Facts and information about the Denver Broncos

• Of the eight original founding AFL teams, only the Denver Broncos have never moved from their original city.

• Former Dallas Cowboys star running back Tony Dorsett finished his Hall-of-Fame career with the Broncos.

• In the 1970’s the Broncos defense was given the nickname The Orange Crush.

• Hall-of-Fame Quarterback John Elway played his entire career with the Broncos, although he was drafted by the Colts and forced a trade to Denver by threatening to play Professional Baseball with the New York Yankees.

• The Denver Broncos began as a member of the American Football League (AFL) in 1960 and entered the NFL with the merger of the two leagues.

• The Denver Broncos won the first American Football League (AFL) game ever played, defeating the Boston Patriots 13-10.

• The Broncos were winners against the Detroit Lions in a preseason game in 1967 marking the first time an AFL team defeated an NFL team.

• The Denver Broncos played thirteen years (1960-1972) before having their first winning season in 1973.

• Before John Elway arrived in a trade with the Baltimore Colts, the Broncos had gone through more than 24 different starting quarterbacks in its 23 year history.

• During Super Bowl XXXII, in which the Broncos defeated the Packers, Running Back Terrell Davis overcame a migraine headache so severe that it caused him blurred vision to become the Super Bowl MVP.

• The Broncos original uniforms were brown pants, brown helmets, mustard yellow and white jerseys, and vertically striped socks. The uniforms were so ill-received by the fans that when the team redesigned them two years later they conducted a public bonfire of the striped socks.

• The first former Bronco elected to the Hall-of-Fame was Cornerback Willie Brown who played with the team for four seasons (1963-1966).

• In 1984, the Broncos started their Ring of Fame honoring former Denver Bronco greats. The first four inductees that year were; Goose Gonsoulin, Floyd Little, Lionel Taylor, and Rich Jackson.

• In the years 1960 through 1980, the Denver Broncos had eight different Head Coaches. Since 1981 (through 2006), the Broncos have had only three different Head Coaches.

• In 1985 the Broncos went 11-5 and missed the playoffs, conversely the Browns went 8-8 and made the playoffs winning their division.

• As of 2007, the Broncos had been the only team to play in a Super Bowl that had been televised by all of the major networks; ABC, CBS, NBC, and FOX.

• During the nine years spanning 1998 to 2006, the Denver Broncos had eight seasons with a running back rushing for over 1,000 yards.  Those eight thousand yard seasons were accomplished by six different running backs:  Terrell Davis, Olandis Gary, Mike Anderson, Clinton Portis, Rueben Droughns, and Tatum Bell.

• Star Bronco Linebacker Karl Mecklenburg was chosen by the Chicago Blitz in the 21^st round of the USFL Draft in 1983, he elected to play for the Broncos in the NFL instead.