Football The Best Denver Broncos of All Time  

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35.2k votes 3k voters 181.8k views 93 items

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
1,784 336
John Elway is listed (or ranked) 1 on the list The Best Denver Broncos of All Time
Quarterback 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
1,419 284
Terrell Davis is listed (or ranked) 2 on the list The Best Denver Broncos of All Time
Running 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
1,182 259
Shannon Sharpe is listed (or ranked) 3 on the list The Best Denver Broncos of All Time
Tight 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

4
1,210 331
Champ Bailey is listed (or ranked) 4 on the list The Best Denver Broncos of All Time
Cornerback 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

5
1,258 230
Von Miller is listed (or ranked) 5 on the list The Best Denver Broncos of All Time
Outside 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

6
1,603 383
Peyton Manning is listed (or ranked) 6 on the list The Best Denver Broncos of All Time
Quarterback 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

7
1,088 239
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Safety, 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
918 222
Rod Smith is listed (or ranked) 8 on the list The Best Denver Broncos of All Time
Wide 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
688 209
Floyd Little is listed (or ranked) 9 on the list The Best Denver Broncos of All Time
Halfback 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
682 193
Karl Mecklenburg is listed (or ranked) 10 on the list The Best Denver Broncos of All Time
Defensive end, Linebacker Karl Mecklenburg is a former American football linebacker for the Denver Broncos in the National Football League.

11
815 242
Ed McCaffrey is listed (or ranked) 11 on the list The Best Denver Broncos of All Time
Wide 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

12
623 231
Randy Gradishar is listed (or ranked) 12 on the list The Best Denver Broncos of All Time
Linebacker 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

13
569 194
Tom Jackson is listed (or ranked) 13 on the list The Best Denver Broncos of All Time
Linebacker 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
507 162
Gary Zimmerman is listed (or ranked) 14 on the list The Best Denver Broncos of All Time
Tackle 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

15
462 192
Tom Nalen is listed (or ranked) 15 on the list The Best Denver Broncos of All Time
willyboymcoy added Offensive 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.

16
612 187
Jason Elam is listed (or ranked) 16 on the list The Best Denver Broncos of All Time
Placekicker 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

17
858 323
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rktrophies added Wide 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

18
409 175
Mark Schlereth is listed (or ranked) 18 on the list The Best Denver Broncos of All Time
Guard 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

19
389 189
Louis Wright is listed (or ranked) 19 on the list The Best Denver Broncos of All Time
Cornerback 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

20
392 201
Lyle Alzado is listed (or ranked) 20 on the list The Best Denver Broncos of All Time
Defensive end 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

21
351 86
John Lynch is listed (or ranked) 21 on the list The Best Denver Broncos of All Time
JabariParker12 added Safety 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

22
275 110
Dennis Smith is listed (or ranked) 22 on the list The Best Denver Broncos of All Time
Safety Dennis Smith is a retired American football safety who wore number 49 for the National Football League's Denver Broncos between 1981 and 1994.

23
389 147
Rick Upchurch is listed (or ranked) 23 on the list The Best Denver Broncos of All Time
Return 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
346 157
Aqib Talib is listed (or ranked) 24 on the list The Best Denver Broncos of All Time
JabariParker12 added Cornerback 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

25
318 126
Bill Romanowski is listed (or ranked) 25 on the list The Best Denver Broncos of All Time
Linebacker 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
334 79
Chris Harris is listed (or ranked) 26 on the list The Best Denver Broncos of All Time
CMCSS03 added Strong 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

27
208 62
Haven Moses is listed (or ranked) 27 on the list The Best Denver Broncos of All Time
slaft added Wide 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

28
341 178
Craig Morton is listed (or ranked) 28 on the list The Best Denver Broncos of All Time
Kenne_W added Quarterback 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

29
368 131
Emmanuel Sanders is listed (or ranked) 29 on the list The Best Denver Broncos of All Time
JabariParker12 added Wide 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

30
275 102
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CMCSS03 added Defensive 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

31
180 54
Riley Odoms is listed (or ranked) 31 on the list The Best Denver Broncos of All Time
slaft added Tackle, 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

32
174 52
Lionel Taylor is listed (or ranked) 32 on the list The Best Denver Broncos of All Time
slaft added Wide 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.

33
186 53
Simon Fletcher is listed (or ranked) 33 on the list The Best Denver Broncos of All Time
slaft added Defensive 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

34
239 124
Al Wilson is listed (or ranked) 34 on the list The Best Denver Broncos of All Time
Linebacker 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

35
373 279
Ryan Clady is listed (or ranked) 35 on the list The Best Denver Broncos of All Time
Tackle 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

36
162 41
Rich Jackson is listed (or ranked) 36 on the list The Best Denver Broncos of All Time
rovelyn-steve-brubacher added Defensive 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

37
175 56
Rulon Jones is listed (or ranked) 37 on the list The Best Denver Broncos of All Time
slaft added Defensive 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

38
151 79
Bill Thompson is listed (or ranked) 38 on the list The Best Denver Broncos of All Time
slaft added Cornerback, 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

39
386 230
Eric Decker is listed (or ranked) 39 on the list The Best Denver Broncos of All Time
MeganNicoleMorris added Wide 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

40
146 26
Frank Tripucka is listed (or ranked) 40 on the list The Best Denver Broncos of All Time
IsaiahYanez added Quarterback 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

41
222 124
Brian Dawkins is listed (or ranked) 41 on the list The Best Denver Broncos of All Time
Safety 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
131 40
Keith Bishop is listed (or ranked) 42 on the list The Best Denver Broncos of All Time
rovelyn-steve-brubacher added Guard 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

43
430 265
Brandon Marshall is listed (or ranked) 43 on the list The Best Denver Broncos of All Time
Wide 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

44
173 108
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Defensive 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

45
429 316
Wes Welker is listed (or ranked) 45 on the list The Best Denver Broncos of All Time
rktrophies added Wide 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

46
366 204
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MeganNicoleMorris added Placekicker 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

47
189 79
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Defensive 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

48
261 208
Howard Griffith is listed (or ranked) 48 on the list The Best Denver Broncos of All Time
Fullback 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

49
134 65
Steve Foley is listed (or ranked) 49 on the list The Best Denver Broncos of All Time
slaft added Cornerback, Safety Stephen James Foley is a former American football safety in the National Football League. He played his entire 11-year NFL career with the Denver Broncos after one year with the Jacksonville ...more

50
123 51
Greg Kragen is listed (or ranked) 50 on the list The Best Denver Broncos of All Time
slaft added Defensive tackle, Tackle, Nose tackle Greg Kragen is the father of American Football player Kyle Kragen.