The Denver Broncos have been blessed with the number of great players that have donned orange and blue in the franchise’s history. Limiting the list to just five doesn’t do justice to all of the other greats from the past decades, yet that’s the task at hand.
With the exception for No. 1 on this list, there can be plenty of debate as to the order of the four that follow, as well as others that should have made the cut. An organization doesn’t make it to a record eight Super Bowls without extraordinary talent and this list only scratches the surface.
With a historically great franchise, it would be safe to assume that the top five players would all be in the Hall of Fame, right? Well, since the Broncos only have four players in the Hall of Fame this isn’t even possible.
As most every Broncos fan knows, there is a great injustice with how Canton has viewed the Broncos, and while there will be great debates about many Broncos for years to come, all of the players in this list should be elected immediately.
Since this is looking at the best Broncos of all time, it was only fair to look at the careers that each player had when they were with the Broncos. Even though some players had great careers with the Broncos and another team, it only mattered what they did in Denver.
Is it too early to put any current Broncos on this list? Did any members of the Orange Crush make the cut? How many players were on the Super Bowl winning teams in the late 90’s? Let’s find out.
5. Champ Bailey
Best statistical year: 2006; 10 INTs; 21 passes defended; 73 tackles; runner-up for Defensive Player of the Year
Honors with Broncos: Eight-time Pro Bowler; Three-time First-Team All-Pro; 2000s All-Decade Team
Super Bowl victories with Broncos: 0
It’s hard to imagine that the Broncos were able to land one of the best cornerbacks of all time in his prime for a running back (Clinton Portis) AND receive a second round pick. Oh how times have changed in the NFL in just 12 years.
Bailey was the champ of this defense from the moment he arrived in 2004 and could always be counted on to shut down his half of the field. Bailey ended his time in Denver with 34 interceptions, but what makes that even more incredible is understanding how infrequently quarterbacks chose to target him.
Arguably a top-three cover corner of all-time, Bailey was also one of the best tackling corners that this league has ever seen.
In 2006, Bailey was the runner-up for defensive player of the year, only behind Jason Taylor, with 10 interceptions. The year before, Bailey made one of the most memorable plays in Broncos playoff history when he picked off Tom Brady on the goal line and ran it back 100 yards to the opposite end zone, propelling Denver to the AFC Championship Game.
About the only thing that Bailey didn’t accomplish in his time in Denver was winning a world championship.
Although not a Hall of Famer yet, there is little doubt that Bailey will be elected in his first year of eligibility in 2019.
4. Steve Atwater
Career stats with Broncos: 10 seasons; 1,074 tackles*; 24 INTs; 6 forced fumbles
Best statistical year: 1991; 150 tackles*; 5 INTs; 1 forced fumble
Honors with Broncos: Eight-time Pro Bowler; Two-time First-Team All Pro; Rookie of the Year; 1990s All-Decade Team
Super Bowls with Broncos: XXXII & XXXIII
*During this time period there is a discrepancy on how tackles were measured
Steve Atwater, otherwise known as the Smiling Assassin, was not only a terror on the field for opposing offenses, but he forever changed the way the safety position was played.
Atwater’s statistics and honors are no doubt impressive, but maybe the most impressive aspect about him was he forced offenses to know where No. 27 was at all times. The ability to play all over the field, make the sure tackle, intercept the quarterback and make bone-crushing hits made Atwater the best defensive player in Broncos history.
In an era where tackling wasn’t policed as it is now, Atwater hit like a middle linebacker and shut down opposing quarterbacks.
Atwater delivered one of the most punishing hits in NFL history when he leveled Kansas City Chiefs power running back Christian Okoye. Adam Schefter described it as, “That one hit made Steve Atwater’s career, and diminished Christian Okoye’s reputation as one of the great power running backs in the game.”
During his time in Denver — 10 of his 11 total seasons — Atwater never missed a start and only missed five total games, even playing such a violent position. On the defensive side of the ball, Atwater led the team to three super bowls, with two victories.
Although you won’t see his name in Canton just yet, you will see it in the Ring of Fame. Once the Hall of Fame starts taking safeties seriously, Atwater should be among the first welcomed.
