History of Denver Broncos in Timeline

The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They compete in the National Football League (NFL) as part of the American Football Conference (AFC) West division. The team's headquarters are located in Englewood, Colorado.

August 14, 1959: Franchise Founding

On August 14, 1959, Bob Howsam was awarded an American Football League (AFL) charter franchise, founding the Denver Broncos.

September 9, 1960: First AFL Game Win

On September 9, 1960, the Denver Broncos won their first-ever AFL game against the Boston Patriots with a score of 13–10.

1960: Charter Members of the AFL

In 1960, The Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs, Las Vegas Raiders, and Los Angeles Chargers were charter members of the American Football League (AFL).

1960: AFL Charter Member

In 1960, the Denver Broncos began playing as a charter member of the American Football League (AFL).

1960: Debut of original uniforms

In 1960, the Denver Broncos debuted with unique uniforms featuring white and mustard yellow jerseys, brown helmets and pants, and vertically striped socks.

1960: Inaugural season

In 1960, the Denver Broncos had their first season.

1960: Broncos throwbacks to honor their inaugural season

In 2009 the Broncos wore uniforms mirroring the team's 1960 jerseys for two games.

May 1961: Ownership Change

In May 1961, Gerald Phipps purchased the Denver Broncos from original owner Bob Howsam.

1962: AFL Season

In 1962, the Denver Broncos had a 7-7 record, marking the only time in the 1960s they won more than five games.

1962: New logo and team colors

In 1962, the Denver Broncos introduced a new logo with a bucking horse and changed their team colors to orange, royal blue, and white. The uniform included white pants, orange helmets, and either orange or white jerseys.

1962: Orange jersey becomes predominant home jersey color

Since 1962, the color orange had been the predominant color of the team jersey.

1965: Local Ownership Group

In 1965, a local ownership group took control of the Denver Broncos, preventing the franchise from potentially folding.

August 5, 1967: First AFL Win vs NFL Team

On August 5, 1967, the Denver Broncos became the first-ever AFL team to defeat an NFL team, winning 13–7 in a preseason game against the Detroit Lions.

1967: Floyd Little Signing

In 1967, Floyd "Franchise" Little signed with the Denver Broncos, playing an instrumental role in keeping the team in Denver. This was due to his signing as well as his Pro Bowl efforts on and off the field.

1968: "Orange Crush" design debut

In 1968, the Denver Broncos introduced the "Orange Crush" design, featuring a redesigned logo with the horse coming out of a "D", royal blue helmets, and thin stripes on the sleeves.

1968: Block-style numerals that mirrored the team's 1968 uniform style

In 2016, the uniforms featured block-style numerals trimmed in navy blue that mirrored the team's 1968 uniform style.

1969: AFL Years

During the American Football League (AFL) years from 1960 to 1969, the Denver Broncos and the New England Patriots met twice annually.

1969: Orange pants introduced with white jerseys

From 1969, the Denver Broncos began wearing orange pants with their white jerseys.

1970: NFL Merger

In 1970, the Denver Broncos joined the NFL as part of the merger with the American Football League (AFL).

1970: Home Game Sellout Streak Begins

Since the AFL–NFL merger in 1970, the Denver Broncos have sold out every home game (including post-season games), with the exception of two replacement games during the 1987 strike.

1971: Orange pants worn with white jerseys

In 1971, the Denver Broncos continued wearing orange pants with their white jerseys.

1971: White jerseys worn at home

Throughout the 1971 season, the Denver Broncos wore their white jerseys for home games.

1972: John Ralston Hired

In 1972, the Denver Broncos hired John Ralston, former Stanford University coach, as their head coach.

1973: Ralston Named AFC Coach of the Year

In 1973, John Ralston was named UPI's AFC Coach of the Year after leading the Denver Broncos to their first winning season.

1973: First Winning Season

In 1973, the Denver Broncos achieved their first winning season.

1974: Home Record

The Denver Broncos had the best home record in pro football over a 32-year span from 1974 to 2006 (191–65–1).

1975: Face mask color change

In 1975, the Denver Broncos changed the face masks on their helmets from grey to white.

1976: Ralston's Final Season

In 1976, John Ralston finished the season with a 9–5 record, however, the Broncos still missed the playoffs and Ralston resigned.

