Denver Broncos |
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| Conference | AFC |
| Division | West |
| Founded | 1960 |
| Home Field | INVESCO Field at Mile High |
| City | Denver, Colorado |
| Colors | Navy blue, orange, and white |
| Head Coach | Mike Shanahan |
| All-Time Record (W-L-T) (At Start of 2005 Season) |
365-331-10 |
The Denver Broncos are a National Football League team based in Denver, Colorado. A charter member of the American Football League, they were a backwater small-market team that met with little success in their early years but have since become one of the elite franchises of the league after having advanced to the Super Bowl six times. In their first four appearances, they suffered successively lopsided defeats, achieving near-legendary status as frustrated losers before winning back-to-back Super Bowl championships in 1998 and 1999 under quarterback John Elway and coach Mike Shanahan. For most of their history they played in Mile High Stadium, which became one of the shrines of professional football for its unbroken string of sell-outs and its famous home-field advantage percentage for the Broncos, especially during the post-season. Mile High Stadium was one of the NFL's loudest stadiums, with steel flooring instead of concrete, which may have given the Broncos an advantage over opponents. Since 2001, they have played at INVESCO Field at Mile High, built next to the former site of Mile High Stadium.
Although the Denver Broncos' 39-97-4 record was the worst of any of the original eight American Football League teams', the franchise had many proud moments and several AFL superstars, including Lionel Taylor and Floyd Little. The Broncos won the first-ever American Football League game, over the Boston Patriots (13-10) on September 9, 1960. They had the first black place-kicker in professional football, Gene Mingo. They were the first AFL team ever to defeat an NFL team, on August 5, 1967 when they beat the Lions 13-7. They were the first pro football team to wear vertically-striped socks (and the first to burn their socks in a public ceremony!). Despite their relative lack of early success, the Broncos produced some memorable games, like the 38-38 tie against the Buffalo Bills in 1960.
Denver has reached the Super Bowl six times, winning it in the 1997 and 1998 seasons. It is odd to remember a time, then, when Denver was the lowliest of teams, managing its first winning season in 1973 after thirteen years of futility. Denver, in fact, came close to losing its franchise in 1965, but a local ownership group took control that year and began to build the team.
In 1967, under head coach Lou Saban, Denver took the field with almost two dozen rookies on its roster; though Saban's tenure was unsuccessful, it set the stage for later successes. In 1973, John Ralston coached the now-mature Broncos to a 7-5-2 record, including a dramatic tie with Oakland in Denver's first-ever Monday Night Football appearance that is still remembered as a pivotal game in Bronco history. Ralston coached the team until 1976, when well-publicized clashes between Ralston and his players led to Ralston's removal.
Rookie coach Red Miller along with the Orange Crush Defense and aging quarterback Craig Morton, promptly took Denver to its first playoff appearance -- and ultimately first Super Bowl -- in 1977. Prior to 1977 season, Denver had received very little national attention and was rarely featured on nationally-televised games.
Quarterback John Elway arrived in 1983. Originally drafted by the Baltimore Colts as the number one pick of the draft, Elway proclaimed that he would shun football in favor of baseball unless he was traded to a selected list of other teams, which included Denver. Prior to Elway, Denver had had over two dozen different starting quarterbacks in its twenty-three seasons to that point. Elway would remain the quarterback through five Super Bowls, three under head coach Dan Reeves and two under Mike Shanahan, and would end his career as the MVP of Super Bowl XXXIII, his last NFL game.
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Prior to Elway, Denver had had over two dozen different starting quarterbacks in its twenty-three seasons to that point. Elway would remain the quarterback through five Super Bowls, three under head coach Dan Reeves and two under Mike Shanahan, and would end his career as the MVP of Super Bowl XXXIII, his last NFL game. * Both clubs. Originally drafted by the Baltimore Colts as the number one pick of the draft, Elway proclaimed that he would shun football in favor of baseball unless he was traded to a selected list of other teams, which included Denver. 3000. Quarterback John Elway arrived in 1983. The Brewers are featured prominently in the 2004 film Mr. Prior to 1977 season, Denver had received very little national attention and was rarely featured on nationally-televised games. He was also suspended by Major League Baseball, and would issue an apology to Block. Rookie coach Red Miller along with the Orange Crush Defense and aging quarterback Craig Morton, promptly took Denver to its first playoff appearance -- and ultimately first Super Bowl -- in 1977. Simon was arrested, charged, and fined for disorderly conduct. In 1973, John Ralston coached the now-mature Broncos to a 7-5-2 record, including a dramatic tie with Oakland in Denver's first-ever Monday Night Football appearance that is still remembered as a pivotal game in Bronco history. Ralston coached the team until 1976, when well-publicized clashes between Ralston and his players led to Ralston's removal. Block suffered only a scraped knee. In 1967, under head coach Lou Saban, Denver took the field with almost two dozen rookies on its roster; though Saban's tenure was unsuccessful, it set the stage for later successes. During the Brewers' "Sausage Race," in which four contestants wearing sausage costumes have a footrace on the field, Pittsburgh Pirates first baseman Randall Simon