Denver football · Since 1960
Denver Broncos History & Broncos Country
From the AFL's opening game to Orange Crush, John Elway's comebacks and championship defenses, explore the people and moments behind Broncos Country.
Start at the beginningBuilt by fans, not the franchise. This is an independent, celebratory guide—not an official team history. Every timeline item links to its source.
From AFL beginnings to three Super Bowl titles
The Denver timeline
Playoff milestones are grouped with their NFL season, which can end in the following calendar year.
- 1959
Beginnings Denver joins the new AFL
Bob Howsam received an AFL charter franchise on August 14, 1959. The Broncos would begin playing the following year.
Source: Pro Football Hall of Fame (opens in a new tab) ↗ - 1960
AFL years The AFL's first game belongs to Denver
On September 9, Denver beat the Boston Patriots 13–10 in the AFL's first regular-season game, opening the franchise's inaugural season with a win.
Source: Pro Football Hall of Fame (opens in a new tab) ↗ - 1962
Team identity Orange and blue arrive
Under coach and general manager Jack Faulkner, Denver replaced its original brown-and-gold look. The orange uniforms debuted in a September 7 win over San Diego.
Source: Denver Broncos (opens in a new tab) ↗ - 1977
Orange Crush A first trip to the Super Bowl
A 12–2 regular season and the Orange Crush defense set up Denver's breakthrough. The Broncos beat Oakland 20–17 in the AFC Championship on January 1, 1978, to reach Super Bowl XII.
Source: Denver Broncos (opens in a new tab) ↗ - 1983
The Elway years John Elway comes to Denver
On May 2, the Broncos acquired John Elway from the Baltimore Colts. The trade brought Denver the quarterback who would lead its offense for sixteen seasons.
Source: Denver Broncos (opens in a new tab) ↗ - 1986
The Elway years The Drive
The 1986 season's AFC Championship was played on January 11, 1987. Elway led a 98-yard touchdown march to tie Cleveland before Denver won 23–20 in overtime.
Source: Denver Broncos (opens in a new tab) ↗ - 1997
Championship seasons Denver wins its first Lombardi Trophy
The 1997 season ended with a 31–24 victory over Green Bay in Super Bowl XXXII on January 25, 1998. MVP Terrell Davis ran for 157 yards and three touchdowns.
Source: Denver Broncos (opens in a new tab) ↗ - 1998
Championship seasons Back-to-back champions
Denver repeated after the 1998 season, defeating Atlanta in Super Bowl XXXIII on January 31, 1999. Elway earned the game's MVP award in his final NFL appearance.
Source: Denver Broncos (opens in a new tab) ↗ - 2001
Mile High A new stadium carries the Mile High name
The Broncos opened their new regular-season home, then called Invesco Field at Mile High, with a 31–20 victory over the Giants on September 10.
Source: Denver Broncos (opens in a new tab) ↗ - 2012
The Manning years Peyton Manning starts a new chapter
Manning joined Denver and earned Comeback Player of the Year after missing the previous season through injury. His four Broncos seasons produced four AFC West titles.
Source: Denver Broncos (opens in a new tab) ↗ - 2013
The Manning years An offense rewrites the record book
Manning threw 55 touchdown passes as Denver scored 606 regular-season points. Both totals set NFL records, and Manning earned his fifth league MVP award.
Source: Denver Broncos (opens in a new tab) ↗ - 2015
Championship seasons Defense delivers Super Bowl 50
Denver capped the 2015 season by beating Carolina 24–10 on February 7, 2016. Super Bowl MVP Von Miller recorded 2.5 sacks and forced two fumbles in Manning's final game.
Source: Denver Broncos (opens in a new tab) ↗
Sounds, styles and turning points
Eras & identities
AFL roots
Denver began as an AFL charter member. The early years brought the league's first regular-season win, a growing local following and the foundations of a permanent football home in Colorado.
Source: Pro Football Hall of Fame ↗Orange Crush and Mile High
The Orange Crush name grew from Denver's late-1970s defense. In the stands, the South Stands and the stomping tradition known as Mile High Thunder became part of Broncos Country's identity.
Source: Denver Broncos ↗The championship breakthrough
Mike Shanahan became head coach in 1995 and led Denver to consecutive Super Bowl wins after the 1997 and 1998 seasons. His teams made the running game a central part of their success.
Source: Denver Broncos ↗Manning and the No Fly Zone
The 2015 champions paired Manning's experience with Von Miller, DeMarcus Ware and the No Fly Zone secondary. A defense featuring Aqib Talib and Chris Harris Jr. helped secure Denver's third title.
Source: Denver Broncos ↗Verified franchise facts
Iconic numbers
Names across generations
Franchise players
A selection across eras for exploring the people who shaped Denver football.
How this page was built
Sources & method
This independent overview draws on Denver Broncos historical records and the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Timeline years follow the football season where relevant; descriptions give the calendar dates of postseason games. Player selections illustrate different eras and are not a ranking. Each timeline entry, era and number links to its source. Send corrections through the corrections process.