1977: Seahawks Join AFC West

From 1977 to 2001, the Seattle Seahawks were members of the AFC West.

1977: Super Bowl Appearance After Defeating Raiders

In 1977, the Denver Broncos advanced to their first Super Bowl by defeating the defending champion Raiders in the 1977 AFC Championship.

1977: First Playoff Appearance and Super Bowl XII

In 1977, the Denver Broncos qualified for their first playoffs and advanced to Super Bowl XII.

1977: Playoff Berth and Super Bowl XII Appearance

In 1977, under coach Red Miller and with the "Orange Crush Defense", the Denver Broncos achieved a 12-2 regular-season record, made their first playoff appearance, and advanced to Super Bowl XII, where they lost to the Dallas Cowboys 27-10.

1977: "Orange Crush" throwback unveiled

On April 22, 2024, the Broncos unveiled a throwback 1977 "Orange Crush" uniform along with the royal blue "D-horse" helmet.

1977: Throwback Uniform Homage

The Broncos' "Mile High Collection" unveiled in 1997 included a throwback uniform paying homage to the 1977 Orange Crush uniforms, which featured the iconic royal blue "D" helmets.

1978: Orange pants worn with white jerseys

In 1978, the Denver Broncos wore orange pants with white jerseys.

1979: Orange pants worn with white jerseys

In 1979, the Denver Broncos wore orange pants with white jerseys.

1979: Orange pants worn for the first time since 1979

In 2016, the team wore the orange pants for the first time since 1979

1980: White jerseys worn at home against Chargers and Cowboys

In 1980, the Denver Broncos wore their white jerseys for home games against the San Diego Chargers and Dallas Cowboys, winning against the Cowboys 41-20.

1981: Sale to Edgar Kaiser Jr.

In 1981, Broncos' owner Gerald Phipps sold the team to Canadian financier Edgar Kaiser Jr.

1981: Dan Reeves Hire

In 1981, Dan Reeves became the youngest head coach (37) in the NFL when he joined the Denver Broncos as vice president and head coach.

1983: Playoff Loss to Seahawks

During the 25 years in which the Seattle Seahawks resided in the AFC West, the Denver Broncos went 32–18 against the Seahawks, including a loss at Seattle in the 1983 NFL playoffs.

1983: John Elway as Starting Quarterback

From 1983, the Denver Broncos had several memorable matchups with the Chiefs, particularly during the years in which John Elway was the Broncos' starting quarterback.

1983: John Elway Trade

In 1983, Quarterback John Elway arrived in Denver via a trade.

1983: White jerseys worn at home against Eagles, Raiders and Bengals

In 1983, the Denver Broncos wore their white jerseys for home games against the Philadelphia Eagles, Los Angeles Raiders, and Cincinnati Bengals.

1983: First Rookie Quarterback Since John Elway

In 2024, Bo Nix became the first Broncos quarterback since John Elway in 1983 to start week 1 of his rookie season.

1983: Last time white jerseys were worn at home

The game of November 16, 2003 was the first time white jerseys had been worn at home since 1983.

1984: Pat Bowlen Purchase

In 1984, the Denver Broncos were purchased by Pat Bowlen.

1986: AFC Championship

In 1986, the Denver Broncos won the AFC Championship.

January 4, 1987: John Elway's First Playoff Win

On January 4, 1987, the Broncos' first playoff match against the Patriots was John Elway's first career playoff win.

1987: AFC Championship

In 1987, the Denver Broncos won the AFC Championship.

1987: Home Game Sellout Streak Exception

Since the AFL–NFL merger in 1970, the Denver Broncos have sold out every home game (including post-season games), with the exception of two replacement games during the 1987 strike (but both were sold out before the strike).

1988: Mike Shanahan Coached the Raiders in 1988

Mike Shanahan was hired as the Broncos' head coach in 1995. Shanahan coached the Raiders in 1988 before being fired four games into the 1989 season.

1989: AFC Championship

In 1989, the Denver Broncos won the AFC Championship.

1989: Mike Shanahan Fired from Raiders in 1989

Mike Shanahan was hired as the Broncos' head coach in 1995. Shanahan coached the Raiders in 1988 before being fired four games into the 1989 season.

