List Rules Please rank the players based on their time with the Broncos only
This list ranks the best Denver Broncos of all time. The Denver Broncos are one of the charter members of the original AFL. Formed in 1960, the Broncos early years weren't much to write home about. But a Super Bowl berth in 1978 started the Broncos on a path to greatness and attracted star players to the team. Many of the teams after 1978 featured some of the greatest Broncos players of all time. The Broncos major turning point came when they acquired quarterback John Elway in a blockbuster trade with the Baltimore Colts. Considered one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time, Elway took the Broncos to six Super Bowls during his illustrious career in Denver. Elway is one of the best Broncos ever and an all time great.
As legendary as Elway is, he couldn't have gotten to six Super Bowls without a little help. When the Broncos defeated the Packers to capture their first Super Bowl title, it couldn't have done without one of the greatest running backs of all time. Terrell Davis is one of the most beloved Broncos superstars and on the account of his power running, Davis won the MVP of Super Bowl XXXII. Other Bronco greats like Shannon Sharpe, Rod Smith, Ed McCaffrey, and Steve Atwater were on those championship teams. After floundering without Elway, the Broncos picked up another all time great in the form of Peyton Manning. Even with his advanced age, Manning will be considered one of the best Broncos of all time, especially if he's able to capture a Super Bowl title.
This is a list of the best Denver Broncos of all time, including their current roster and Denver Broncos past players. If you notice someone is missing from this list of all time Broncos, feel free to add him. Vote or rerank this list of the greatest Broncos ever according to who you think should be considered the best in this NFL franchise history.
list ordered by
1
1,429 278
John ElwayQuarterback John Albert Elway, Jr. is a former American football quarterback and current General Manager and Executive Vice President of Football Operations for the Denver Broncos of the National Football ...more
2
1,115 240
Terrell DavisRunning back Terrell Lamar Davis is a former American football running back who played for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League from 1995 to 2001. Davis was drafted by the Broncos in the sixth ...more
3
1,280 283
Peyton ManningQuarterback Peyton Williams Manning is an American football quarterback for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League. A five-time league MVP, he played for the Indianapolis Colts for 14 seasons ...more
4
930 195
Shannon SharpeTight end Shannon Sharpe is a former American football tight end who played for the Denver Broncos and Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League, as well as a former analyst for CBS Sports on its ...more
5
957 254
Champ BaileyCornerback Roland "Champ" Bailey Jr. is a former American football cornerback in the National Football League. He played college football for the University of Georgia and earned consensus ...more
6
918 173
Von MillerOutside Linebacker, Defensive end Vonnie B'Vsean Miller is an American football linebacker for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League. He played college football for Texas A&M University, earned consensus ...more
7
837 190
Steve AtwaterSafety, Defensive back Stephen Dennis Atwater nicknamed "Smiling Assassin" is a former American football player who spent most of his career playing free safety for the Denver Broncos. Atwater and Dennis ...more
8
715 192
Rod SmithWide receiver Roderick Duane Smith is a former American football wide receiver who played thirteen seasons for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League. He played college football at Missouri ...more
9
536 170
Floyd LittleHalfback Floyd Douglas Little is a Pro Football Hall of Fame running back, and was a three-time American football All-American running back at Syracuse University. In 1967 he was the 6th selection of the ...more
10
644 191
Ed McCaffreyWide receiver Edward Thomas McCaffrey is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver in the National Football League for thirteen seasons. McCaffrey played college football for ...more
11
486 198
Randy GradisharLinebacker Randy Charles Gradishar is a former American football linebacker who played in the 1970s and 1980s. A native of Ohio, Gradishar was a two-time consensus All-American for the Ohio State Buckeyes, ...more
12
514 169
Karl MecklenburgDefensive end, Linebacker Karl Mecklenburg is a former American football linebacker for the Denver Broncos in the National Football League.
Tom JacksonLinebacker Thomas Louie "Tom" Jackson, also referred to as "TJ" or "Tommy", is an NFL analyst for ESPN and a former linebacker for the Denver Broncos, where he was part of the
14
721 229
rktrophies added Demaryius ThomasWide receiver Demaryius Antwon Thomas is an American football wide receiver for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Broncos in the first round of the 2010 NFL Draft. He ...more
15
389 140
Gary ZimmermanTackle Gary Wayne Zimmerman is a former American football offensive lineman in the National Football League. Zimmerman played for the Minnesota Vikings from 1986 to 1992 and for the Denver Broncos from ...more
16
354 166
willyboymcoy added Tom NalenOffensive Lineman, Center Thomas Andrew Nalen is a former American football center who played for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League. He was born and raised in Foxborough, Massachusetts.
17
481 158
Jason ElamPlacekicker Jason Elam is a retired American football placekicker. He was drafted by the Denver Broncos in the third round of the 1993 NFL Draft and played 15 seasons with the Broncos and two with the ...more
Louis WrightCornerback Louis Donnel Wright is a former American Football cornerback who played his entire NFL career for the Denver Broncos for 12 seasons from 1975 to 1986. He was a five time Pro Bowler in 1977 to ...more
19
183 68
Dennis SmithSafety Dennis Smith is a retired American football safety who wore number 49 for the National Football League's Denver Broncos between 1981 and 1994.
