Denver Broncos all-time Mount Rushmore

Which four performers stand the tallest in regards to the Denver Broncos?

It’s a franchise that in its early years was not only much-maligned but better known for its uniform and crazy socks then it was for it play on the field. From 1960-69, the Denver Broncos were a member of the American Football league. And over that span, the club compiled a miserable 39-97-4 win-loss record and failed to finish above .500 in any of those 10 years.

But then a funny thing happened on the way to mediocrity. These days, the franchise is tied for second with the Dallas Cowboys and Pittsburgh Steelers with eight Super Bowl appearances, trailing on the New England Patriots. And in three of their last four appearances in the “Big Game,” the club won a title – the first for John (Elway) and the latest in 2015 for Pat (Bowlen) – both enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

These days, the Broncos look like a team on the rise. In recent decades, there have been stars such as Pro Football Hall of Famers Shannon Sharpe, Champ Bailey and 2020 inductee Steve Atwater. There’s been plenty of defense with defensive end Rich Jackson, linebackers Karl Mecklenburg and Al Wilson and defensive backs Goose Gonsoulin, Billy Thompson and Louis Wright.

There’s tight end Riley Odoms, center Tom Nalen and Hall of Fame tackle Gary Zimmerman. And there have been special team standouts such as kicker Jason Elam and electrifying return artist Rick Upchurch.

So which four players (in alphabetical order) made the cut? It’s an equal balance of offense and defense for a franchise that has won its share of games since the 1970 merger.