1991: Feuding and Play-Calling Change

In 1991, the last year of the Reeves-Elway era, feuding arose due to Dan Reeves taking on play-calling duties after ousting Elway's favorite offensive coordinator Mike Shanahan.

1992: Reeves Fired

In 1992, Dan Reeves was fired as head coach of the Denver Broncos and was replaced by his protégé, Wade Phillips.

1994: Phillips Fired

In 1994, Wade Phillips was fired as head coach of the Denver Broncos after a mediocre season.

1994: Throwback uniforms worn for NFL anniversary

In 1994, the Denver Broncos wore their 1965 throwback uniforms for two games in honor of the NFL's 75th anniversary season.

1995: Mike Shanahan becomes Head Coach

In 1995, Mike Shanahan became the head coach of the Denver Broncos.

1995: Mike Shanahan Returns

In 1995, Mike Shanahan returned as the head coach of the Denver Broncos and the team went 8-8. Shanahan also drafted rookie running back Terrell Davis.

1995: Frequent Regular Season Meetings

Since 1995, the Denver Broncos and the New England Patriots have met frequently during the regular season, including nine consecutive seasons from 1995 to 2003.

1996: Playoff Upset

In 1996, the Denver Broncos were the top seed in the AFC with a 13–3 record. However, they were upset by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the divisional round of the playoffs.

1996: Block-style numerals that mirrored the team's 1996 uniform style

In 2016, the uniforms featured block-style numerals trimmed in navy blue that mirrored the team's 1996 uniform style.

1996: Salary Cap Circumvention

In the years following their Super Bowl wins, a league investigation found that the Denver Broncos had circumvented the salary cap during the 1996 season by deferring additional money to Elway and Davis.

February 4, 1997: New logo and uniforms unveiled

On February 4, 1997, the Denver Broncos unveiled their new logo and uniforms, featuring navy blue replacing royal blue and a horse-head profile as the logo.

1997: Introduction of navy blue pants delayed

Although part of the uniform change in 1997, the introduction of the Denver Broncos' navy blue pants was delayed due to John Elway's veto.

1997: Divisional Round Victory

In 1997, The Broncos defeated the Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium in the divisional round of the 1997 NFL playoffs, en route to their first Super Bowl victory.

1997: New Uniform Change

In 1997, the Broncos unveiled a new set of uniforms, their first uniform change since the 1997 season.

1997: AFC Championship & Super Bowl XXXII

In 1997, the Denver Broncos won both the AFC Championship and Super Bowl XXXII.

1997: Super Bowl XXXII Victory

In 1997, the Denver Broncos, led by John Elway and Terrell Davis, won Super Bowl XXXII against the Green Bay Packers with a score of 31–24. Terrell Davis was named Super Bowl MVP.

1997: Switch to navy blue jerseys

In 1997, the navy blue jerseys switched over to alternate designation.

1997: AFC Championship Win

In the 1997 AFC Championship, the Denver Broncos defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers 24–21 at Three Rivers Stadium, en route to their first Super Bowl victory.

1997: Simpler Uniform Design Introduced

On April 22, 2024, the Broncos unveiled a simpler uniform design, eliminating the mismatched jersey and pant stripes that characterized their 1997 redesign.

1998: Elway Retirement

Following the 1998 season, John Elway retired from the Denver Broncos, leading to Brian Griese becoming the starting quarterback for the next four seasons.

1998: AFC Championship & Super Bowl XXXIII

In 1998, the Denver Broncos won both the AFC Championship and Super Bowl XXXIII.

1998: AFC West Division Title

In 1998, the Denver Broncos won the AFC West Division Title.

1998: First Playoff Win Since Elway's Retirement

On January 14, 2006, the Broncos' second playoff match against the Patriots was the Broncos' first playoff win since John Elway's retirement after the 1998 season.

1999: Losing Season

In 1999, the Denver Broncos had a losing season.

1999: Injury Plagued Season

The 1999 Denver Broncos season was plagued by a season-ending injury to Terrell Davis, leading to a 6-10 record.

2000: Wild Card Berth

In 2000, the Denver Broncos earned a Wild Card playoff berth, but lost to the Baltimore Ravens.

