton Manning set several quarterback records. They reached Super Bowl XLVIII but lost to the Seattle Seahawks 43–8.
Before the 2014 season, owner Pat Bowlen stepped back from running the team due to Alzheimer's disease. The team finished 12–4 but lost in the playoffs to the Indianapolis Colts.
Super Bowl 50 Champions (2015–2016)
In 2015, Gary Kubiak, a former Broncos player and coach, became the new head coach. The team made many changes, including hiring Wade Phillips as defensive coordinator. The Broncos' defense became one of the best in NFL history.
Even though Peyton Manning had a challenging season with injuries, the Broncos finished 12–4 and were the top seed in the AFC. They won their playoff games against the Pittsburgh Steelers and New England Patriots. Then, they defeated the Carolina Panthers 24–10 in Super Bowl 50, winning their third Super Bowl title!
Peyton Manning retired after the 2015 season. In 2016, the Broncos tried to find a new starting quarterback. Trevor Siemian became the starter. The team finished 9–7 and missed the playoffs. On January 2, 2017, Gary Kubiak retired as coach due to health reasons.
Recent Years (2017–Present)
Vance Joseph became the head coach in 2017. The team struggled, finishing 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 as a rookie. The Broncos finished 6–10, and Vance Joseph was let go.
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 later in the season and led the team to a 4–1 record, finishing 7–9.
The 2020 season was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Many players, including star Von Miller, got injured. In one game, all three of the Broncos' quarterbacks were unavailable, so wide receiver Kendall Hinton had to play as quarterback. The Broncos finished 5–11.
In 2021, the Broncos traded for quarterback Teddy Bridgewater. They also improved their defense by signing new players and drafting Patrick Surtain II. Peyton Manning was added to the Broncos' Ring of Fame. Later, the team traded Von Miller to the Los Angeles Rams. The Broncos finished 7–10, and Vic Fangio was let go.
In 2022, Nathaniel Hackett became the head coach. The team was put up for sale and was bought by the Walton-Penner Family Ownership Group, led by Rob Walton. The Broncos also traded for star quarterback Russell Wilson. However, the team struggled, and Hackett was let go before the end of the season.
In 2023, Sean Payton became the new head coach. The team started 1–5, including a tough loss where they gave up 70 points. But they improved, winning against the Buffalo Bills and the Kansas City Chiefs (their first win against the Chiefs since 2015). The Broncos finished the season 8–9, their best record since 2016, but still missed the playoffs. Russell Wilson was later released. For the 2024 season, the Broncos drafted quarterback Bo Nix, who was named the Week 1 starter.
Team Rivalries
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 AFL and have played each other twice a year for over 60 years.
Las Vegas Raiders
The rivalry with the Raiders is very intense. It really heated up in 1977 when the Broncos beat the Raiders in the AFC Championship to reach their first Super Bowl. The Raiders currently lead the overall series.
Kansas City Chiefs
The Broncos have had many memorable games against the Kansas City Chiefs. One famous playoff game was in 1997 when the Broncos beat the Chiefs on their way to their first Super Bowl win. The Chiefs currently lead the overall series.
Los Angeles Chargers
The Broncos have a winning record against the Los Angeles Chargers. A famous game happened in 2012 when Peyton Manning led the Broncos to a huge comeback win after being down 24–0 at halftime. The Broncos also beat the Chargers in their first playoff meeting in 2014.
Historical Rivals
Besides their division rivals, the Broncos have also had rivalries with the Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers, and New England Patriots. The Seattle Seahawks were also AFC West rivals from 1977 to 2001 before moving to a different division.
Cleveland Browns
The Broncos had a rivalry with the Browns because they played each other in three AFC Championship games in 1986, 1987, and 1989.
- In 1986, John Elway led a famous play called The Drive to tie the game late, and the Broncos won in overtime.
- In 1987, the Broncos were leading, but the Browns came back. Then, a play called The Fumble happened where a Browns player lost the ball near the goal line, and the Broncos won.
- The Broncos easily won the 1989 AFC Championship game.
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Broncos and Steelers have played each other many times in the playoffs, making it one of the most frequent playoff matchups in NFL history. The Broncos have a winning record against the Steelers in the playoffs.
- In 1997, the Broncos beat the Steelers in the AFC Championship on their way to their first Super Bowl win.
