Denver Broncos
On the 14th of August 1959, minor league baseball owner Bob Howsam received an American Football League charter franchise for Denver. The team played its first game on the 9th of September 1960, defeating the Boston Patriots by a score of 13, 10. Despite this opening victory, the Broncos struggled through their entire decade in the AFL. They recorded only one winning season during those ten years, finishing with a 7, 7 record in 1962. The franchise nearly lost its home in 1965 until a local ownership group stepped in to save it. Floyd Little became the team's first superstar when he signed in 1967 and helped keep the organization in Denver. He was instrumental in rebuilding the team through his Pro Bowl efforts both on and off the field. The Broncos were the only original AFL team that never reached the league title game or posted a winning season while part of that upstart league.
Dan Reeves joined the Broncos as vice president and head coach in 1981 at age 37, making him the youngest head coach in NFL history at that time. Quarterback John Elway arrived via trade from the Baltimore Colts in 1983 after being drafted first overall. Elway had threatened to shun football entirely unless traded to a specific list of teams including Denver. Before Elway, the Broncos had used over 24 different starting quarterbacks across 23 seasons. Reeves and Elway guided the team to six postseason appearances and five division titles over twelve years together. They won three AFC championships but lost all three Super Bowl appearances: Super Bowl XXI against New York Giants, Super Bowl XXII against Washington Redskins, and Super Bowl XXIV against San Francisco 49ers. The final score of Super Bowl XXIV remains the most lopsided scoring differential in Super Bowl history with a 55, 10 loss. Their partnership ended in feuding after Reeves took play-calling duties following Mike Shanahan's ouster in 1991. Reeves was fired after the 1992 season and replaced by Wade Phillips.
Mike Shanahan returned as head coach in 1995 after previously serving under Dan Reeves as offensive coordinator. The team went 8, 8 that year before drafting running back Terrell Davis. In 1996, the Broncos finished 13, 3 as the top seed in the AFC but lost to Jacksonville Jaguars 30, 27 in the divisional round. During the 1997 season, John Elway and Terrell Davis led Denver to its first Super Bowl victory. They defeated Green Bay Packers 31, 24 in Super Bowl XXXII despite Elway completing only 13 of 22 passes with one interception. Terrell Davis rushed for 157 yards and three touchdowns while overcoming a severe migraine headache causing blurred vision. He earned Super Bowl Most Valuable Player honors. The following season, the Broncos repeated as champions by defeating Atlanta Falcons 34, 19 in Super Bowl XXXIII. John Elway completed 18 of 29 passes for 336 yards including an 80-yard touchdown pass to Rod Smith. He was named Super Bowl MVP after the game. Elway retired following the 1998 season.
In March 2012, the Broncos signed Peyton Manning to a five-year contract worth $96 million after he missed the entire 2011 season due to neck surgeries. Manning had recently played for the Indianapolis Colts before joining Denver. Tim Tebow replaced Kyle Orton as starting quarterback during the 2011 playoffs but was traded to New York Jets after Manning's arrival. The team finished 13, 3 in both 2012 and 2013 seasons earning the AFC's number one seed each year. In 2013, Manning shattered multiple quarterback records while the offense broke all franchise offensive records. They defeated San Diego Chargers and New England Patriots in the playoffs before losing to Seattle Seahawks 43, 8 in Super Bowl XLVIII. Prior to the 2014 season, owner Pat Bowlen relinquished control due to Alzheimer's disease. Team president Joe Ellis and general manager John Elway assumed control. The Broncos finished 12, 4 that year but lost to Indianapolis Colts in divisional round. Manning played with strained quadriceps during the final month of the 2014 season.
On the 12th of January 2015, head coach John Fox mutually agreed to part ways with the Broncos after four seasons. Gary Kubiak was hired as the new head coach one week later. Kubiak had previously served as backup quarterback to John Elway from 1983 to 1991 and as offensive coordinator from 1995 to 2005. Under Kubiak, the defense improved dramatically to rank number one in the NFL by 2015. The team won Super Bowl 50 against Carolina Panthers 24, 10. Manning retired on the 7th of March 2016, after 18 NFL seasons. Brock Osweiler departed for Houston Texans while Mark Sanchez and Paxton Lynch competed for starting role. Trevor Siemian became starter leading to a 9, 7 record and missed playoffs. Kubiak announced retirement on the 2nd of January 2017 citing health reasons. Vance Joseph was hired as head coach on the 11th of January 2017 but finished 5, 11 that year. He recorded an 11, 21 record over two seasons before being fired. Vic Fangio took over on the 10th of January 2019 but lost to Kansas City Chiefs ending his tenure on the 8th of January 2022.
Mile High Stadium served as home field from 1960 through 2000 season. The stadium featured steel flooring instead of concrete creating loud environments especially during playoff games. Denver had best home record in pro football from 1974 to 2006 with 191 wins, 65 losses, and one tie. Fans booed no-shows and chanted IN-COM-PLETE whenever opposing teams threw incomplete passes. Altitude at 5,280 feet above sea level gave Broncos conditioning advantage. Invesco Field opened next to demolished Mile High site then became Sports Authority Field before renaming to Empower Field at Mile High in September 2019. The team sold out every home game since AFL-NFL merger except two replacement games during strike period. As of 2024 season, the franchise has never been shut out at home across over 400 games. Divisional rivals include Kansas City Chiefs, Las Vegas Raiders, and Los Angeles Chargers forming AFC West. All four teams were original American Football League members playing each other twice yearly for over sixty years. The rivalry intensified when Mike Shanahan coached Raiders before being fired mid-season in 1995.
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Common questions
When was the Denver Broncos franchise established and who received the charter?
The Denver Broncos franchise was established on the 14th of August 1959 when Bob Howsam received an American Football League charter. The team played its first game on the 9th of September 1960 against the Boston Patriots.
Who were the key figures that led the Denver Broncos to their Super Bowl victories in the late 1990s?
John Elway and Terrell Davis led the Denver Broncos to their first Super Bowl victory in the 1997 season by defeating the Green Bay Packers. They repeated as champions in the following season by defeating the Atlanta Falcons, with Elway earning MVP honors both times.
What happened during the Denver Broncos tenure under Dan Reeves and John Elway?
Dan Reeves joined the Denver Broncos as head coach in 1981 while John Elway arrived via trade in 1983. Their partnership resulted in three AFC championships but they lost all three Super Bowl appearances including a record lopsided loss in Super Bowl XXIV.
How did the Denver Broncos perform after signing Peyton Manning in March 2012?
After signing Peyton Manning in March 2012, the Denver Broncos finished 13, 3 in both 2012 and 2013 seasons earning the number one seed each year. The team won Super Bowl 50 against the Carolina Panthers before Manning retired on the 7th of March 2016.
Where have the Denver Broncos played their home games throughout history?
Mile High Stadium served as the home field for the Denver Broncos from 1960 through the 2000 season featuring steel flooring to create loud environments. Invesco Field opened next to the demolished site and was renamed Empower Field at Mile High in September 2019.