A 12-year career with the Broncos saw Karl Mecklenburg tally 79 tackles, the third-highest mark in franchise history. He is also just one of three players in Denver history to record four sacks in a single game, with his two such games a Broncos record. During his career, he was selected to five All-Pro and six Pro Bowls, before being inducted into the Broncos Ring of Fame.
A pivotal piece of the Orange Crush, Randy Gradishar won DPOY in 1978 in the midst of seven Pro Bowl appearances and five All-Pro selections. In 2024, he took his place in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
The franchise leader in receptions, receiving yards, and touchdowns, Rod Smith is the greatest wide receiver in Broncos history. He also leads the team in postseason yards and touchdowns, winning two Super Bowls in the process. With three Pro Bowl and two All-Pro selections, his legacy is secure with his place in the Broncos Ring of Fame.
Four seasons. That's all it took for Peyton Manning to end up on this list. He broke the single-season passing record with 55 touchdowns and 5,477 yards, the best mark in league history. In total, he compiled 17,112 yards and 140 touchdowns in four seasons, the latter of which is a team record. He also threw for seven TDs in a single game during his time with the team. He won an MVP and culminated his run with a Super Bowl.
A two-time Super Bowl winner, Steve Atwater had an impressive trophy case with three All-Pro selections and eight Pro Bowl nods to his name. He was critical to the franchise's first-ever Super Bowl, registering 83 tackles, two interceptions, two fumble recoveries, and a sack on the year. For his career, he crossed 1,000 tackles and even tallied 24 interceptions.
The franchise leader in career sacks, single-season sacks, playoff sacks, single-playoff sacks, and single playoff game sacks was undoubtedly going to find his way on to this list. A seven-time All-Pro and eight-time Pro Bowler, Von Miller was invaluable during their run to Super Bowl 50, earning MVP honors in that game. Thanks to his other appearance with the Rams, he holds the most sacks in Super Bowl history at 4.5.
Just as dominant on the field as he is entertaining on ESPN, Shannon Sharpe is one of the greatest tight ends of all-time. A two-time Super Bowl Champion with Denver, he totaled over 10,000 yards in his career, including a singular 214-yard performance which stands as the record for a tight end to this day. Over his career, Sharpe amassed five All-Pro and eight Pro Bowl selections before entering the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
The youngest player in NFL history to record three interceptions in a game, Champ Bailey was the textbook definition of a ballhawk. Seven All-Pro and 12 Pro Bowl selections, the latter of which is the most for a DB in history, set the stage for a career that saw Bailey end up in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
A seven-year career ending up this high on the list speaks to the impact Terrell Davis had. He was a member of their two Super Bowl squads in the 1990s, rushing for 2,000 yards in the latter seasons. He even won Super Bowl MVP in 1997 thanks to a 157 yard and three touchdown game. In 2017, he earned his place in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
MVP. Two-time Super Bowl Champion. All-time leader in wins at the time of retirement, nine Pro Bowls and three All-Pro selections, John Elway was a model of consistency and winning. He orchestrated the immortal 98-yard The Drive in 1987, as he became the greatest player in Denver Broncos franchise history and one of the greatest quarterbacks of all-time.