20
219 47
JabariParker12 added John Lynch John Terrence Lynch, Jr. is a former American football strong safety who played fifteen seasons in the National Football League and is a current color commentator for NFL on Fox. He played ...more
21
231 83
JabariParker12 added Aqib TalibCornerback Aqib Talib is an American football cornerback for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the first round of the 2008 NFL Draft. He ...more
22
303 167
Lyle Alzado Lyle Martin Alzado was a professional American football defensive end of the National Football League famous for his intense and intimidating style of play. He played 15 seasons, splitting his ...more
Rick UpchurchReturn specialist, Wide receiver Ricky "Rick" Upchurch is a former professional American football player who played wide receiver for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League. Before his NFL career, he ...more
24
300 150
Mark SchlerethGuard Mark Frederick Schlereth is an American former professional football player and current television and radio sportscaster. Schlereth played guard in the NFL for 12 seasons with the Washington ...more
25
209 84
Bill Romanowski William Thomas "Bill" Romanowski is a former American football player. He was born in Vernon, Connecticut. A linebacker, he graduated from Rockville High School in 1984, Boston College ...more
26
243 70
JabariParker12 added Emmanuel SandersWide receiver Emmanuel Niamiah Sanders is an American football wide receiver for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the third round of the 2010 ...more
27
189 33
CMCSS03 added Chris HarrisStrong Safety, Safety, Defensive back Chris Harris is an American football coach and former safety in the National Football League. He was selected with the seventh pick of the sixth round of the 2005 NFL Draft by the Chicago Bears. ...more
CMCSS03 added DeMarcus WareDefensive end, Linebacker DeMarcus Omar Ware is an American football defensive end for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys with the 11th overall pick in the 2005 NFL ...more
29
130 38
slaft added Haven MosesWide receiver Haven Christopher Moses is a former professional American football player. He played professionally as a wide receiver in the American Football League and National Football League. He played ...more
30
257 148
Kenne_W added Craig MortonQuarterback Larry Craig Morton is a former American football player. He played as a quarterback in the National Football League for 18 seasons, from 1965 to 1982, with the Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, ...more
31
313 220
Ryan CladyTackle Ryan Jacob Clady is an American football offensive tackle for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League. He played college football for Boise State University, and earned consensus ...more
32
162 80
Al WilsonLinebacker Aldra Kauwa Wilson is a former American college and professional football player who was a linebacker in the National Football League for eight seasons. He played college football for the ...more
slaft added Lionel TaylorWide receiver Lionel Thomas Taylor is a former American football wide receiver who led the American Football League in receptions each year for the first six years of the league's existence.
34
108 33
slaft added Riley OdomsTackle, Tight end Riley Mackey Odoms is a former American football tight end. He played college football at the University of Houston and his entire professional career with the Denver Broncos of the National ...more
35
308 143
MeganNicoleMorris added Matt PraterPlacekicker Matthew Phillip Prater is an American football placekicker for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League. He played college football for the university of Central Florida, and was ...more
36
110 42
slaft added Bill ThompsonCornerback, Safety, Defensive back William Allen Thompson is a former American football cornerback and safety in the National Football league. He was drafted by the Denver Broncos in the third round of the 1969 NFL Draft. He ...more
37
355 188
Brandon MarshallWide receiver Brandon Tyrone Marshall is an American football wide receiver for the New York Jets of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Denver Broncos in the fourth round of the 2006 NFL ...more
slaft added Simon FletcherDefensive end, Linebacker Simon Raynard Fletcher is a former American football linebacker in the National Football League. He was drafted by the Denver Broncos in the second round of the 1985 NFL Draft. He played college ...more
39
368 233
rktrophies added Wes WelkerWide receiver Wesley Carter "Wes" Welker is an American football wide receiver and return specialist who is currently a free agent. He played college football for Texas Tech University and was ...more
40
91 22
rovelyn-steve-brubacher added Rich JacksonDefensive end Rich Jackson was an American college and professional football player. In college Jackson played for Southern University. Jackson played for the American Football League's Oakland Raiders in ...more
41
146 71
Brian DawkinsSafety Brian Patrick Dawkins, nicknamed Weapon X, is a former American football safety who played in the National Football League for sixteen seasons. He played college football for Clemson University. ...more
42
114 61
Trevor PryceDefensive tackle, Defensive end Trevor Wesley Pryce II is a former American football defensive end who played fourteen seasons in the National Football League. Pryce played college football for the University of Michigan ...more
Elvis DumervilDefensive end Elvis Kool Dumervil is an American football outside linebacker for the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League. He played college football for the University of Louisville and was ...more
44
288 182
MeganNicoleMorris added Eric DeckerWide receiver Eric Thomas Decker is an American football wide receiver for the New York Jets of the National Football League. Decker was drafted by the Denver Broncos in the third round, 87th overall pick of ...more
45
95 40
slaft added Rulon JonesDefensive end Rulon Jones is a retired American football defensive lineman. Jones was drafted out of the Utah State University in the 1980 NFL Draft by the Denver Broncos. He played his entire career in ...more
46
206 165
Howard GriffithFullback Howard Griffith is a retired American football fullback who spent 11 seasons in the NFL. While at the University of Illinois, Howard set the NCAA record for touchdowns in a game with eight. It ...more
47
145 108
Julius ThomasTight end Julius Dewayne Thomas is an American football tight end for the Jacksonville Jaguars of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Denver Broncos in the fourth round of the 2011 NFL ...more
48
65 21
rovelyn-steve-brubacher added Keith BishopGuard Keith Bishop is a former guard in the National Football League who played ten seasons for the Denver Broncos. He was a pro-bowler in 1986 and 1987. After a career in Dallas, TX with the DEA, ...more
49
86 59
Tyrone BraxtonCornerback, Defensive back Tyrone Scott Braxton is a former American football safety who played for the Denver Broncos for most of his career from 1987 to 1999. Braxton played in four Super Bowls with the Broncos, and won ...more
50
72 12
IsaiahYanez added Frank TripuckaQuarterback Francis Joseph Tripucka was an American collegiate and professional football quarterback, at Notre Dame, in the National Football League, in the Canadian Football League, and in the early ...more
