This Year 2025:
The Broncos under head coach Sean Payton and starting quarterback Bo Nix started this season with a home opener against the Tennessee Titans with a 20-12 point score. Following the win, the Broncos lost in week two and three. Week four to week 14 the Broncos would win their tenth game in a row. Now… Now we wait to see if they are able to beat the Green Bay Packers in week 15 and to continue this to however far they can.
What do we think?:
From droughts to winning streaks, from all-star quarterbacks, owners, and coaches, from the highs and the lows, the Broncos have had a wild history since 1959. In the light of this amazing year for our Denver Broncos, I wanted to ask one question around the school. “How far do you think the Broncos will make it this year?” After a day of asking around, the most common predictions were: One, that the Broncos will succeed in making it to the playoffs and will most likely be out in the second round. Two, that the Broncos will make it to the Super Bowl and will lose. After doing the research for this piece, I agree with students who “Bolieve” the Broncos will make it to the playoffs but will lose in the second round. No one knows for sure, but if we do make it to the Super Bowl, win or lose, this could be the beginning of a new era for Denver, maybe even a dynasty.
Origins & Ownership:
The Denver Broncos were founded by Bob Howsam on August 14, 1959. After the first year, he sold the team to a group of Denver businessmen. Gerald H. Phipps, a member of the group of businessmen, bought out the other members in 1965. In 1981 Gerry Phipps sold the team to Edgar F. Kaiser. In 1984 Kaiser sold the team to Pat Bowlen for $70 million. Under Bowlen, the Denver Broncos would win three Super Bowls and he would be recognized as the Broncos’ greatest owner. In 2022 the team was sold to an ownership group led by Rob Walton who agreed to pay $4.65 billion to the Bowlen family to purchase the team.
Beginnings:
Denver began playing as a part of the American Football League (AFL) in 1960, with a recorded record of 4-9-1 their first year. Until 1969 the Broncos average winning percentage was 31.7% under five separate head coaches. In 1970 they joined the NFL during the AFL-NFL merger. From 1970-1976 the Broncos saw little change, having an average winning percentage of 48.4%.
Red Miller:
The team finally saw its first success in the season of 1977 going to Super Bowl XII vs. the Dallas Cowboys, with a final record of 12-2. They lost the game but had a tremendous season under their new head coach Red Miller and quarterback Craig Morton. The success with Red Miller and quarterback Craig Morton would be short-lived, lasting only three years until 1979. Those three short years, the Broncos would go to the playoffs three times consecutively and one Super Bowl. In those years they had an overall winning percentage of 70.2%. Red Miller’s final year as head coach was 1980 ending the season with a record of 8-8.
Coach Reeves & John Elway:
1983 would mark the beginning of a new era for Denver with the trade of John Elway under head coach Dan Reeves. In 1984 the Broncos would go to the playoffs for their first time with John Elway. In 1986 the Broncos went to the playoffs once again. In 1987 the Broncos made it to Super Bowl XXI to face off against the Washington Redskins that ended in a loss for the Broncos. In 1989, the Broncos would reach Super Bowl XXIII this time losing to the San Francisco 49ers. In 1991 was the final time the Broncos reached the playoffs with head coach Dan Reeves. For the 10 years under Reeves and starter quarterback John Elway, they made it to the playoffs five times and to the Super Bowl twice. For those years the winning percentage of the Denver Broncos was 62.03%. Reeves in 1993 would become the head coach for the New York Giants.
Mike Shanahan & John Elway:
For two years from 1993-1994 Wade Phillips was head coach while John Elway stayed as the Broncos starting quarterback. In 1993 the Broncos went to the playoffs and lost to the Los Angeles Raiders. In 1995 Mike Shanahan became the head coach of the Broncos, keeping John Elway as the starting quarterback and ending the season with a final record of 8-8. In 1996 the Broncos made it to the playoffs losing to the Jacksonville Jaguars, ending the season with a 13-3 record. In 1998, the Broncos won Super Bowl XXXII against the Green Bay Packers 31-24. This would be their first Super Bowl win. In 1999 the Broncos would go on to win Super Bowl XXXIII against the Atlanta Falcons 34-19. Elway, after his second Super Bowl win for the Denver Broncos, retired from quarterback after his 16 year career. For all his time as a part of the Denver Broncos he had a winning percentage of 61.86%. Notable achievements and rewards Elway earned as a part of the team include: Super Bowl MVP – Super Bowl XXXIII, AP Most Valuable Player – 1987, NFL Man of the Year – 1992, AP NFL All-Pro Team (2nd Team) – 1987, 1993, 1996, AFC Offensive Player of the Month twice, AFC Offensive Player of the Week – 15 times, Pro Football Hall of Fame – 2004.
After Elway:
In 2000, the Broncos 3rd round pick in the 1998 NFL draft Brian Griese was their starting quarterback while still under head coach Mike Shanahan. That year they went to the playoffs. In 2003 Jake Plummer the Arizona Cardinals second round pick of the 1997 NFL draft signed with Denver as a free agent. He later became Denver’s starting quarterback for the 2003 season. From 2003-2005 the Broncos would go to the playoffs every year but never make it to the Super Bowl. The Denver Broncos first round pick of the 2006 NFL draft Jay Cutler became Denver’s starting quarterback for the season of 2007. In 2009 Denver picked Kyle Orton, the fourth round pick of the Chicago Bears in the 2005 NFL draft as their starting quarterback. In 2009 they would also choose a new head coach Josh McDaniels. In 2010 the Broncos had their worst year in franchise history with a record of 4-12. In 2011, Denver’s first round pick of the 2010 NFL draft Tim Tebow would play as their starting quarterback, also the same year Denver would see a new head coach John Fox. The season of 2011 the Broncos made it to the playoffs but never to the Super Bowl.
