One of the most well-known defensive players of his day, Lyle Alzado was more recognized with the Oakland Raiders but his best years and most extended years were with the Denver Broncos.  With Denver, Alzado would be a First Team All-Pro in 1977, and he was a Pro Bowl Selection that year and the one after.  The Defensive End would notably lead the NFL in Fumble Recoveries in 1972.

Before the NFL banned the open-handed head slap, offensive tackles in the AFL feared Rich Jackson. Originally signed by Oakland as an undrafted linebacker in 1966, Jackson was traded to Denver after his first season. The coaches wisely moved his 6-foot-3, 255-pound frame to defensive end. With a rare combination of quick closing speed and raw strength, he quickly earned the nickname "Tombstone"—because, as teammates said, when he hit someone, they were like heading to their grave.

Between 1968 and 1970, Jackson established a reign of terror, making it one of the most destructive periods for any edge rusher in pro football history. Known for his brutal head-slap move called the "Halo Spinner,” he dominated top-tier tackles like Kansas City's Jim Tyrer and Oakland's Bob Brown, tossing them aside effortlessly. He achieved three straight First-Team All-Pro selections (1968–1970) and earned three All-Star/Pro Bowl honors. Jackson was also the first in franchise history to receive First-Team All-NFL honors after the AFL-NFL merger in 1970. Although sacks weren't officially recorded, film analysis suggests he accumulated approximately 31 to 33 sacks during those three years.

Tragically, Jackson's peak of stardom was cut short at its highest point. During the 1971 season, a serious knee injury sustained against Green Bay severely limited his lateral mobility. He made a brief comeback attempt in 1972 before retiring, leaving behind a short yet undeniable legacy as a formidable game-wrecker. Legendary writer Paul "Dr. Z" Zimmerman regarded him as one of the best overall pass rushers he had ever seen.

In his seven-year NFL career, Jackson played 67 games for Denver, with an unofficial 43.0 sacks and two fumble recoveries. A three-time First-Team All-Pro, three-time Pro Bowler/AFL All-Star, and Second-Team AFL All-Time Team selection, "Tombstone" was enshrined as one of the four first members of the Denver Broncos Ring of Fame in 1984.

A late round pick in 1987, Tyrone Braxton would become a starting Cornerback in 1989.  His career was up and down, and he was released after 1993 as one of the many scapegoats for a bad Broncos season.

When Bill Romanowski signed with the Denver Broncos in 1996, he brought two things to the Mile High City: a resume that already included two Super Bowl rings with San Francisco, and a reputation as one of the most ruthless, unapologetically dirty players to ever put on an NFL uniform. He was volatile, frequently fined, and constantly pushed the boundaries of the rulebook—but that exact win-at-all-costs intensity was exactly what Mike Shanahan felt his defense needed to get over the championship hump.

Romanowski immediately injected a nasty, unyielding swagger into the Denver linebacking corps. Operating as a highly intelligent, sideline-to-sideline enforcer, he set the unit’s physical tone. He backed up his relentless trash talk with highly productive play, earning his first career Pro Bowl nod in his first season in Colorado after racking up 77 tackles and three interceptions.

His peak with the franchise perfectly aligned with the greatest era in Broncos history. "RomoCop" served as the emotional and physical heartbeat of the defense that finally secured John Elway his elusive championships. He was an indispensable force during Denver's back-to-back Super Bowl titles (XXXII and XXXIII), earning his second Pro Bowl selection in 1998 after registering a career-high 7.5 sacks and 72 tackles. He departed the team in 2002 for Oakland.

Over his six seasons in Denver, he never missed a game, proving as durable as he was controversial. Romanowski had 433 combined tackles, 23.0 sacks, 11 interceptions, and seven fumble recoveries.