2000: Last Season at Mile High Stadium

In 2000, the Denver Broncos played their last home games at Mile High Stadium before moving to Empower Field at Mile High in 2001.

2001: Seahawks Join AFC West

From 1977 to 2001, the Seattle Seahawks were members of the AFC West.

2001: Move to Invesco Field

In 2001, the Denver Broncos moved into Invesco Field at Mile High, built next to the former site of the since-demolished Mile High Stadium.

2001: Move to Empower Field at Mile High

In 2001, the Denver Broncos started playing their regular season home games at Empower Field at Mile High.

2001: Orange throwback jersey worn on Thanksgiving

In 2001, the Denver Broncos wore orange jerseys as a throwback uniform in a Thanksgiving Day game against the Dallas Cowboys.

2001: Manning-Brady Rivalry

In 2012, Peyton Manning became the Broncos' starting quarterback. Manning and Tom Brady maintained a rivalry from 2001 until Manning's retirement after the 2015 season.

2002: John Fox Hire

Following the 2010 season, the Denver Broncos hired John Fox as the team's 14th head coach. Fox previously served as the Carolina Panthers' head coach from 2002 to 2010.

2002: Alternate orange jersey introduced

In 2002, the Denver Broncos introduced an alternate orange jersey, a mirror image of the navy blue jerseys.

2002: Draft Pick Loss

In 2002, the Denver Broncos were stripped of their third-round draft pick as punishment for circumventing the salary cap in previous seasons.

2002: Seahawks Move to NFC West

In 2002, the Seattle Seahawks moved to the NFC West as part of the NFL's re-alignment.

2002: Switch to alternate colored jerseys

In 2002, the switch to orange jerseys for the alternate colored jerseys began.

November 16, 2003: White jerseys worn at home against Chargers

On November 16, 2003, the Denver Broncos wore their white jerseys at home for the first time since 1983 in a game against the San Diego Chargers, due to a uniform mix-up earlier in the season.

2003: Jake Plummer Replaces Griese

In 2003, former Arizona Cardinals' quarterback Jake Plummer replaced Brian Griese as the starting quarterback for the Denver Broncos.

2003: Navy blue pants introduced

In 2003, the Denver Broncos introduced navy blue pants with orange side streaks.

2003: White jerseys worn at home for the first time since 2003

In a Week 2 game vs. the Washington Commanders in 2023, the Broncos wore their white jerseys at home for the first time since 2003, to honor the 25th anniversary of the Super Bowl XXXIII team.

2003: Frequent Regular Season Meetings

Since 1995, the Denver Broncos and the New England Patriots have met frequently during the regular season, including nine consecutive seasons from 1995 to 2003.

2004: Alternate orange jersey used only once

In 2004, the alternate orange jersey was used only once by the Denver Broncos.

2004: Bowlen Family Trust

Sometime before 2004, Pat Bowlen placed the ownership of the Broncos into a family trust.

2004: Denver Post ends "Mile High Stadium" Policy

The Denver Post had an official policy of referring to the stadium as simply "Mile High Stadium" in protest, but dropped this policy in 2004.

2005: Playoff Berth and Division Title

Before 2011, the Denver Broncos last won a playoff berth and division title in 2005.

2005: AFC West Title and Playoff Run

In 2005, Jake Plummer led the Denver Broncos to a 13–3 record and their first AFC West division title since 1998. They defeated the New England Patriots in the playoffs, ending their Super Bowl streak, but lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC Championship game.

2005: Draft Pick Loss and Fine

In 2005, the Denver Broncos were stripped of their third-round draft pick and fined as a result of punishments for circumventing the salary cap in prior seasons.

2005: Steelers Win AFC Championship

In the 2005 AFC Championship, the Pittsburgh Steelers defeated the Denver Broncos 34–17 at INVESCO Field at Mile High, and subsequently won Super Bowl XL.

January 14, 2006: First Playoff Win Since Elway's Retirement

On January 14, 2006, the Broncos' second playoff match against the Patriots was the Broncos' first playoff win since John Elway's retirement after the 1998 season.

