The Denver Broncos might be one of the elite teams of the National Football League, but their origin in the AFL saw them struggle and there were frankly very few highlights.  One of those brighter spots was Lionel Taylor, a Wide Receiver who many forget led the American Football League five times (1960, 1961, 1962, 1963 & 1965) in Receptions.  The Spilt End was the first pro to secure 100 Receptions, yet because he did that in the AFL’s infancy for a team that did not do well, many did not notice. 

Bill Thompson played all 179 of his Games with the Denver Broncos, and he started every single one of them.  A 3^rd Round Pick from Maryland State, Thompson was a versatile defensive player who as a rookie would lead the NFL in both Yards per Kick and Punt Return.  Thompson spent many more seasons returning kicks and punts for the Broncos, but he would also settle in as the starting Strong Safety wherein 1977 he was named to the Pro Bowl, earned his only First Team All-Pro and helped the Broncos reach the Super Bowl.  Thompson went to two more Pro Bowls and netted 40 picks in his career.

He entered the Broncos Ring of Fame in 1987.

It seemed like forever that the Denver Broncos were searching for Quarterback to replace John Elway, and it took Elway himself to find one.  As the Broncos' General Manager and one Hall of Famer signed another and Peyton Manning was signed as a Free Agent from the Indianapolis Colts.

Tom Jackson was a 4^th Round Pick from Louisville and considering he spent 14 seasons at Mile High this was undoubtedly a high-value selection.  Jackson started 177 of the 191 Games he played at Linebacker, and he was the soul of the famed Orange Crush defense that reversed the fortunes of Denver and brought them to their first Super Bowl appearance in the 1977 season.  That year Jackson went to his first of three straight Pro Bowls, and in ‘77 he was also a First Team All-Pro.  He was still with the team when they reached their second Super Bowl, making him one of only four players to be in the first two for the team.