3. Shannon Sharpe
Best statistical year: 1996; 80 receptions; 1,062 receiving yards; 10 touchdowns
Honors with Broncos: Seven-time Pro Bowler; Four-time First-Team All-Pro; 1990s All-Decade Team; Hall of Famer
Super Bowls with Broncos: XXXII & XXXIII
When Shannon Sharpe retired after the 2003 season, he was the most decorated tight end in the history of the NFL holding nearly every receiving record by a tight end. Twelve of his 14 seasons were played in orange and blue.
What gets lost in today’s NFL is a tight end is supposed to be a blocker as well as a receiver. When head coach Mike Shanahan rejoined the Broncos in 1995 and installed the zone running game, Sharpe became a tremendous blocker.
Even though Sharpe was a tight end, he ranks second all-time among Broncos for receiving yards, receptions and receiving touchdowns — only trailing Rod Smith in every category.
Sharpe didn’t dominate the league because of his raw size, like some tight ends currently in the league. At 6-foot-2, 228 pounds Sharpe was one of the hardest working players in Broncos history. According to The Wall Street Journal, after his third year in the league the trainers let him use his own workout and diet plan, which rarely happens.
Although Sharpe did leave the Broncos after the 1999 season for the Baltimore Ravens for two seasons, he came back and played his final two seasons in Denver before retiring.
On Broncos teams chock-full of superstars, Sharpe stuck out with his vibrant attitude and loud mouth that Broncos fans came to love, specifically when he pretended to call the president midgame to send the National Guard because the Broncos were “killing the Patriots.”
2. Terrell Davis
Career stats with Broncos: 7 seasons; 7,607 rushing yards; 60 rushing touchdowns; 4.6 yards per attempt; 97.5 rushing yards per game
Best statistical year: 1998; 2,008 rushing yards; 21 touchdowns; 5.1 yards per attempt; 125.5 rushing yards per game
Honors with Broncos: Three-time Pro Bowler; Three-time First-Team All-Pro; Two-time Offensive Player of the Year; 1990s All-Decade Team; Super Bowl MVP
Super Bowls with Broncos: XXXII & XXXIII
Forget about simply being among the top two players in Broncos history; Terrell Davis was one of the best to ever play the game when he was healthy. Unfortunately, staying healthy was an issue for Davis.
In his first four seasons, Davis took the league by storm, getting better in each season, finally culminating in one of the best rushing seasons ever — over 2,000 yards and 21 touchdowns in the second Super Bowl run of 1998.
Even with one of the best seasons ever in ’98, the most impressive feat Davis accomplished could have been his Super Bowl XXXII MVP performance where he rushed for 157 yards and three touchdowns despite having a migraine and missing the entire second quarter.
If it weren’t for knee injuries that greatly limited his last three years, Davis could have been one of the best running backs, as well as players, of all-time.
Although Davis only played four full seasons with the Broncos, his greatness elevates him to the second best Bronco to ever play.
1. John Elway
Career stats with Broncos: 16 seasons; 51,475 passing yards; 56.9% completion; 300 passing touchdowns
Best statistical year: 1993; 4,030 passing yards; 63.2% completion; 25 touchdowns
Honors with Broncos: Nine-time Pro-Bowler; NFL MVP; Super Bowl MVP; 1990s All-Decade Team; Hall of Famer
Super Bowls with Broncos: XXXII & XXXIII
If there was any doubt about this, which there shouldn’t be, it may be best to look at the Denver Broncos themselves in deciding this. After John Elway retired in 1999, the Broncos only waited one half of football to induct him into the Ring of Fame, even though every other player has had to wait five years after retiring to be considered for the Ring of Fame. Elway was this special.
Elway was also the first Bronco to be elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame and was responsible for five of the Broncos eight Super Bowl appearances (and an additional one as the general manager).
At the most important position in football, Elway’s name is always in the conversation for the greatest quarterback of all-time.
The fourth player on this list to be a part of both Super Bowl winning teams, it is no surprise that the Broncos won two Super Bowls, however, Elway was the best with no ifs ands or buts about it.
There isn’t much else to say about Elway, other than he is the greatest Bronco to ever play.