2006: "Bad Blue" Defense and Plummer Bench

In 2006, the Denver Broncos' defense, dubbed "Bad Blue," set an NFL record by allowing only one touchdown in the first five games. However, Jake Plummer was replaced by rookie quarterback Jay Cutler due to inconsistent performance.

2006: Home Record

The Denver Broncos had the best home record in pro football over a 32-year span from 1974 to 2006 (191–65–1).

2007: Losing Season

In 2007, Jay Cutler's first full season as a starter resulted in the Denver Broncos' first losing season since 1999, with a 7–9 record.

2008: Shanahan Fired

After a 52–21 loss to the San Diego Chargers in 2008, resulting in an 8–8 record and missing the playoffs for the third straight season, Mike Shanahan was fired as the head coach of the Denver Broncos after 14 seasons.

2008: Alternate orange jersey used twice per season

Beginning in 2008, the Denver Broncos used the alternate orange jersey twice per season.

2008: Navy blue pants used for select prime-time and late-season games

In 2008, the navy blue pants were used for select prime-time and late-season home games.

January 11, 2009: Josh McDaniels Hired

On January 11, 2009, Josh McDaniels, former New England Patriots' offensive coordinator, was hired as the new head coach of the Denver Broncos.

September 4, 2009: End of DenverBroncos.com voting

Voting concluded at DenverBroncos.com to elect the anniversary team on September 4, 2009.

September 15, 2009: 50th anniversary team announced

On September 15, 2009, the Denver Broncos announced the club's 50th anniversary team.

October 11, 2009: Patriots Meet Broncos with Former Coordinator

On October 11, 2009, the Denver Broncos and New England Patriots met with former Patriots' offensive coordinator, Josh McDaniels, as the Broncos' head coach. Both teams wore their AFL 50th anniversary jerseys. The Broncos won with a last second field goal.

2009: Throwback uniforms worn for 50th anniversary

In 2009, the Denver Broncos wore their 1960 throwback uniforms for games against the New England Patriots and San Diego Chargers to honor their 50th anniversary as an original AFL team.

2009: Surprising Start and Missed Playoffs

In 2009, under Josh McDaniels and Kyle Orton, the Denver Broncos started with a surprising 6–0 record, but lost eight of their next ten games, finishing 8–8 and missing the playoffs.

2010: Ellis Promoted and Elway Returns

Following the 2010 season, Joe Ellis was promoted to team president, and John Elway returned to the organization as the team's executive vice president of football operations.

2010: Franchise Record for Losses and McDaniels Firing

In 2010, the Denver Broncos set a new franchise record for losses in a single season, with a 4–12 record. Josh McDaniels was fired, and Eric Studesville was named interim coach.

2010: Preseason games shown on KCNC

Until 2010, Denver Broncos preseason games were shown on KCNC, channel 4, as well as other CBS affiliates around the Rocky Mountain region.

May 26, 2011: New television partner announced

On May 26, 2011, the Denver Broncos announced that KUSA channel 9, an NBC affiliate, will be the team's new television partner for preseason games.

2011: Navy blue jerseys end term as primary home jersey

At the end of the 2011 season, the navy blue jerseys ceased being the Denver Broncos' primary home jersey.

2011: "Tebow Time" and Playoff Berth

Following a 1-4 start to the 2011 season, Tim Tebow replaced Kyle Orton as the Broncos' starting quarterback, leading the team to an 8-8 record, a playoff berth and a division title for the first time since 2005. The Broncos defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers in the Wild Card round but lost to the New England Patriots in the Divisional round.

2011: Partnership with KJMN and KCEC

In 2011, the Denver Broncos began a partnership with KJMN, 92.1 FM, and KCEC, including broadcasting rights for a half-hour weekly TV show.

2011: Alternate orange jersey used twice per season

In 2011, the Denver Broncos used the alternate orange jersey twice per season.

2011: Switch to alternate colored jerseys

In 2011, the alternate designation for orange jerseys ended.

2011: Navy blue pants used for select prime-time and late-season games

In 2011, the navy blue pants were used for select prime-time and late-season home games.

2011: Patriots Blowout Win

In the Divisional round of the 2011 playoffs, the New England Patriots defeated Tim Tebow and the Denver Broncos by a score of 45–10.