- In 2005, the Steelers beat the Broncos in the AFC Championship and then won the Super Bowl.
- In 2011, Tim Tebow threw an 80-yard touchdown pass on the first play of overtime to beat the Steelers in a Wild Card game.
- In 2015, the Broncos beat the Steelers in the playoffs on their way to winning Super Bowl 50.
New England Patriots
The Broncos and Patriots have a long history, playing each other since 1960. Their rivalry became even more intense when Peyton Manning joined the Broncos in 2012, as he had a famous rivalry with Patriots quarterback Tom Brady. While Brady often won in the regular season, Manning won three out of five playoff games against Brady, including the 2013 and 2015 AFC Championship games.
Seattle Seahawks
The Broncos had an old rivalry with the Seattle Seahawks because the Seahawks were in the AFC West division from 1977 to 2001. The Broncos had a good record against the Seahawks during those years. The two teams also played in Super Bowl XLVIII in 2014, where the Seahawks won.
Team Facilities
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For most of their history, the Broncos played at Mile High Stadium. The team has sold out every home game since 1970, except for two games during a strike in 1987. 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. It is now called Empower Field at Mile High. Many fans still call it "Mile High Stadium" because of its history.
The Broncos' training facility, the UCHealth Training Center, is in Dove Valley. It has three full-size fields, a weight room, and a cafeteria. 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 screen.
Team Logos and Uniforms
Older Uniforms (1968–1996)
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When the Broncos first started in 1960, their uniforms were quite 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 changed to a horse coming out of a "D," and the helmets became royal blue. They sometimes wore orange pants with their white jerseys.
Modern Uniforms (1997–2023)
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In 1997, the Broncos completely changed their logo and uniforms. Navy blue replaced royal blue. The new logo shows a horse's head with an orange mane, inspired by the team's live horse mascot, Thunder.
The team started wearing navy blue jerseys at home, instead of their traditional orange. These new uniforms had a streak running down the sides of the jerseys and pants. At first, some people didn't like them, but then the Broncos won their first Super Bowl in these new uniforms that same season!
In 2002, the Broncos brought back an orange alternate jersey. In 2003, they also introduced navy blue pants. These pants were mostly used for special 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" orange uniform with orange pants, which they hadn't worn since 1979. These uniforms had numbers that looked like their older style. In 2023, these Color Rush uniforms were paired with a white helmet featuring the "D-horse" logo.
New Uniforms (2024–Present)
On April 22, 2024, the Broncos showed off new, simpler uniform designs. They removed the mismatched stripes and went back to a more classic number style. The new uniforms come in orange (home), white (away), and navy blue (alternate), and can be worn with orange, white, or navy blue pants. The stripes on the uniforms are inspired by the Rocky Mountains. They also brought back a 1977 "Orange Crush" throwback uniform with a royal blue "D-horse" helmet.
Team Records and Players
Season Records
Since their first season in 1960, the Broncos have an all-time record of 508 wins, 465 losses, and 10 ties as of the 2023 season.
Retired Numbers
The Broncos have retired numbers to honor special players.
| Denver Broncos retired numbers | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Player | Position | Career | Retired |
| 7 | John Elway | QB | 1983–1998 | September 13, 1999 |
| 18 | Frank Tripucka | QB | 1960–1963 | 1963–2012 |
| Peyton Manning | QB | 2012–2015 † | 2016 † | |
| 44 | Floyd Little | RB | 1967–1975 | 1984 |
† Note: Number 18 was given to Peyton Manning with Frank Tripucka's permission. Manning's name was added to the retired number banner as an honorable mention.
Pro Football Hall of Famers
Several Broncos players and owners are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
| Denver Broncos Hall of Famers | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Players | ||||
| No. | Name | Position(s) | Season(s) | Inducted |
| 24 | Willie Brown | CB | 1963–1966 | 1984 |
| 33 | Tony Dorsett | RB | 1988 | 1994 |
| 7 | John Elway | QB | 1983–1998 | 2004 |
| 65 | Gary Zimmerman | OT | 1993–1997 | 2008 |
| 44 | Floyd Little | RB | 1967–1975 | 2010 |
| 84 | Shannon Sharpe | TE | 1990–1999 2002–2003 |
2011 |
| 30 | Terrell Davis | RB | 1995–2001 | 2017 |
| 20 | Brian Dawkins | SS | 2009–2011 | 2018 |
| 24 | Champ Bailey | CB | 2004–2013 | 2019 |
| 26 | Ty Law | CB | 2009 | 2019 |
| 27 | Steve Atwater | FS | 1989–1998 | 2020 |
| 47 | John Lynch | SS | 2004–2007 | 2021 |
| 18 | Peyton Manning | QB | 2012–2015 | 2021 |
| 94 | DeMarcus Ware | LB | 2014–2016 | 2023 |
| 52, 53 | Randy Gradishar | LB | 1974–1983 | 2024 |
| Coaches and Contributors | ||||
| Pat Bowlen | Owner/CEO | 1984–2019 | 2019 | |
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.
