Denver Broncos

From AFL also-rans to three Super Bowl titles.

The Denver Broncos are an NFL team based in Denver and a member of the AFC West, with headquarters in Englewood, Colorado. They began in 1960 as a charter member of the American Football League and joined the NFL in the 1970 merger.

Quick Facts

Division: AFC West
Founded: 1960 (AFL)
Super bowl titles: 3

Lore & Background

The Broncos struggled through their AFL decade and first NFL seasons, with no winning season until 1973. They first reached the playoffs in 1977 and went on to Super Bowl XII that season. From 1973 to 2016 they had only eleven losing seasons.

Reader's Guide

Denver has won eight AFC championships and three Super Bowls (XXXII, XXXIII and 50). Its Hall of Famers include John Elway, Floyd Little, Shannon Sharpe, Terrell Davis and Champ Bailey. Home games have been at Empower Field at Mile High since 2001.

Bob Howsam was awarded the franchise on August 14, 1959, and Denver won the first AFL game ever played, 13-10 over the Boston Patriots. The club nearly lost its franchise in 1965 before local owners took over, and Floyd Little's signing in 1967 helped keep it in Denver.