2011: Wild Card Win

In the Wild Card round of the 2011 playoffs, the Denver Broncos stunned the Pittsburgh Steelers 29–23 in overtime, with Tim Tebow connecting with Demaryius Thomas on an 80-yard game-winning touchdown pass.

2011: Sports Authority Naming Rights

Prior to the 2011 season, Sports Authority claimed the naming rights of Invesco Field, which became known as Sports Authority Field at Mile High.

March 2012: Broncos sign Peyton Manning

In March 2012, the Broncos reached a five-year, $96 million contract agreement with former Indianapolis Colts' quarterback Peyton Manning, who had recently missed the 2011 season due to neck surgeries. This led to Tim Tebow being traded to the New York Jets.

2012: Orange jerseys become primary home jersey

Beginning in 2012, the orange jerseys became the primary home jersey for the Denver Broncos.

2012: Comeback Win Against Chargers

During the 2012 season, Peyton Manning led the Denver Broncos from a 24-0 halftime deficit to a 35-24 win against the Los Angeles Chargers at San Diego's Qualcomm Stadium.

2012: Ed McCaffrey replaces Brian Griese

In 2012, Ed McCaffrey began serving as the color commentator for the Denver Broncos, replacing Brian Griese.

2012: Peyton Manning re-issues No. 18

In 2012, No. 18 was re-issued for Peyton Manning after Tripucka gave his approval.

2012: Peyton Manning Becomes Starting Quarterback

In 2012, Peyton Manning became the Broncos' starting quarterback. Manning and Tom Brady maintained a rivalry from 2001 until Manning's retirement after the 2015 season.

2012: Stadium Upgrade Announcement

In late 2012, the Denver Broncos announced that the stadium would receive $30 million upgrades including a new video board in the south end zone three times larger than the previous display.

2012: Navy blue pants used exclusively with navy blue jerseys

Since 2012, the Denver Broncos' navy blue pants have been used exclusively with the alternate navy blue jerseys.

October 6, 2013: Alternate navy blue uniforms worn in road game vs. Cowboys

On October 6, 2013, the Denver Broncos wore their alternate navy blue uniforms for a road game against the Dallas Cowboys, winning 51–48.

2013: NFL one-helmet rule

Due to the NFL's one-helmet rule implemented in 2013, the helmets for the Color Rush uniform remained the same, with the temporary replacement of the logo.

2013: Stadium Upgrade Completion

In 2013, the Denver Broncos completed the $30 million renovations for the stadium before kickoff of the season, including a new video board in the south end zone.

2013: AFC Championship

In 2013, the Denver Broncos won the AFC Championship.

January 12, 2014: Playoff Win Against Chargers

On January 12, 2014, the Denver Broncos played against the Los Angeles Chargers in the playoffs for the first time and won 24-17 at Denver's Sports Authority Field at Mile High.

February 2, 2014: Super Bowl XLVIII Loss

On February 2, 2014, the Denver Broncos and Seattle Seahawks met in Super Bowl XLVIII, with the Seahawks winning by a score of 43–8.

2014: Bowlen Cedes Control

In 2014, due to his battle with Alzheimer's disease, Pat Bowlen ceded day-to-day control of the Denver Broncos to Joe Ellis.

January 12, 2015: Broncos and John Fox Part Ways

On January 12, 2015, the Broncos and head coach John Fox mutually agreed to part ways one day after the divisional playoff loss to the Colts. Fox had a .719 winning percentage during his four seasons as head coach.

November 1, 2015: White pants worn with orange side stripes

On November 1, 2015, the Denver Broncos wore white pants with orange side stripes in a game against the Green Bay Packers, matching the uniform ensemble from their Super Bowl XXXII win.

2015: First win against the Chiefs since 2015

After a 21–31 loss to the New York Jets, the team rallied off five straight wins, including victories over the Buffalo Bills, Green Bay Packers, and Kansas City Chiefs; their first win against the Chiefs since 2015, to get to 6–5.

2015: Manning's Retirement

In 2012, Peyton Manning became the Broncos' starting quarterback. Manning and Tom Brady maintained a rivalry from 2001 until Manning's retirement after the 2015 season.