leaned over the dugout railing and hit college student Mandy Block with a bat. Denver, in fact, came close to losing its franchise in 1965, but a local ownership group took control that year and began to build the team. One of the most memorable events of the 2003 season occurred at Miller Park on July 9th. It is odd to remember a time, then, when Denver was the lowliest of teams, managing its first winning season in 1973 after thirteen years of futility. However, on January 16, 2004, Selig announced that he was putting the team up for sale, and had retained a New York firm to handle the deal. In September of 2004, it was announced that the Brewers had reached an oral agreement with Los Angeles investment banker Mark Attanasio to purchase the team for US$180 million. Denver has reached the Super Bowl six times, winning it in the 1997 and 1998 seasons. Wendy Selig-Prieb, Bud's daughter, is now CEO. Despite their relative lack of early success, the Broncos produced some memorable games, like the 38-38 tie against the Buffalo Bills in 1960. The Selig family's ownership of the Brewers is the longest continuing ownership in the majors now. They were the first pro football team to wear vertically-striped socks (and the first to burn their socks in a public ceremony!). Therefore, it was decided to have a 16-team National League and a 14-team American League. They were the first AFL team ever to defeat an NFL team, on August 5, 1967 when they beat the Lions 13-7. In turn, this would have required that single interleague games be scattered throughout the season. They had the first black place-kicker in professional football, Gene Mingo. Making both leagues equal in size would have meant that each league would have 15 teams, an odd number. The Broncos won the first-ever American Football League game, over the Boston Patriots (13-10) on September 9, 1960. Major League Baseball wished to keep interleague play in designated blocks during the season. Although the Denver Broncos' 39-97-4 record was the worst of any of the original eight American Football League teams', the franchise had many proud moments and several AFL superstars, including Lionel Taylor and Floyd Little. The team was moved from the American League to the National League in 1998 during baseball's realignment in order to make sure that each league had an even number of teams. Since 2001, they have played at INVESCO Field at Mile High, built next to the former site of Mile High Stadium. (The city had also had a major-league team by that name around 1900, plus a minor-league team with the same name in the first half of the 20th century.) The team had six days to remove the Pilots logos from team uniforms and replace them with Brewers logos. Mile High Stadium was one of the NFL's loudest stadiums, with steel flooring instead of concrete, which may have given the Broncos an advantage over opponents. The team was renamed the Brewers to honor Milwaukee's beer-brewing traditions. For most of their history they played in Mile High Stadium, which became one of the shrines of professional football for its unbroken string of sell-outs and its famous home-field advantage percentage for the Broncos, especially during the post-season. The trucks carrying the team's equipment were sent to Salt Lake City, Utah from Arizona, where they were to receive instruction whether to continue to Seattle or Milwaukee. In their first four appearances, they suffered successively lopsided defeats, achieving near-legendary status as frustrated losers before winning back-to-back Super Bowl championships in 1998 and 1999 under quarterback John Elway and coach Mike Shanahan. The team was still in spring training as the Seattle Pilots. A charter member of the American Football League, they were a backwater small-market team that met with little success in their early years but have since become one of the elite franchises of the league after having advanced to the Super Bowl six times. The team was purchased on April 1, 1970 by an ownership group headed by Milwaukee auto dealer Bud Selig. The Denver Broncos are a National Football League team based in Denver, Colorado. Much of the story of the Seattle Pilots' only year in existence is told in Jim Bouton's classic baseball book, Ball Four. Gary Zimmerman. The Brewers were part of the American League through the 1997 season, after which they switched to the National League. Rick Upchurch. They are in the Central Division of the National League. Jim Turner. The Milwaukee Brewers are a Major League
Baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Lionel Taylor (born 1935, first receiver with 100 catches in a season
(1961)). Arizona Brewers Clinton Portis. Nashville Sounds. Craig Morton. National League Karl Mecklenburg. Strikeouts: Jose Hernandez, 188 (2002). Wahoo McDaniel. Hitting streak: Paul Molitor, 39 games (1987). Ed McCaffrey. Stolen bases: Tommy Harper, 73 (1969). Floyd Little (born 1942). Triples: Paul Molitor, 16 (1979). Tom Jackson. Doubles: Robin Yount, 49 (1980). Abner Haynes. Hits: Cecil Cooper, 219 (1980). Gaston Green. Runs: Robin Yount, 121 (1980). Randy Gradishar. Runs batted in: Jeromy Burnitz and Richie Sexson, 125 (1998 and 2001). Goose Gonsoulin (born 1938). Home runs: Gorman Thomas and Richie Sexson, 45 (1979 and 2001). Cookie Gilchrist (born 1935). Batting average: Cecil Cooper, .352 (1980). Olandis Gary. 44 Henry Aaron. Miller Farr. 42 Jackie Robinson (retired throughout baseball). Tony Dorsett. 34 Rollie Fingers. Terrell Davis (third player to rush for 2,000 yards in a season). 19 Robin Yount. Mike Croel. 4 Paul Molitor. Dale Carter. Rollie Fingers (1981). Steve Atwater. Rolaids Relief Man of the Year
Al Wilson. Rollie Fingers (1981). Trevor Pryce. Cy Young
Jake Plummer. Most Valuable Player
Champ Bailey. 25 Rich Dauer (bench). John Elway (2004). 35 Bill Castro (bullpen). 16 Butch Wynegar (batting}. 36 Mike Maddux (pitching). Coaches
Don Sutton. Paul Molitor. Rollie Fingers. Henry Aaron. |