NOTE -- This is perfect for the Main Page, I changed the date to today...TSG

I've struggled to find a topic I could consistently write about on a weekly basis.  The problem is, few things keep me interested for very long.  That said, one of those things is history.  What better thing is there to talk about than Broncos History?

Most of us die hard Bronco fans know all about how the Denver Broncos won the first ever AFL football game on September 9, 1960, but did you know that by the end of their third year the Broncos had a 4-2 record against the Raiders?   They even swept the Raiders in 1962 playing them two weeks in a row, outscoring the Raiders 67-13 in that two week span.  

So even though the Broncos only won an average of 3.9 games a season in the 1960's, we owned the Raiders early in our history.  I do have to mention that the Broncos record against the Raiders from 1963-69 was an embarrassing 0-13-1.  So we should be grateful of our current situation with the newest laughing stock of the AFC West and we should also be grateful that the Broncos have not been the laughing stock of the AFC West since the early 70's!  

By far, the Denver Bronco's best season in the 60's was in 1962.  In that seasons first nine games the Broncos were the team to beat.  Starting out a dominating 7-2 before faltering at the end of the season to finish 7-7(sort of reminds you of 2006 doesn't it?).  Head Coach Jack Faulkner, despite the poor finish, was named AFL Coach of Year.  Unfortunately for Coach Faulkner he would be fired after an 0-4 start the following season.

Most of us know about superstar Broncos, such as, Lionel Taylor and Floyd Little, but I want to take a minute to recognize some of the lesser known all-stars from the early 60's.

Let's start off with the best known of this
bunch, Lionel Taylor.  Why this guy isn't in the
Hall of Fame is beyond me, he was catching
100 passes before Steve Largent was potty trained.
Alas, he didn't do it while he was with the Bears so he
must not have been all that good. (1960-61)

















Here I am going all crazy over McFadden, when we
already had a McFadin who was pretty darn good.
The all-pro defensive tackle was stout at the line and was
instrumental in the Broncos early success in the 60's. (1960-62)













Which Bronco holds the all-time record for most
interceptions in a single season?  Champ? nope.
Braxton?  nope.  Wright?  wrong again!
Try Austin "Goose" Gonsoulin.  Holder of the longest
standing record in the Bronco history books, the Goose
picked off opposing quarterbacks eleven times in 1960.
Goose retired in 1966 holding the AFL record for most
career interceptions at forty.  (1960 & 1962)

























Any team that wants to succeed needs to have an
all-pro tackle or two.  Ours in the early 60's
was Eldon Danenhauer.  Eldon eventually served as
the player representative to the press in 1965. (1961-62)




The last guy to make the all-stars was Bob Zeman. You would be surprised how difficult it was to even find a picture of this guy. In any case, he is number 46 in the picture above.  He played two seasons with the Broncos having his best year in 1962 when he recorded 6 INTs for 133 yards and 1 TD. The following season he was part of the "Big Trade" with the New York Jets. (1962)

I blame the decade of insolvency with the Bronco organization on the so-called "Big Trade", which involved nine players and basically gutted the Broncos of talent for the next 10 years.

1962 was a year in which the Broncos started 7-2.  They had only won seven games in the two previous seasons, but after the "Big Trade" the Broncos won just four games in the next two seasons.  They then went on to win just 25 games over the next seven seasons.  

The Denver Broncos became a great organization over time and was humbled by its early struggles. Now, under the leadership of Pat Bowlen, it has become one of the most consistent winners in the NFL over the past thirty years.  

This concludes my lesson on early Broncos history.  I hope most of you enjoyed it.  My next history lesson will cover the Broncos rise to greatness. Specifically, the drafts of the early 70's that eventually led to a bErth in the Super Bowl.