2015: AFC Championship & Super Bowl 50

In 2015, the Denver Broncos won the AFC Championship and Super Bowl 50.

2015: First 10-Win Season Since 2015

In 2024, the Broncos finished the season with a record of 10–7, their first 10-win season since 2015.

2015: Divisional Round Win

In the Divisional round of the 2015 playoffs at Denver, the Denver Broncos defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers 23–16 on their way to a victory in Super Bowl 50.

2015: Peyton Manning retires

Peyton Manning retired after the 2015 season.

March 7, 2016: Peyton Manning Retires

On March 7, 2016, quarterback Peyton Manning announced his retirement after 18 NFL seasons during a press conference at the team's Dove Valley headquarters.

October 13, 2016: Color Rush uniform unveiled

On October 13, 2016, the Denver Broncos unveiled a new Color Rush uniform for a Thursday Night game against the San Diego Chargers.

2016: Home Shutout Streak

As of the 2016 season, the Denver Broncos have never been shut out at home, a streak of over 400 games.

2016: Successful Seasons

From 1973 to 2016, the Broncos had only eleven losing seasons, solidifying their status as one of the NFL's most successful teams.

2016: Best Record Since 2016

In 2023, The Broncos finished the 2023 season 8–9, good enough for their best record since the 2016 season. However, the team finished under .500 for the seventh consecutive season, and missed the playoffs for the eighth consecutive season.

2016: First Winning Season Since 2016

In 2024, the Broncos finished the season with a record of 10-7, marking the teams first winning season since 2016

2016: Sports Authority Bankruptcy

In the summer of 2016, Sports Authority went bankrupt, the stadium was renamed Broncos Stadium at Mile High, and the Broncos sought out a naming rights sponsor.

January 2, 2017: Gary Kubiak Retires

On January 2, 2017, coach Gary Kubiak announced his retirement, citing health as the main reason.

January 11, 2017: Broncos Hire Vance Joseph

On January 11, 2017, the Broncos hired Miami Dolphins defensive coordinator Vance Joseph as head coach.

2017: Color Rush uniform used against the Colts

During the 2017 season, the same Color Rush uniform was used for a Thursday night game against the Indianapolis Colts.

March 14, 2018: Broncos sign Case Keenum

On March 14, 2018, to address poor offensive production, the Broncos signed quarterback Case Keenum.

March 19, 2018: Broncos trade Trevor Siemian

On March 19, 2018, the Broncos traded Trevor Siemian to the Minnesota Vikings to address poor offensive production.

May 1, 2018: Broncos Sign Phillip Lindsay

On May 1, 2018, the Broncos signed local undrafted free agent running back Phillip Lindsay.

December 18, 2018: Lindsay Voted to Pro Bowl

On December 18, 2018, Phillip Lindsay was voted to the 2019 Pro Bowl, becoming the first undrafted offensive rookie in NFL history to be voted to a Pro Bowl.

2018: Color Rush uniform used against the Steelers

During a 2018 game, the same Color Rush uniform was used against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

January 10, 2019: Broncos Hire Vic Fangio

On January 10, 2019, the Broncos hired Chicago Bears defensive coordinator Vic Fangio to become the 17th head coach in franchise history.

February 13, 2019: Joe Flacco Traded to Broncos

On February 13, 2019, Joe Flacco was traded to the Broncos from the Baltimore Ravens.

September 2019: Empower Field Naming Rights

In September 2019, the Denver Broncos agreed to rename the stadium Empower Field at Mile High.

October 6, 2019: Broncos Achieve 500th Win

On October 6, 2019, the Broncos defeated the Los Angeles Chargers for their 500th win, bringing their win–loss record to 500–432.

December 1, 2019: Drew Lock's First Start

On December 1, 2019, Mizzou rookie quarterback Drew Lock started his first game for the Broncos.

November 29, 2020: Kendall Hinton Starts at QB

On November 29, 2020, after all three of the Broncos' quarterbacks were placed in COVID-19 protocol, undrafted wide receiver and former college quarterback Kendall Hinton started as the emergency quarterback.

April 28, 2021: Broncos Trade for Teddy Bridgewater

On April 28, 2021, the Broncos traded for quarterback Teddy Bridgewater.

