The Denver Broncos were founded in 1959 and began playing in the old AFL in 1960. In 1970 the team joined the NFL as part of the AFL-NFL merger. The Broncos had a modest beginning to their history, not making the playoffs until 1977. Since then they have amassed an impressive resume of three Super Bowl titles, the last one coming in 2015.
The Broncos have made the playoffs 22 times and have won the AFC title eight times. Making a list of the greatest Denver Broncos players was not easy but we have put together 25 names that will never be forgotten in Denver.
Honorable mentions: Al Wilson, Jake Plummer, Elvis Dumervil, DeMarcus Ware, Mark Schlereth
25. Frank Tripucka – QB
Stats: 10,282 Passing Yards, 50.4 Completion Percentage, 74 Punts, 2,825 Punting Yards.
Accolades: Broncos Ring of Fame, Broncos retired number 18.
Frank Tripucka was a hero in the early years for the Broncos. Tripucka held multiple records for the team, he led the league in interceptions in 1960 and he had 3,000 passing yards, making him the first QB to throw for 3,000 yards.
24. John Lynch – S
Stats: 1,058 Tackles, 13 Quarterback Sacks, 26 Interceptions, 16 Forced Fumbles
Accolades: 9-time Pro Bowl, Denver Broncos Ring of Fame
Championships: 1
John Lynch was as durable as they came, he only missed four games in his four seasons with the Broncos. He was the defensive captain of the team and one of the toughest safeties in league history. Today he is the GM of the San Francisco 49ers.
23. Lionel Taylor – WR
Stats: 567 Receptions, 7,195 Receiving Yards, 45 Touchdowns
Accolades: 5-time AFL All-Star, Broncos Ring of Fame
Lionel Taylor was a dominant wide receiver for the Broncos back in the first years of the team. Taylor became the first ever WR to catch 100 passes in a NFL season, and scored 44 touchdowns for the Broncos. Taylor became the first ever player inducted to the Broncos Ring of Fame.
22. Rich Jackson – DE
Stats: 82 Games played, 2 Fumble Recoveries
Accolades: 3-Time Pro- Bowl, Broncos Ring of Fame
Rich Jackson, better known as “Tombstone” Jackson is one of the toughest players in NFL history. He had 43 sacks in his Broncos career and was known for his toughness and his head slap. He would be higher on this list if not for the career ending injury that cut his time in the NFL short.
21. Ed McCaffrey – WR
Stats: 565 Receptions, 55 Touchdowns, 7,422 Receiving Yards
Accolades: 1998 Pro-Bowl, Denver Broncos 50th Anniversary team
Championships: 3
Ed McCaffrey was solid in the 1998 Super Bowl run, he caught 64 passes and scored 10 touchdowns. McCaffrey won two Super Bowls with the Broncos and is fifth all-time in receiving yards, catches, and fourth in all-time touchdowns.
20. Tom Jackson – LB
Stats: 13 Sacks, 20 Interceptions, 3 Touchdowns
Accolades: 3-time Pro-Bowl, 3-time All-Pro, Broncos Ring of Fame, Broncos 50th Anniversary team.
Tom Jackson played his whole career for the Broncos playing 191 games, the most for any Broncos defensive player ever. Jackson was known for his speed and his ability to make plays. When he retired, Jackson was tied for the most interceptions by a linebacker with 20.
19. Tom Nalen – C
Stats: 194 Games Played
Accolades: 5-time Pro- Bowl, 3-Time All-Pro, Denver Broncos Ring of Fame, Broncos 50th Anniversary Team.
Championships: 2
Tom Nalen was as dependable as they came, a Bronco for life, he played his whole career with the team. Nalen won two Super Bowl titles with the Broncos playing the Center position and he was a massive part of the Broncos running game, he was extremely athletic and had great positioning.
18. Demaryius Thomas – WR
Stats: 724 Receptions, 9,763 Receiving Yards, 63 Receiving Touchdowns
Accolades: 5- Time Pro- Bowl
Championships: 1
Demaryius Thomas was a great wide receiver for the Broncos, he was strong, fast and full of talent. He set various franchise records for the team such as most receiving yards in a single game (226), 7 consecutive games with at least 100 receiving yards, 16 games with at least 5 receptions. After his Broncos career ended he bounced around with the Jets being his final team in 2019.
