The Denver Broncos spent their first seven seasons as an AFL afterthought, operating on shoestring budgets and constantly facing relocation rumors. Everything changed in 1967 when Denver selected Syracuse star Floyd Little sixth overall. Little was the first first-round pick ever to sign with the franchise, single-handedly turning Mile High Stadium into a hot ticket and earning the immortal nickname "The Franchise" for effectively saving pro football in Denver.

Although early in his career he often served as a dangerous returner—leading the league in punt return average (16.9) in 1967 and ranking high in all-purpose yards for two consecutive years—his move to a full-time tailback marked one of the most impressive individual streaks of his time. Standing 5-foot-10 and weighing less than 200 pounds, Little may not have had imposing size, but he made up for it with exceptional vision, outstanding contact balance, and a quick, elusive running style that made it difficult for defenders to catch him.

During a six-season absolute peak from 1968 through 1973, no running back in professional football accumulated more total rushing yards or scrimmage yards than Floyd Little. He made four straight Pro Bowls starting in 1968, grabbed First-Team All-AFL honors in 1969 with a league-high 5.0 yards per carry, and led the AFC in rushing in 1970. His crown jewel season arrived in 1971, when he captured the NFL rushing title with 1,133 yards—becoming the first 1,000-yard rusher in franchise history and the first player ever to lead the league in rushing while playing for a last-place team (4–9–1). He capped off that elite run in 1973 by pacing the NFL with 12 rushing touchdowns while amassing over 1,400 yards from scrimmage.

By 1974, after years of heavy workloads, Little's physical health declined, with injuries limiting his touches as younger backs took over. Wanting to retire on his own terms, he announced 1975 would be his last season. In his home finale at Mile High Stadium, he made a final highlight—scoring a 66-yard touchdown on a screen pass and calmly handing the ball to the official. Having attended night classes at the University of Denver Law School during his career, Little earned his master's degree in 1975 and retired from football to pursue business ventures.

With the Broncos, Little accumulated 6,323 rushing yards, 43 rushing touchdowns, 215 receptions, 2,418 receiving yards, and 12,173 all-purpose yards alongside 54 total touchdowns. A five-time Pro Bowler/All-Star, 1971 NFL rushing leader, and inaugural 1984 Ring of Fame inductee, Little had his No. 44 retired by the team before earning long-overdue enshrinement into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2010.

Following on from a successful Major League Baseball two-game series in June this year, Bill DeWitt III, president of the St Louis Cardinals, has expressed his optimism about the future of the league in London. When asked about the future of the games on November 11^th, DeWitt commented that “I think the first step is games over there. This is the second year back. I think if you see significant enthusiasm again, which you should, MLB might extend [the London Series] into a regular thing.”

Drafted in the seventh round (218th overall) of the 1994 NFL Draft from Boston College, Tom Nalen arrived in Denver with modest expectations. He earned the starting center job early in his second season and went on to anchor Alex Gibbs’ famous zone-blocking scheme for more than a decade. Slightly undersized at 286 pounds, Nalen relied on textbook leverage, rare foot speed, and an ironclad grasp of defensive fronts to call the line of scrimmage, cementing his status as the cerebral heartbeat of the offense.

Nalen's arrival coincided with Denver's transformation into an offensive juggernaut. While John Elway's arm and Terrell Davis' running generated headlines, Nalen was the indispensable engine up front that made the system go. During his 14 seasons with Big Blue, Nalen blocked for six different 1,000-yard rushers across 11 seasons—including Davis’ iconic 2,008-yard MVP campaign in 1998, alongside Olandis Gary, Mike Anderson, Clinton Portis, Reuben Droughns, and Tatum Bell. His ability to reach linebackers on stretch plays allowed running backs to cut back into open grass consistently.

That trench dominance produced consecutive Lombardi Trophies in Super Bowl XXXII and XXXIII, as the front five imposed its will in back-to-back playoff runs. Individual accolades quickly followed: Nalen earned four consecutive Pro Bowl trips from 1997 through 2000, adding a second-team All-Pro nod in 1999 and a first-team selection in 2000. After rebounding from a knee injury that cut his 2002 campaign short, Nalen delivered a masterclass year in 2003—earning his fifth Pro Bowl nod, a second first-team All-Pro honor, and recognition as the NFL Alumni Offensive Lineman of the Year.

Nalen, known for his stoic demeanor and silent media policy, let his play speak until a torn bicep in 2007 ended his career. His long tenure set the franchise standard. He played 194 games with 188 starts—second only to John Elway—and had 13 postseason starts and two Super Bowl rings. A five-time Pro Bowler, two-time First-Team All-Pro, and part of the Broncos 50th Anniversary Team, he was inducted into the Broncos Ring of Fame in 2013.

Drafted in the long-forgotten 12th round (310th overall) of the 1983 NFL Draft out of Minnesota, Karl Mecklenburg began his professional career as a longshot defensive end before evolving into one of the most uniquely versatile front-seven weapons in football history. Nicknamed the "Albino Rhino," he earned the ultimate reputation as a defensive "Swiss-Army Knife," lining up at all seven front-seven positions—inside linebacker, outside linebacker, nose tackle, and both defensive end spots—often shifting between multiple alignment roles over the course of a single game to attack opposing offenses.

Mecklenburg's career took a major step forward when Denver moved him to inside linebacker, while still utilizing him as an interior pass rusher on third downs. His breakthrough season was in 1985, when he achieved a career-high 13.0 sacks, setting a franchise record at the time, which earned him his first Pro Bowl selection and First-Team All-Pro honors. He confirmed this was no accident in 1986, earning AFC Player of the Year from Football News after recording 9.5 sacks and leading Denver's defense to a Super Bowl XXI appearance.

During his peak from 1985 to 1989, Mecklenburg was the crucial tactical force in Joe Collier's defense. He earned four First-Team All-Pro honors (1985, 1986, 1987, 1989) within five seasons. His 1989 campaign was a showcase of dominance, as he led the Broncos with a personal best of 143 tackles, along with 7.5 sacks and four forced fumbles. He topped the NFL in Approximate Value and helped Denver reach Super Bowl XXIV for the third time in his career.

Despite aging and injuries, Mecklenburg's keen instincts and diagnose-and-attack skills kept him among the league's top linebackers into the early 1990s. He received Pro Bowl nominations again in 1991 and 1993, leading the linebacking unit through scheme changes and remaining one of the most hard-hitting interior defenders. Notably, he is the only player in Denver history to achieve four sacks in a single game twice, showcasing his rare talent for disrupting pass protections from the inside.

Across 12 seasons in Denver (1983–1994), Mecklenburg played 180 games, with 1,145 tackles, 79.0 sacks, 16 forced fumbles, and five interceptions. The Broncos inducted their six-time Pro Bowler into the Ring of Fame in 2001.