History of Denver Broncos

by Jon
(Wayne, PA)

The Denver Broncos have been the most popular professional sports team in Denver. The Broncos were an original member of the AFL. In 2010, the Broncos will celebrate their 50th season playing professional football.

Younger fans may not remember, but the history of Denver Broncos has not always been a winning one. Denver was a terrible football team until the mid 1970s. In the 1960s, its first decade in existence, the team went 39-97-4. Its only star from that period was running back Floyd Little, from Syracuse University. Denver was the only original AFL team not to play in an AFL championship game.

The Broncos improved in the 1970s under the coaching of John Ralston and Red Miller. Miller led the famous Orange Crush defense to the playoffs in 1977, with QB Craig Morton. The Broncos lost to The Dallas Cowboys 27-10.

The franchise became a consistent winner when Dan Reeves was coach, and John Elway was the starting quarterback. As most Broncos fans know, Elway led the Broncos to three Super Bowl that ended in embarrassing defeats, Super Bowl XXI loss to the New York Giants 39-20, Super Bowl XXII to the Washington Redskins 42-10, and Super Bowl XXIV to the San Francisco 49’ers 55-10. Only when the Broncos established a running game with Terrell Davis did the Broncos win back to back Super Bowls Super Bowls XXXII and XXXIII.

The Broncos have made 20 playoff appearances since 1977. They have won 6 conference championships. They are 2-4 in Super Bowl appearances. They have winning records against most franchises in the NFL except against Miami, Oakland, Kansas City, Buffalo, Philadelphia, Minnesota, Tennessee, and St. Louis.

The Broncos have had many All-Pros’ play for them. These include WR Steve Watson, WR Rod Smith, QB John Elway, TE Shannon Sharpe, RB Floyd Little, LB Karl Mecklenburg, S Steve Atwater, LB Tom Jackson, and S Louis Wright, just to name a few.

Tickets are hard to come by, since the games usually sell out before the season starts. The Broncos have had a great winning tradition over the last 30 years, and they are the premier sporting ticket for professional sports in Denver.