DBDenver Broncos

Franchise history

The Broncos were a charter member of the American Football League, awarded to Denver businessman Bob Howsam's ownership group in 1959 and beginning play in 1960. They hosted the first game in AFL history, defeating the Boston Patriots on September 9, 1960. The nickname "Broncos" was chosen through a local fan contest reflecting the region's Western heritage. The original uniforms featured brown and mustard-gold with widely mocked vertically striped socks; new ownership led by Cal Kunz overhauled the look in 1962 to the orange, blue, and white scheme (with a bucking-bronco logo) that, in various forms, has defined the franchise since. Denver joined the NFL in the 1970 AFL-NFL merger.

The Broncos played at Bears Stadium (renamed Mile High Stadium in 1968) through 2000, then moved to a new stadium across the parking lot, now known as Empower Field at Mile High. Longtime owner Pat Bowlen, who purchased the team in 1984, presided over the franchise's golden eras until his death in 2019; the team was sold to the Walton-Penner ownership group in 2022.

After decades of struggle, Denver became an AFC power in the 1980s under coach Dan Reeves and quarterback John Elway, famed for "The Drive" in the 1986 AFC Championship Game, but lost four Super Bowls (XII, XXI, XXII, XXIV) before finally breaking through. Elway and running back Terrell Davis, under coach Mike Shanahan, delivered back-to-back titles in Super Bowls XXXII and XXXIII (1997-98 seasons). A third championship came in Super Bowl 50 (2015 season), when a dominant defense carried an aging Peyton Manning past Carolina.

Sources

• Pro Football Reference
• Wikipedia - Denver Broncos
• Denver Broncos official site - How the Broncos got their name

Super Bowl Champions won (3)

• Super Bowl XXXII - 1997
• Super Bowl XXXIII - 1998
• Super Bowl 50 - 2015

Runner-up finishes (5)

• Super Bowl XII - 1977
• Super Bowl XXI - 1986
• Super Bowl XXII - 1987
• Super Bowl XXIV - 1989
• Super Bowl XLVIII - 2013

See the full super bowl champions list for the winner each of these years.