Peyton Manning:
In 2012, under head coach John Fox and Executive Vice President of Football Operations and General Manager John Elway Peyton Manning would become the Broncos starting quarterback. Peyton Manning was the first overall pick in the 1998 NFL draft by the Indianapolis Colts. Peyton Manning had been awarded the NFL MVP four times, went to the playoffs 11 times and to the Super Bowl two times, winning the 2006 Super Bowl XLI all during his career for the Colts. Peyton Manning’s 2012 season ended in a 13-3 record losing to the Baltimore Ravens in the playoffs. In the 2013 season the Broncos made it to the Super Bowl XLVIII losing 43-8 against the Seattle Seahawks. Manning would be awarded his fifth NFL MVP that year. The 2014 season the Broncos had lost to the Indianapolis Colts 24-13 during the playoffs and this would be John Fox’s final year as head coach for the Broncos. The Broncos chose Gary Kubiak as head coach for the 2015 season ending the regular season with a record of 12-4. The same year the Broncos reached Super Bowl 50 and won against the Carolina Panthers 24-10. On March 7, 2016 Peyton Manning announced his retirement after 18 years playing in the NFL. For the four years Peyton Manning played for the Denver Broncos their winning percentage was 78.15%. In 2021 Manning was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
After Manning:
In 2016, the Broncos under the ownership of the Pat Bowlen Family Trust Gary Kubiak was hired as the Broncos 15th head coach. John Elway would still be Executive Vice President/General Manager. Trevor Siemian Denver’s seventh round pick of the 2015 NFL draft was selected as the Broncos starting quarterback ending the season with a 9-7 record. In 2017 Denver hired the Miami Dolphins defensive coordinator Vance Joseph as head coach after Gary Kubiak retired because of health concerns. The 2017 season was unsatisfactory for the Broncos with a final record of 5-11. In the 2018 season Denver selected Case Keenum as their starting quarterback. Keenum would start as an undrafted free agent in 2012. The year before the Broncos he brought the Minnesota Vikings to the NFC Championship losing to the Philadelphia Eagles 38-7. The 2018 season Keenum would have a career high of 3,890 passing yards, 18 touchdowns, and 15 interceptions with the Broncos ending with a 6-10 record. Vic Fangio, Chicago Bears defensive coordinator was hired as the Broncos head coach for the 2019 season. The same year Joe Flacco the Baltimore Ravens first round pick in the 2008 NFL draft became the Broncos starting quarterback. That year the Broncos ended the season with a 7-9 record. COVID-19 caused the 2020 NFL season not to have full training camps and a preseason. This likely contributed to the Broncos unusual amount of injuries early into that year’s season. Drew Lock, the Broncos second round pick of the 2019 NFL draft became the Broncos starting quarterback ending that season with a 5-11 record. In 2021 Teddy Bridgewater, the final first round pick of the 2015 NFL draft by the Minnesota Vikings was traded to the Broncos on April 28, 2021. In the 2021 season the Denver Broncos had a 7-10 record.
2022 & Russell Wilson:
Vic Fangio was dismissed on January 8, 2022. Nineteen days later Nathaniel Hackett, previously Green Bay Packers offensive coordinator, would be the Broncos head coach for the upcoming 2022 season. Russell Wilson, the Seattle Seahawks third round pick of the 2012 NFL draft who led the Seahawks to two consecutive Super Bowls and won Super Bowl XLVIII. On March 16, 2022, Russell Wilson was traded to the Denver Broncos. On September 1, 2022 Wilson signed a five-year $245 million contract with the Denver Broncos. Wilson would be the starting quarterback and end the 2022 NFL season with a 5-12 record. During the 2022 season on Christmas day the Broncos lost 51-14 against the Los Angeles Rams. Nathaniel Hackett would be fired after and be replaced by Jerry Rosburg as interim coach.
2022 Ownership:
On February 1, 2022, the Broncos announced the franchise would be up for sale parting ways with the Bowlen family. On June 7, 2022 a consortium led by Rob Walton entered an agreement to acquire the Broncos for $4.65 billion. On August 10, 2022 the NFL approved the bid and the Walton-Penner Family Ownership Group would take ownership of the Denver Broncos. Greg Penner, Walmart chairman became the CEO of the Denver Broncos and public face of the Walton-Penner Family Ownership Group.
2023 & Bo Nix:
On February 3, 2023 Sean Payton became the head coach of the Denver Broncos. After the Christmas Eve loss at home against the New England Patriots, reports surfaced about contract disputes between Broncos management and Russell Wilson over an injury clause.
The season would be uneventful ending in a 8-9 record. After the 2023 season, the Broncos would release Russell Wilson with $85 million in dead-cap money, which would be the largest in the NFL’s history. In the 2024 NFL draft the Broncos picked Bo Nix for their first round pick. Bo Nix was the starting quarterback ending the regular season with a 10-7 record and losing to the Buffalo Bills 7-31 in the Wild Card Round.
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