17. Jason Elam – PK
Stats: 436 Field Goals Made, 1,983 Points Scored
Accolades: 3-Time Pro-Bowl, Broncos Ring of Fame, Broncos 50th Anniversary Team.
Championships: 2
Jason Elam played 15 years with the Broncos and kicked the longest field goal in Broncos history at 63 yards. Elam scored 1,983 points for the team and he won two Super Bowls to boot. Finding a long-time place kicker is extremely hard but Elam and the Broncos struck gold together.
16. Simon Fletcher – LB
Stats: 828 Tackles, 97.5 Sacks, 20 Forced Fumbles
Accolades: Denver Broncos Ring of Fame
In his 11- year career with the Broncos, Simon Fletcher was a record breaker, he holds the record for most consecutive games with a sack (10). He is also the record holder for most sacks ever for the Broncos. Considered by many to be one of the best edge defenders in Bronco history, Fletcher knew how to defend and the opposition knew it.
15. Billy Thompson – DB
Stats: 40 Interceptions, 21 Fumble Recoveries
Accolades: 3-Time Pro-Bowl, Denver Broncos Ring of Fame
Billy Thompson played for the Broncos from 1969-1981 he was an example of durability. Thompson holds the record for most career interception return yards at 784. He also had 40 interceptions for the Orange Crush.
14. Karl Mecklenburg – LB
Stats: 79.5 Sacks, 1, 118 Tackles
Accolades: 6-time Pro-Bowl, Denver Broncos Ring of Fame
Karl Mecklenburg was a fearsome Linebacker for the Broncos, he was a part of the Orange Crush and was a sack machine. He had over 1,000 tackles and 79 sacks for the Broncos in his 12 years. Mecklenburg was extremely tough, known for bringing high intensity to his sacks, but it came with a price as he suffered more than 10 concussions in his career.
13. Dennis Smith – S
Stats: 30 Interceptions, 15 Sacks
Accolades: 6-Time Pro-Bowl, Broncos Ring of Fame
Dennis Smith was another Broncos lifer, he played 184 games for the team and was a tough safety having over 1,152 tackles and 30 interceptions. He was known for hitting pretty hard and became one of the most feared hitters in the whole NFL. If you saw Dennis Smith coming you better move out of his way or get rammed in the process.
12. Randy Gradishar – LB
Stats: 20 Interceptions, 2,049 Tackles
Accolades: 7-Time Pro-Bowl, 1978 NFL Defensive Player of the Year, Broncos Ring of Fame
One of the central pieces of the Orange Crush, Randy Gradishar was just tough to the bone in the 1970s and 1980s. He was a leader of the Orange Crush defense, rarely missing a game and being extremely dominant every time he stepped on the field.
11. Steve Atwater – S
Stats: 1,180 Tackles, 408 Interception Yards
Accolades: 8- Time Pro-Bowl, NFL 1990s All-Decade team, Broncos Ring of Fame
Championships: 2
Steve Atwater was a hard nose safety, he had cat-like quickness and was extremely aware of wide receivers, packing a hard hit that receivers hated. He won two Super Bowls with the Broncos, having a memorable game in Super Bowl XXXII, which he recorded six solo tackles, one sack, two passes defensed and a forced fumble.
10.Rod Smith – WR
Stats: 849 Receptions, 11,389 Receiving Yards, 68 Receiving Touchdowns
Accolades: 3-Pro-Bowls, NFL Reception Leader in 2001, Broncos Ring of Fame
Championships: 2
Rod Smith is the all-time leader of the following stats at the time of his retirement: Receptions (849), yards (11,389), and touchdowns (68). He won two Super Bowls with the team and holds the NFL record for most receiving yards and touchdown receptions of any undrafted player.
9. Louis Wright – CB
Stats: 26 Interceptions
Accolades: 5-Time Pro-Bowl, 1970s NFL All-Decade Team, Broncos Ring of Fame.
Louis Wright was a versatile player in his time, and had a knack for picking off passes for the Orange Crush defense. Wright was a great run defender commanding the left side. He was an integral part of the Broncos team that went to the 1977 Super Bowl.
