Ranking the Top 10 Broncos Players of All-Time
Few NFL franchises combine history, heartbreak, and heroics quite like the Denver Broncos. From the Orange Crush era to the modern resurgence fueled by elite defenses and iconic quarterbacks, the Broncos have built a legacy defined by toughness, loyalty, and unforgettable moments.
Ranking the top players in franchise history isn’t easy – Denver has seen Hall of Famers, record-breakers, and culture-shaping leaders take the field in orange and blue. This list isn’t just about stats; it’s about impact, longevity, and the players who defined Broncos football. With that in mind, here are the Top 10 Broncos of all time (with an Honorable Mention for good measure):
Honorable Mention: Karl Mecklenburg – LB (1983–1994)
Accolades and Highlights with the Broncos:
· 4× First-team All-Pro (1985–1987, 1989)
· 6× Pro Bowl (1985–1987, 1989, 1991, 1993)
· Denver Broncos Ring of Fame
One of the most versatile defenders of all time, Karl Mecklenburg became an integral part of the Broncos’ Super Bowl teams of the 1980s despite being selected in the 12th round of the 1983 NFL Draft. Mecklenburg was essentially a one-man wrecking crew, recording 79 sacks over his 12 seasons in Denver – the third-highest total in franchise history as of this writing. He is one of only three Broncos ever to record four sacks in a game, and the only one to do it twice.
Perhaps most notably, Mecklenburg played all seven positions in the defensive front seven during his Broncos career, a feat that remains central to his legacy. His ability to shift from defensive end to any linebacker spot – and even nose tackle – made him a uniquely disruptive presence. In a 1985 game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, he was charted playing all seven positions, forcing two fumbles and racking up four sacks in the same afternoon.
Mecklenburg was rightfully inducted into the Broncos’ Ring of Fame in 2001 and is also a member of the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame. Given his production, versatility, and impact on one of the most successful eras in Broncos history, it remains surprising that he has not yet been enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
10. Rod Smith – WR (1995–2006)
Accolades and Highlights with the Broncos:
· 2× Super Bowl champion (XXXII, XXXIII)
· 2× Second-team All-Pro (2000, 2001)
· 3× Pro Bowl (2000, 2001, 2005)
· NFL receptions leader (2001)
· Denver Broncos Ring of Fame
· Denver Broncos 50th Anniversary Team
If you’re looking for the ultimate feel-good NFL story, Rod Smith is a perfect place to start. Signed by the Broncos as an undrafted free agent in 1994, Smith’s career is a testament to what can happen when preparation meets opportunity. He broke out in 1997 with 70 receptions for 1,180 yards and 12 touchdowns – and he never looked back.
Smith delivered one of his finest performances on the biggest stage. In Denver’s 34-19 victory over the Atlanta Falcons in Super Bowl XXXIII, he caught five passes for 152 yards and a touchdown. His highlight play was an 80-yard touchdown in the second quarter that stretched Denver’s lead to 17-3, a blow the Falcons never recovered from. His performance earned him legitimate consideration for Super Bowl XXXIII MVP.
Over 12 seasons, Smith recorded eight 1,000-yard campaigns – a franchise record. He remains the Broncos’ all-time leader in receptions (849), receiving yards (11,389), and touchdown catches (68). In 2012, Smith was inducted into the Broncos’ Ring of Fame – an honor he more than earned.
9. Randy Gradishar – LB (1974-1983)
Accolades and Highlights with the Broncos:
· NFL Defensive Player of the Year (1978)
· 2× First-team All-Pro (1977, 1978)
· 3× Second-team All-Pro (1979, 1981, 1983)
· 7× Pro Bowl (1975, 1977–1979, 1981–1983)
· Denver Broncos Ring of Fame
Before Denver became a perennial contender, Randy Gradishar set the standard for defensive excellence. The leader of the Orange Crush defense, he was the heartbeat of the Broncos and a driving force behind the franchise’s rise to national prominence.