| Denver Broncos Ring of Fame | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Name | Position(s) | Seasons | Inducted |
| 23 | Goose Gonsoulin | S | 1960–1966 | 1984 |
| 87 | Rich Jackson | DE | 1967–1972 | 1984 |
| 44 | Floyd Little | RB | 1967–1975 | 1984 |
| 87 | Lionel Taylor | E | 1960–1966 | 1984 |
| — | Gerald Phipps | Owner | 1961–1981 | 1985 |
| 12 | Charley Johnson | QB | 1972–1975 | 1986 |
| 70 | Paul Smith | DT | 1968–1978 | 1986 |
| 18 | Frank Tripucka | QB | 1960–1963 | 1986 |
| 36 | Billy Thompson | S | 1969–1981 | 1987 |
| 7 | Craig Morton | QB | 1977–1982 | 1988 |
| 25 | Haven Moses | WR | 1972–1981 | 1988 |
| 15 | Jim Turner | K | 1971–1979 | 1988 |
| 53 | Randy Gradishar | LB | 1974–1983 | 1989 |
| 57 | Tom Jackson | LB | 1973–1986 | 1992 |
| 20 | Louis Wright | CB | 1975–1986 | 1993 |
| 7 | John Elway | QB, General manager | 1983–1998 2011–2020 |
1999 |
| 77 | Karl Mecklenburg | LB | 1983–1995 | 2001 |
| 49 | Dennis Smith | S | 1981–1994 | 2001 |
| 65 | Gary Zimmerman | T | 1993–1997 | 2003 |
| 27 | Steve Atwater | S | 1989–1998 | 2005 |
| 30 | Terrell Davis | RB | 1995–2001 | 2007 |
| 84 | Shannon Sharpe | TE | 1990–1999, 2002–2003 | 2009 |
| 80 | Rod Smith | WR | 1994–2006 | 2012 |
| 66 | Tom Nalen | C | 1994–2007 | 2013 |
| 21 | Gene Mingo | HB, K | 1960–1964 | 2014 |
| — | Dan Reeves | Head coach | 1981–1992 | 2014 |
| 80 | Rick Upchurch | WR, PR, KR | 1975–1983 | 2014 |
| — | Pat Bowlen | Owner | 1984–2013 | 2015 |
| 1 | Jason Elam | K | 1993–2007 | 2016 |
| 73 | Simon Fletcher | LB | 1985–1995 | 2016 |
| 47 | John Lynch | S | 2004–2007 | 2016 |
| — | Red Miller | Head coach | 1977–1980 | 2017 |
| 24 | Champ Bailey | CB | 2004–2013 | 2019 |
| — | Mike Shanahan | Head coach | 1984-1987 (WR Coach / QB Coach / Offensive Coordinator) 1989–1991 (QB Coach / Offensive Coordinator) 1995–2008 (Head Coach) |
2020 |
| 18 | Peyton Manning | QB | 2012–2015 | 2021 |
| 43 | Steve Foley | S | 1976–1986 | 2024 |
| 88 | Riley Odoms | TE | 1972–1983 | 2024 |
Super Bowl MVPs
Three Broncos players have won the Super Bowl MVP award.
| Super Bowl MVP Winners | ||
|---|---|---|
| Super Bowl | Player | Position |
| XXXII | Terrell Davis | RB |
| XXXIII | John Elway | QB |
| 50 | Von Miller | LB |
Radio and Television
The Broncos' main radio station is KOA, 850 AM. 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, a Spanish language radio station.
Images for kids
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Denver Broncos Uniforms 2024-Present
See also
In Spanish: Denver Broncos para niños
