Denver Broncos

The Denver Broncos are an NFL NFLThe NFL (National Football League) is a U.S. professional American football league of 32 clubs. Founded in 1920 as the APFA and renamed in 1922, it is organized into the AFC and NFC, with the season culminating in the Super Bowl.Open the full entry professional American football team awarded an AFL charter franchise in 1959 and beginning play in 1960. They play at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado, and won Super Bowls XXXII, XXXIII and 50. The Walton-Penner Family Ownership Group took over in 2022.

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Key facts

1959–1960An AFL charter member

Bob Howsam received an AFL franchise on August 14, 1959. On September 9, 1960, the Broncos beat the Boston Patriots 13–10 in the first game in AFL history.⁠[1]

1965–1968Remaining in Denver and expanding the stadium

When a sale to Atlanta interests was contemplated in 1965, Gerald and Allan Phipps purchased the team and Bears Stadium. Before the 1968 season, the city acquired the stadium and renamed it Denver Mile High Stadium, followed by further expansions.⁠[1]

1973–1989A first winning season and AFC titles

John Ralston’s Broncos recorded their first winning season at 7–5–2 in 1973. Denver subsequently won AFC championships in the 1977, 1986, 1987 and 1989 seasons.⁠[1]

May 2, 1983Trading for John Elway

The Broncos acquired quarterback John Elway from the Baltimore Colts for rookie lineman Chris Hinton, a 1984 first-round draft pick and backup quarterback Mark Herrmann. The team’s official retrospective records completion of the negotiations on May 2 and a late-night press conference in Denver.⁠[2]

1997–1998Consecutive Super Bowl titles

Denver won its first Super Bowl by beating the Green Bay Packers Green Bay PackersThe Green Bay Packers are an NFL professional American football team formed in Green Bay, Wisconsin, in 1919 and admitted to the NFL’s predecessor, the APFA, in 1921. A community-owned nonprofit organization, they play at Lambeau Field in Green Bay and have won 13 NFL championships, including four Super Bowls.Open the full entry 31–24 in Super Bowl XXXII after the 1997 season. A victory over the Atlanta Falcons Atlanta FalconsThe Atlanta Falcons are an NFL professional American football team awarded a franchise in 1965 and beginning play in 1966. Founded by Rankin M. Smith and purchased by Arthur Blank in 2002, the team plays at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. Its headquarters and practice facility are in Flowery Branch, Georgia.Open the full entry in Super Bowl XXXIII after the 1998 season secured consecutive titles.⁠[3][1][4]

2001A new Mile High venue

After 41 seasons at the original site, Denver moved into a new stadium in 2001, initially called INVESCO Field at Mile High. The venue is now Empower Field at Mile High, at 1701 Bryant Street in Denver.⁠[1][5]

2012–2016Peyton Manning and a third championship

Peyton Manning joined in 2012 and reached two Super Bowls during four seasons in Denver. After the 2015 season, the Broncos beat the Carolina Panthers Carolina PanthersThe Carolina Panthers are an NFL professional American football team representing the Carolinas. Awarded a franchise in 1993, they began play in 1995 and now play at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina. They won NFC championships in the 2003 and 2015 seasons. David Tepper purchased the team in 2018.Open the full entry 24–10 in Super Bowl 50 for their third title. Manning retired in 2016.⁠[1]

August 9, 2022New ownership approved

NFL owners unanimously approved the Walton-Penner Family Ownership Group as the Broncos’ new owners. The group included Rob Walton, Carrie Walton Penner, Greg Penner, Mellody Hobson, Condoleezza Rice and Lewis Hamilton Lewis HamiltonLewis Hamilton is a British racing driver, seven-time Formula 1 World Drivers’ Champion and Ferrari driver. He also founded Mission 44, a charity supporting opportunities for young people in education and employment.Open the full entry.⁠[6]

2023–2024Sean Payton and a playoff return

Sean Payton became head coach in 2023 and led Denver to a playoff berth in his second season. Pat Surtain II won the Defensive Player of the Year award for the 2024 season.⁠[1]

Current stadium and Burnham Yard plans

The Broncos currently play at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver. They selected the city’s Burnham Yard as the preferred site for a retractable-roof stadium and mixed-use district, targeting the 2031 season. Design, community engagement and necessary approvals remain part of the development process.⁠[7][5]

Related organizations, websites and public accounts

Denver Broncos: Official website: https://www.denverbroncos.com/ (opens in a new window) .⁠[8]

Denver Broncos: X: https://twitter.com/broncos (opens in a new window) .⁠[8]

Denver Broncos: YouTube YouTubeYouTube is Google’s video-sharing and creator platform, founded in 2005 by Steve Chen, Chad Hurley, and Jawed Karim and acquired by Google in 2006. Built around video uploading, viewing, and creator earnings, the platform has developed Shorts, YouTube Music, Premium, YouTube TV, and products for children, and is headquartered in San Bruno, California, United States.Open the full entry: https://www.youtube.com/broncos (opens in a new window) .⁠[8]

Denver Broncos: LinkedIn LinkedInLinkedIn is a social networking platform for professionals. It was founded in 2002 by Reid Hoffman and others, launched in 2003, and listed on the New York Stock Exchange in 2011; after Microsoft acquired it for approximately $26.2 billion in 2016, it became a wholly owned Microsoft subsidiary. Its revenue comes from membership subscriptions, advertising, and recruitment solutions.Open the full entry: https://www.linkedin.com/company/denver-broncos-football-organization (opens in a new window) .⁠[3]