Gradishar made national headlines in Denver’s 1975 clash with the Green Bay Packers, intercepting a pass and returning it for a game-clinching touchdown while also recording a sack, two tackles for loss, two passes defensed, and six solo tackles. He helped the Broncos reach their first Super Bowl by tallying eight total tackles and two passes defensed in a 20-17 victory over the Oakland Raiders in the 1977 AFC Championship Game. In 1978, Gradishar earned NFL Defensive Player of the Year honors, anchoring a Broncos defense that allowed just 198 points over 16 games – the second-fewest in the NFL behind the Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers.
In 2024, Gradishar became the first member of the 1977 Broncos to be enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He was inducted into Denver’s Ring of Fame in 1989. Considering his dominance, versatility, and impact on the franchise, it’s remarkable that Gradishar isn’t a more universally recognized name among NFL fans.
8. Floyd Little – RB (1967–1975)
Accolades and Highlights with the Broncos:
· First-team All-Pro (1969)
· 5× Pro Bowl (1968–1971, 1973)
· NFL rushing yards leader (1971)
· NFL rushing touchdowns co-leader (1973)
· Denver Broncos Ring of Fame
· Denver Broncos No. 44 retired
A strong case can be made that the Broncos wouldn’t even be in Denver today if it weren’t for Floyd Little. His nickname, “The Franchise,” wasn’t just a compliment – it came from his decision to sign with Denver in 1967, back when players could choose between the NFL and AFL. That choice generated the local excitement and ticket sales the team needed to stay put.
Little became the first Bronco ever to win a rushing title, leading the AFC with 901 yards in 1970. A year later, he became the franchise’s first 1,000-yard rusher, piling up 1,133 yards to lead the league. Talk about setting a precedent.
Over his nine-year career, Little totaled 6,323 rushing yards and 43 touchdowns, plus another 2,418 yards and nine scores as a receiver. He was inducted into the Broncos’ Ring of Fame in 1984, enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2010, and his No. 44 became the first jersey ever retired by the franchise.
7. Peyton Manning – QB (2012–2015)
Accolades and Highlights with the Broncos:
· Super Bowl champion (50)
· NFL Most Valuable Player (2013)
· NFL Offensive Player of the Year (2013)
· NFL Comeback Player of the Year (2012)
· 2× First-team All-Pro (2012, 2013)
· 3× Pro Bowl (2012–2014)
· NFL passing yards leader (2013)
· NFL passing touchdowns leader (2013)
· NFL completion percentage leader (2012)
· Denver Broncos Ring of Fame
· Denver Broncos No. 18 honored
· NFL record for most passing touchdowns in a season: 55 (2013)
· NFL record for most passing yards in a season: 5,477 (2013)
When Peyton Manning signed with the Broncos in 2012, he changed the trajectory of the franchise overnight. Denver went from a promising playoff team to a legitimate championship contender, and Manning spent the next four seasons leading one of the most successful runs in team history. His résumé includes four AFC West titles, two Super Bowl appearances, a Lombardi Trophy, and a record-setting 2013 campaign that remains one of the greatest quarterback seasons ever.
In 2013, Manning led the Broncos to 13 wins while rewriting the NFL record book, throwing for 5,477 yards and 55 touchdowns – both still standing as records at the time of this writing. He unsurprisingly earned his fifth AP NFL MVP award, receiving 49 of 50 first-place votes. One of the signature performances of that season came in Week 1 against the Baltimore Ravens, when Manning threw for 462 yards and seven touchdowns, tying the NFL single-game record.
Manning closed his storied career by helping the Broncos defeat the Carolina Panthers in Super Bowl 50, becoming the first starting quarterback in NFL history to win Super Bowls with two different franchises. His stat line in that contest didn’t jump off the page, but he iced the game by hitting Bennie Fowler for a two-point conversion late in the fourth quarter to extend the lead to 24-10. Fittingly, that pass – his final one in the NFL – served as a perfect ending to an all-time great career.
6. Shannon Sharpe – TE (1990–99, 2002–03)
Accolades and Highlights with the Broncos:
· 2× Super Bowl champion (XXXII, XXXIII)
· 4× First-team All-Pro (1993, 1996–1998)
· Second-team All-Pro (1995)
· 7× Pro Bowl (1992–1998)
· Denver Broncos Ring of Fame
· Denver Broncos 50th Anniversary Team
· Most receiving yards by a tight end in a game: 214
· Longest touchdown reception in a postseason game: 96 yards
If you look back at how the tight end position has evolved, Shannon Sharpe stands as the founding father of the modern era. He revolutionized the position with a blend of pass-catching ability and blocking prowess that created matchup nightmares – too fast for linebackers and too big for safeties.
