Taken in the 12th round (334th overall) out of North Dakota State in 1987, Tyrone Braxton entered the pros with long odds, but his instinctual versatility turned him into a mainstay in Denver's secondary. After serving as a backup as a rookie, Braxton claimed a starting cornerback job in 1989, recording six interceptions to help lead the Broncos to Super Bowl XXIV.

His initial stretch in Colorado was turbulent. Following a disappointing 1993 team performance, Braxton was released and spent the 1994 season with the Miami Dolphins. However, Denver brought him back in 1995 and shifted him to safety—a positional change that revitalized his career and unlocked his best football.

Braxton became a vital secondary leader during the peak of the Mike Shanahan era. His banner year arrived in 1996, when he co-led the entire NFL with a career-high nine interceptions, earning his first Pro Bowl selection. He followed that up as a primary defensive engine during Denver's back-to-back championship runs, picking off Brett Favre in Super Bowl XXXII to set up a crucial Broncos touchdown.

Braxton retired after the 1999 season having played in four Super Bowls with the franchise. Fittingly, his 34 interceptions in Denver matched his No. 34 jersey.