July 2021: Hinton's Wristband to Hall of Fame

In July 2021, the Pro Football Hall of Fame announced that Kendall Hinton's quarterback wristband from the November 29, 2020 game would be added to the Hall of Fame as part of a display.

August 25, 2021: Bridgewater Named Starting Quarterback

On August 25, 2021, Teddy Bridgewater was named the Broncos' starting quarterback.

October 31, 2021: Peyton Manning Inducted into Ring of Fame

On October 31, 2021, Peyton Manning was inducted into the Broncos' Ring of Fame during a game against Washington.

November 1, 2021: Broncos Trade Von Miller

On November 1, 2021, the Broncos traded Von Miller to the Los Angeles Rams.

January 8, 2022: Vic Fangio Dismissed

On January 8, 2022, head coach Vic Fangio was dismissed after losing to the Kansas City Chiefs.

January 27, 2022: Nathaniel Hackett Hired as Head Coach

On January 27, 2022, the Broncos announced the hiring of Green Bay Packers offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett as head coach.

February 1, 2022: Broncos Up For Sale

On February 1, 2022, the Broncos announced that they were up for sale and would be parting ways with the Bowlen family.

February 2, 2022: Justin Outten Hired as Offensive Coordinator

On February 2, 2022, Justin Outten was hired as the Broncos offensive coordinator.

March 16, 2022: Broncos Trade for Russell Wilson

On March 16, 2022, the Broncos traded multiple picks and players for Russell Wilson and a fourth-round pick.

June 7, 2022: Agreement to Acquire Broncos

On June 7, 2022, the Broncos announced that a consortium led by Rob Walton had entered into an agreement to acquire the Denver Broncos for $4.65 billion.

July 2022: Team Valuation

In July 2022, Forbes valued the Denver Broncos at $4.65 billion, ranking them as the twelfth most-valuable team in the NFL.

August 10, 2022: NFL Approves Broncos Acquisition

On August 10, 2022, the NFL approved the bid by the Walton-Penner Family Ownership Group to acquire the Denver Broncos.

October 30, 2022: New uniform combination debuted in NFL London Game

On October 30, 2022, the Denver Broncos debuted a new combination of white jerseys and alternate navy blue pants in an NFL London Game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, featuring mismatched side stripes.

January 31, 2023: Sean Payton Accepts Head Coaching Job

On January 31, 2023, Sean Payton reported that he had accepted the head coaching job for the Denver Broncos.

2023: 2023 Season Performance

In 2023, the Broncos started the season 1-5, including a 20-70 loss to the Miami Dolphins. They finished the season 8-9, their best record since 2016, but missed the playoffs for the eighth consecutive season. Contract disputes between Russell Wilson and team management also surfaced, leading to Wilson's benching.

2023: White jerseys worn at home and Color Rush uniforms discontinued

In 2023, the Denver Broncos wore their white jerseys at home for the first time since 2003 and the Color Rush uniforms were discontinued.

2023: Old uniform design discontinued

In 2023, the Denver Broncos' uniform design used since 1997 was discontinued.

April 22, 2024: New uniform design unveiled

On April 22, 2024, the Denver Broncos unveiled a simpler uniform design featuring vintage block number style and letters inspired by Colorado's national parks, including primary home orange, road white, and alternate navy blue uniforms with optional orange, white, or navy blue pants.

2024: Broncos lead all-time series vs Browns

As of the 2024 season, the Broncos lead the all-time series against the Cleveland Browns 26–7.

2024: All-time record updated

As of the 2024 season, the Denver Broncos had an all-time record of 518–472–10.

2024: Broncos Lead Series Against Chargers in 2024

As of the 2024 season, the Denver Broncos have a winning record against the Los Angeles Chargers, with a 73-57-1 series lead, including 1-0 in the playoffs.

2024: Chiefs Series Lead in 2024

As of the 2024 season, the Kansas City Chiefs hold a 73-57 series lead over the Denver Broncos, including the 1997 divisional playoff game.

2024: Bo Nix Drafted as Quarterback

In the 2024 NFL draft, the Broncos selected Bo Nix with their first-round pick to succeed Russell Wilson as quarterback. Nix was later named the starter prior to the 2024 NFL season.