THE BRONCOS FILE
Home field: Empower Field
Coach: Nathaniel Hackett
Offensive star: QB Russell Wilson
Defensive star: LB Bradley Chubb
2021 Season: Failed to Make Playoffs
Super Bowls: won 1998, 1999, 2015
Greatest Player: QB John Elway
Factoid: The Broncos are tied with the Patriots for most Super Bowl losses (5).
For all the franchises out there, that have known nothing but year after year dysfunction and despair, consider the Denver Broncos. The Broncos, one of the original AFL franchises, suffered 10 losing seasons before joining the NFL, where they were losers their first seven seasons.
But Broncos fans have had their fair share of success. Eight Super Bowl appearances that produced three Lombardi Trophies.
Losing the Big Game hurts but there are a lot of franchises out there that would give every fan a personalized jersey just to play for football’s biggest prize.
The Broncos do have a built-in advantage. Denver is known as the Mile High City for a reason, and it has nothing do with Colorado being the first state to legalize recreational marijuana use.
You try working out 5,279 feet above sea level and see how it feels. Many NFL teams have been gassed from the minute after warmups. Recently, however, that legal marijuana has come in handy for a franchise that hasn’t made the playoffs in seven straight seasons.
The Broncos believe they have what it takes to win a fourth Lombardi Trophy. They pulled off one of the biggest trades of the year, acquiring QB Russell Wilson from division-rival Seattle.
Denver could be back to its championship ways. Not bad for a franchise that knew little but losing for the first 17 seasons.