Selected out of little Yankton College in the fourth round of the 1971 draft, Lyle Alzado made an immediate splash in Colorado. Originally brought in as depth, he was thrust into a starting role as a rookie following an injury and responded with eight sacks. His fiery intensity and unhinged playing style quickly turned him into an iconic fan favorite in Mile High long before he ever donned Silver and Black.

Alzado was an absolute terror off the edge throughout the 1970s. In 1972, he posted 10.5 sacks while leading the entire NFL with five opponent fumble recoveries. By 1974, he logged a team-high 13.0 sacks, establishing himself as one of the premier interior and edge disruptors in pro football.

His finest season in Denver arrived during the magical 1977 campaign. Operating as the premier pass-rushing menace of the legendary "Orange Crush" defense, Alzado spearheaded the front seven with 8.0 sacks and 80 tackles. He was named the UPI AFC Defensive Player of the Year, earned a Consensus First-Team All-Pro selection, and garnered his first career Pro Bowl nod while leading Denver to its first-ever AFC Championship and Super Bowl XII appearance.

He backed that up with a second Pro Bowl trip and Second-Team All-Pro honors in 1978. However, contract disputes and a rift with management led to a bitter trade to Cleveland before the 1979 season, cutting his Mile High tenure short before he eventually won a ring with the Raiders and his profile exploded nationally.

With the Denver Broncos, Alzado had 64.5 unofficial sacks, 593 tackles, 14 fumble recoveries, and a safety.