8. Gary Zimmerman – OT
Stats: 184 Games Played, 4 Fumble Recoveries
Accolades: NFL All-Decade team in 1980 and 1990, 7-Time Pro-Bowl, Broncos Ring of Fame
Championships: 1
Gary Zimmerman had one task, protect John Elway, and that is what he did. He was a tough left tackle that helped the Broncos win the 1998 Super Bowl. He was a leader of the offensive line doing all his talking in the locker room, as he rarely spoke to the media.
7.Floyd Little – HB
Stats: 6,323 Rushing Yards, 215 Receptions, 2,418 Receiving Yards
Accolades: 5-Time Pro-Bowl, 1971 NFL Rushing Yards Leader, 1973 NFL Rushing Touchdowns Leader, Broncos number 44 jersey retired, Broncos Ring of Fame
Floyd Little was one of the best running backs ever. He was very elusive and quick on his feet, running for 6,323 yards and scoring 43 touchdowns. He is one of the few players in Broncos history to have his jersey retired.
6. Von Miller – LB
Stats: 106 Sacks, 489 Total Fumbles, 25 Forced Fumbles, 21 Pass Deflections
Accolades: Super Bowl 50 MVP, 8- Time Pro-Bowl, 3- Time First Team All-Pro
Championships: 1
Von Miller came to the Broncos after one of the team’s worst seasons ever. He has been a gem ever since, he is a sack machine that always finds his way to the Quarterback. Miller is slated as the face of the team now and he is on pace to become one of the greatest players in the history of the NFL. He already is one of the best Broncos ever.
5. Champ Bailey – CB
Stats: 908 Tackles, QB Sacks: 3, 204 Passes Defended, 7 Force Fumbles
Accolades: 12- Time Pro-Bowl, NFL Interception Leader 2006, Broncos 50th Anniversary Team, NFL 2000s All- Decade Team
Champ Bailey was a tough Cornerback, he was as tough as they came and an Interception magnet in his prime. In the 2009 season Bailey did not allow a touchdown in 80 attempts that went his way, he was a beast of a defender.
4. Shannon Sharpe – TE
Stats: 815 Receptions, 10,060 Receiving Yards, 62 Touchdowns
Accolades: 8-Time Pro-Bowl, NFL 1990 All-Decade Team, Broncos Ring of Fame, Broncos 50th Anniversary Team
Championships: 3
Shannon Sharpe took a bit to get going for the Broncos but he improved year after year, and was a pivotal piece of the Broncos two Super Bowls during his era. Sharpe was known as a trash talker but he backed it up with 815 receptions and over 10,000 receiving yards you just had to shut up and get out of his way.
3.Terrell Davis – RB
Stats: 7,607 Receiving Yards, 60 Rushing Touchdowns
Accolades: Super Bowl XXXII MVP, 3-Time Pro-Bowl, 1998 NFL MVP, Broncos Ring of Fame, NFL 1990s All-Decade Team
Championships: 2
The greatest running back in Broncos history, Terrell Davis, was a superstar in Denver, he rushed for over 1,000 yards in his first 4 seasons and won two Super Bowls with the team. Just how important was he? He was a NFL and Super Bowl MVP.
2. Peyton Manning – QB
Stats: 9,380 Passing Attempts, 71,940 Passing Yards, 96.5 Passing Rating
Accolades: Both the Colts and Broncos retired his number 18, 5- Time NFL MVP, Super Bowl XLI MVP, NFL Man of the Year in 2013.
Championships: 2
Peyton Manning has done so much in his career we really can’t even fit it all in here. If we just stick to the Broncos, Manning won one Super Bowl, he passed for over 17,000 yards and 140 touchdowns. In only four years he was a beast of a QB for the team and well deserving of the number 2 spot.
1. John Elway – QB
Stats: 51,475 Passing Yards, 3,406 Rushing Yards, 33 Rushing Touchdowns
Accolades: 1987 NFL MVP, 1992 NFL Man of the Year, 9-Time Pro- Bowl, Broncos number 7 retired, Broncos Ring of Fame, 1990 All-Decade Team, NFL 100 anniversary team, Super Bowl MVP.
Championships: 2
The greatest Bronco of all time can be no one else but John Elway! 2 Super Bowls as a player and 1 as an administrator, the arm of a god and the leadership of a titan. He won back to back Super Bowls and now is lending his experience at the front office level. One of the all-time greats!