Denver Broncos

The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado, competing in the NFL's AFC West division. Founded in 1960 as a charter member of the American Football League, they joined the NFL in 1970 after the merger. The team is owned by a group led by Walmart heirs Rob Walton and Greg Penner. Since 2001, they have played at Empower Field at Mile High, a stadium seating 76,125 fans, known for its high altitude that gives the home team a conditioning edge.

The Broncos struggled early, not posting a winning season until 1973. That changed in 1977 when they made their first playoff appearance and advanced to Super Bowl XII. From 1973 to 2016, the team suffered only 11 losing seasons, becoming one of the NFL's most consistent winners. They have won eight AFC championships and three Super Bowls: Super Bowl XXXII (1997), Super Bowl XXXIII (1998), and Super Bowl 50 (2015). Key figures include Hall of Famers John Elway, Floyd Little, Shannon Sharpe, Terrell Davis, Champ Bailey, Steve Atwater, and Randy Gradishar, as well as late owner Pat Bowlen. As of September 2025, Forbes valued the franchise at $6.8 billion, making it the 13th most valuable team in the NFL.[edit]

The Denver Broncos were born in 1960 as a charter member of the American Football League, owned by Bob Howsam. They played their first game at Bears Stadium and wore vertically striped socks that became a signature look. The early years were rough: the Broncos went 7-20-1 in their first two seasons and didn't have a winning record until 1973. That turnaround coincided with the arrival of running back Floyd Little, who became the face of the franchise.

The 1977 season marked a turning point. Quarterback Craig Morton led the team to a 12-2 record and the franchise's first playoff appearance, culminating in a trip to Super Bowl XII, where they lost to the Dallas Cowboys. The Orange Crush defense, featuring Randy Gradishar and Tom Jackson, became legendary. In 1983, the Broncos drafted John Elway, who would redefine the position and lead the team to five Super Bowls over 16 seasons. Elway's ability to engineer comeback drives earned him the nickname The Comeback Kid.

After Elway retired following back-to-back Super Bowl wins in 1998 and 1999, the Broncos endured a decade of mediocrity. But the 2011 hiring of John Elway as general manager and the 2012 signing of Peyton Manning sparked a resurgence. Manning led the Broncos to a record-setting offense in 2013, scoring 606 points, and a Super Bowl XLVIII appearance. Two years later, a dominant defense carried the team to a 24-10 victory over the Carolina Panthers in Super Bowl 50, giving Manning his second ring.[edit]