Mar
On this day in 1976, Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning was born in New Orleans, Louisiana. From 1998 to 2010, Manning led the Indianapolis Colts to eight division championships and a Super Bowl title in 2007. In 2009, Fox Sports and Sports Illustrated named the 12-time Pro Bowler the NFL Player of the Decade for the 2000s.
Oct
Celebrating his 46th birthday today is two-time Super Bowl champion safety Steve “Smiling Assassin” Atwater. The eight-time Pro Bowler played eleven seasons for the Denver Broncos and New York Jets and was named to the NFL All-Decade Team for the 1990s.
Aug
On this day in 1967, the Denver Broncos defeated the Detroit Lions 13-7 in an exhibition game, marking the first time an AFL team beat an NFL team. The Broncos Cookie Gilchrist rushed for 89 of Denver’s 227 total yards and the team’s only touchdown.
On the bus following the game, Lions defensive tackle Roger Brown moaned, “The Denver Broncos… It didn’t happen!“ The first bite was the best for the aspiring league thanks to the lowly Broncos; in the words of Buffalo Bills quarterback Jack Kemp, “The AFL is going to surprise a lot of people. In fact, since Denver beat the Lions… I guess it already has.”
Click here to read more about this historic game!
Jun
Today former Denver Broncos quarterback John Elway celebrates his 52nd birthday. The 1987 NFL MVP won two Super Bowls, threw for 51,475 career yards, and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2004.
Apr
On this day in 1954, former Cowboys and Broncos running back Tony Dorsett was born in Rochester, Pennsylvania. While at the University of Pittsburgh, Dorsett won the 1976 Heisman Trophy, Maxwell Award, and was named UPI Player of the Year. In 2007, ESPN ranked him #7 on its list of Top 25 Players in College Football History.
Feb
On February 6th 2005, the New England Patriots defeated the Philadelphia Eagles 24-21 in Super Bowl XXXIX. The Pats became the first team since the ’97-98 Denver Broncos to win consecutive Super Bowls, and only the second NFL franchise (behind the Dallas Cowboys) to win three championship games in four years.
Jan
On this day in 1988, Washington Redskins quarterback Doug Williams led his team to a 42-10 victory over the Denver Broncos. Despite being down 10-0, the Redskins reeled off 42 unanswered points, thanks to MVP Williams’ four passing touchdowns in a single quarter (still a Super Bowl record).
Oct
On this day in 1994, the New York Giants retired the #56 of linebacker Lawrence Taylor, arguably the best defensive player in NFL history. LT recorded double-digit sacks each season from 1984 to 1990, and was named the league’s MVP in ’86, when he notched 20.5 sacks and led the Giants’ “Big Blue Wrecking Crew” to a 39-20 victory over the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XXI.
