Feeling a Mile High in Denver: A Broncos Legacy
The Denver Broncos were a founding member of the AFL (American Football League) in 1960, competing until the NFL merger in 1970. After the city of Denver purchased a stadium in 1968, the Broncos would call Mile High Stadium home for decades. Let’s take a look at the key moments in Broncos history that have kept fans riding high.
The 70’s: The Birth of a Competitive Team
The Broncos saw their first winning season in 1973 under head coach John Ralston, finishing 7-5-2. This campaign included a dramatic tie in Denver's first Monday Night Football appearance. The '77 Broncos, led by the legendary "Orange Crush" defense, finished with a 12-2 record, winning both the AFC West and the conference title before falling short in Super Bowl XII. The team made the playoffs again in 1976, 1978, and 1979, solidifying Denver as a competitive force in the league.
The 80’s: Enter Elway and the Golden Era
The Broncos hit a new gear in the 1980s with the arrival of quarterback John Elway in 1983. Though initially drafted by the Colts, Elway famously forced a trade to Denver after threatening to pursue a career in Major League Baseball. His arrival signaled a new era of dominance for the Broncos. Under head coach Dan Reeves, Denver became a powerhouse, winning AFC Championships in 1986, 1987, and 1989. Despite three Super Bowl appearances, Denver fell short in all, though the 1987 MVP award for Elway was a bright spot during this era of near-success.
The 90’s: The Mile-High Magic
In 1995, the Broncos drafted running back Terrell Davis, and the offense took off. Denver finished 13-3 but was upset in the divisional round that year. The following season, the Broncos went 12-4 and made a wild-card run to their first Super Bowl win, defeating the Green Bay Packers in Super Bowl XXXII. Denver didn’t slow down in 1998. With Davis running wild (2,008 rushing yards), the Broncos finished 14-2, securing back-to-back Super Bowls by defeating the Atlanta Falcons in Super Bowl XXXIII. Davis cemented his place as one of the league’s all-time greats during this golden stretch.
The Early 2000s: Playoff Contenders, But No Titles
The Broncos experienced playoff appearances but failed to capture another championship in the early 2000s. Quarterback Jake Plummer led the team to two straight 10-6 records in 2003 and 2004, but both seasons ended in first-round playoff exits to Peyton Manning's Colts. However, in 2005, Denver earned a division title with a 13-3 record, their first AFC West title since 1998. They reached the AFC Championship game but fell short once again.
Tebow Time: The Miracle Worker
The 2011 season was a rollercoaster for the Broncos. After a 1-4 start, head coach John Fox turned the reins over to Tim Tebow, and the move paid off. Tebow led Denver to an 8-8 record, a division title, and a playoff berth. His clutch performances, including a miraculous overtime win over the Steelers in the opening round of the playoffs, helped fuel Tebowmania in Denver. While the Broncos didn’t go far in the playoffs, the 2011 campaign sparked renewed hope for the franchise.
The Big Manning Move: A Super Bowl Bound Team
In 2012, the Broncos made a franchise-altering move, signing Peyton Manning after he missed the 2011 season due to neck surgeries. Manning’s presence immediately transformed Denver into a Super Bowl contender. In 2012, the Broncos finished with a 13-3 record but were knocked out in the divisional round. In 2013, Denver once again posted a 13-3 mark and made it to Super Bowl XLVIII, but the Seahawks defense dominated in a blowout win. In 2014, despite a 12-4 record and the #2 seed, the Broncos were again eliminated in the divisional round.
However, the Broncos' fortunes turned in 2015 when head coach Gary Kubiak and defensive coordinator Wade Phillips turned the defense into one of the best in the NFL. With a dominant defensive unit, led by Von Miller, and a less-than-stellar offensive performance from Manning (who played through injury), Denver captured its third Super Bowl title, defeating the Carolina Panthers in Super Bowl 50. Manning retired after the 2015 season, capping off an illustrious career.
A Local Hero: Philip Lindsay’s Remarkable Rise
In 2018, Denver signed undrafted running back Philip Lindsay from the University of Colorado. Lindsay wasted no time making an impact, becoming the first undrafted player in NFL history to post 100+ scrimmage yards in each of his first two games. He was selected to the 2019 Pro Bowl, further cementing his place in Denver sports lore as the first undrafted rookie to receive such an honor.
New Leadership, New Hope: Sean Payton and the 2023 Season
Fast forward to 2023: Sean Payton was hired as head coach, bringing a fresh perspective to a franchise that had missed the playoffs for seven straight seasons. While the 2023 season finished with a disappointing 8-9 record, it marked a step forward in the team’s development, as Payton looked to reshape the culture and build a contender. With a clear gap at quarterback, the Broncos were focused on the 2024 draft, and Payton had his eyes on one player in particular: Bo Nix.
The Bo Nix Era Begins: A New Quarterback to Lead Denver
Payton was so confident in Nix’s ability that, two days before the draft, he announced his plan to personally fly to Nix’s location and deliver the news that the Broncos were selecting him with the 12th overall pick. It was a bold move, and in an interview with Jay Glazer, Payton revealed that had the Broncos held the #1 overall pick, they would have still selected Nix.
Nix’s numbers in his final two seasons at Oregon were stellar: 8,101 passing yards, a 74.9% completion rate, 74 touchdowns, and just 10 interceptions. He also added 744 rushing yards and 20 touchdowns.
In his rookie season, Nix proved the hype was justified, throwing for 3,775 yards with a 66.3% completion rate, 29 touchdowns, and just two interceptions. He added 430 rushing yards and four touchdowns while being sacked only 24 times in 17 games. The Broncos finished 10-7, making the playoffs for the first time in eight seasons.
Despite being the sixth quarterback selected in the 2024 draft, Nix had the most passing yards, attempts, completions, and touchdowns of all rookie quarterbacks while taking the fewest sacks. The future is indeed bright in Denver.
With Bo Nix under center, Broncos fans can once again look toward a promising future, and the team is poised to rise to new heights. The Mile High City is ready for a new era of Broncos football—one that fans can truly Bo-lieve in.
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