Sharpe also had a flair for the big moment. With the Broncos facing a crucial third-and-6 from their own 15-yard line late in the fourth quarter of the 1997 AFC Championship Game, Denver clung to a 24-21 lead and needed a first down to clinch a trip to Super Bowl XXXII. Sharpe delivered, hauling in an 18-yard catch that effectively sealed the game.
As of this writing, Sharpe still holds the NFL record for most receiving yards by a tight end in a regular-season game – 214 yards on 12 receptions, along with two touchdowns, in a 2002 matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs. Those are video-game numbers for a wide receiver, let alone a tight end. Sharpe was inducted into the Broncos’ Ring of Fame in 2009 and enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2011 – not bad for a seventh-round pick out of a Division II school.
5. Champ Bailey – CB (2004–2013)
Accolades and Highlights with the Broncos:
· 3× First-team All-Pro (2004–2006)
· 2× Second-team All-Pro (2007, 2012)
· 8× Pro Bowl (2004–2007, 2009–2012)
· NFL interceptions leader (2006)
· Denver Broncos 50th Anniversary Team
· Denver Broncos Ring of Fame
It’s hardly a bold claim to say Champ Bailey is the best cornerback in Broncos history. Acquired in a blockbuster trade with Washington in 2004, Bailey immediately elevated Denver’s defense into one of the league’s most respected units.
Bailey nearly single-handedly ended the New England Patriots’ bid for a three-peat in the 2005 AFC Divisional Round. In the third quarter, he intercepted Tom Brady and returned the ball 100 yards – a massive 14-point swing that helped Denver secure its first playoff win in nearly seven years.
In 2006, Bailey led the NFL with 10 interceptions for 162 yards and a touchdown. That season remains widely regarded as one of the greatest by a cornerback in league history. He became the first player in franchise history to be elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2019 – the same year he entered the Broncos’ Ring of Fame.
4. Steve Atwater – S (1989–1998)
Accolades and Highlights with the Broncos:
· 2× Super Bowl champion (XXXII, XXXIII)
· 2× First-team All-Pro (1991, 1992)
· 2× Second-team All-Pro (1990, 1996)
· 8× Pro Bowl (1990–1996, 1998)
· Denver Broncos Ring of Fame
Few players in NFL history could strike fear into the heart of a grown man the way Steve Atwater did. His punishing, downhill style became a hallmark of his game, helping redefine the safety position by proving a player could be both a dominant pass defender and a devastating run stopper. If you had the ball in your hands and Atwater was coming your way, chances are you were about to end up on the wrong side of a highlight reel.
The most iconic play of Atwater’s career came against the Kansas City Chiefs in 1990 – “The Hit Heard ‘Round the World.” On that snap, Atwater met 260-pound running back Christian Okoye head-on and sent the massive rusher sprawling onto his back, a collision so loud it echoed through the upper levels of Mile High Stadium.
Atwater also played a pivotal role in securing Denver’s first Super Bowl championship. In Super Bowl XXXII against the Green Bay Packers, he delivered one of the greatest defensive performances in the game’s history: six tackles, one sack, one forced fumble, and two pass breakups – including a collision that left three players (himself included) momentarily unconscious on a crucial fourth-quarter play. Atwater became the 20th member of the Broncos’ Ring of Fame in 2005 and was enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2020.
3. Von Miller – OLB/EDGE (2011–2021)
Accolades and Highlights with the Broncos:
· Super Bowl champion (50)
· Super Bowl MVP (50)
· NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year (2011)
· 3× First-team All-Pro (2012, 2015, 2016)
· 4× Second-team All-Pro (2011, 2014, 2017, 2018)
· 8× Pro Bowl (2011, 2012, 2014–2019)
There are great pass rushers, and then there’s Von Miller. His combination of production, efficiency, and postseason dominance places him in rare company, not just in Broncos history, but across the NFL.
As the anchor of arguably the greatest defense in franchise history, Miller cemented his legacy in Denver’s 24-10 victory over the Carolina Panthers in Super Bowl 50. He earned Super Bowl MVP honors after recording 2.5 sacks, six tackles, a pass defensed, and two forced fumbles, both of which directly led to Broncos touchdowns.
Over his 10 seasons in Denver, Miller established franchise records for career sacks, single-season sacks (18.5), playoff sacks (6.5), sacks in a single postseason (five), and sacks in a playoff game (2.5). There is no doubt that Miller is the greatest defensive player in Broncos history.
2. Terrell Davis – RB (1995–2001)
Accolades and Highlights with the Broncos:
· 2× Super Bowl champion (XXXII, XXXIII)
· Super Bowl MVP (XXXII)
· NFL Most Valuable Player (1998)
· 2× NFL Offensive Player of the Year (1996, 1998)
· 3× First-team All-Pro (1996–1998)
· 3× Pro Bowl (1996–1998)
· NFL rushing yards leader (1998)
· 2× NFL rushing touchdowns leader (1997, 1998)
· Denver Broncos Ring of Fame
Few players in NFL history have matched the peak efficiency of Terrell Davis. His combination of vision and one-cut running style perfectly suited Denver’s zone-blocking scheme, producing historic results – including a 2,000-yard season and a postseason run that remains unmatched. Davis’ legacy proves that greatness isn’t measured in years, but in impact.
Davis’ peak began in 1996, when he earned NFL Offensive Player of the Year honors by guiding Denver to a 13-3 regular-season record, rushing for 1,538 yards and 13 touchdowns on 345 carries. He then carried the Broncos to their first championship in franchise history, racking up 157 yards and three touchdowns in the 31-24 Super Bowl XXXII win over Green Bay. In 1998, Davis followed up his Super Bowl MVP performance by rushing for 2,008 yards in the regular season, earning AP NFL MVP honors and a second Offensive Player of the Year award – all before helping Denver capture its second Super Bowl title.
A lack of longevity was the main critique of Davis’ career, which contributed to his Pro Football Hall of Fame induction coming in 2017, his eleventh year of eligibility. Yet he was honored much earlier by the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame (2004) and Denver’s Ring of Fame (2007), proving that quality outweighs quantity. What Davis accomplished in just a three-year span may never be replicated, and he will always hold a special place in the hearts of Broncos fans.
1. John Elway – QB (1983–1998)
Accolades and Highlights with the Broncos:
· 2× Super Bowl champion (XXXII, XXXIII)
· Super Bowl MVP (XXXIII)
· NFL Most Valuable Player (1987)
· NFL Man of the Year (1992)
· 3× Second-team All-Pro (1987, 1993, 1996)
· 9× Pro Bowl (1986, 1987, 1989, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1996–1998)
· NFL passing yards leader (1993)
· Denver Broncos Ring of Fame
· Denver Broncos No. 7 retired
When discussing the greatest player in Broncos history, the conversation begins and ends with John Elway. More than any other player, Elway helped shape the identity of the franchise, leading Denver from perennial contender to world champion while becoming the face of Broncos football for an entire generation.
By the time he retired following the 1998 season, Elway was the NFL’s all-time leader in wins with 148. He defined the Broncos’ “Cardiac Comeback” era, engineering 47 fourth-quarter game-winning or game-tying drives. One of the most memorable moments of Elway’s career came in the 1987 AFC Championship Game, when he orchestrated a 98-yard touchdown drive – known simply as “The Drive” – to tie the game in regulation and force overtime. Denver ultimately won in the extra period.
Elway led the Broncos to five victories in six AFC Championship Games and captured two Super Bowl titles. He accounted for 334 total touchdowns during his 16-year career, generating 4,771 of the team’s 5,806 points (82.2%). He ended his career in style, passing for 336 yards and two touchdowns in the 34-19 Super Bowl XXXIII win over the Atlanta Falcons, earning Super Bowl MVP honors. Elway was inducted into Denver’s Ring of Fame in 1999 and enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2004.
