- 1962 AP, UPI AFL MVP
- AFL Champion, 1964
- All-Time All-AFL Fullback
- Record - Most rushing touchdowns,season, 13 (1962)
Oliver Ross was drafted by the Broncos in the 16th round (398th overall) of the 1973 NFL Draft. He played 3 seasons in Denver as a backup Running Back and Kick Returner. Ross appeared in 23 games gaining 150 yards on 50 carries and added 8 catches for 82 yards. Oliver also returned 8 Kickoffs for a 17/1 average. He played one more year in his career in Seattle, where was the starting Kick Returner for the Seahawks.
Jim Jensen was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the 2nd round (40th overall) of the 1976 NFL Draft. He was used by Dallas as a return man. In 1977, Jensen was traded to the Denver Broncos in 1977, when the Cowboys drafted Tony Dorsett. Little did he know he would play in Super Bowl XII that year against his former teammates. Jim plated 3 seasons with Denver, starting 20 of 41 games. He rushed for 1,019 yards and 4 touchdowns on 247 carries, adding 72 catches for 584 yards and 2 more touchdowns. Jim was 6' 4", 230 lbs. and ran a 4.4 40 yard dash in college. He was a versatile running back and led the Broncos in rushing and number of receptions in 1980. In 1981 he signed with the Green Bay Packers and played there for two seasons.
Steve Sewell was drafted by the Broncos in the 1st round (26th overall) of the 1985 NFL Draft. He played his entire 7-year career in Denver, starting 12 of 94 games as the Broncos 3rd down specialist/utility man. steve ran for 917 yards and 13 touchdowns on 229 carries. He also had 187 receptions for 2354 yards and 13 touchdowns. Head Coach Dan Reeves like to use Sewell on many of his trick plays like the Halfback option pass. Steve wasn't that successful, but he did throw a 23-yard touchdown pass to John Elway in a Week 1 victory over the Oakland Raiders in 1986. They saved that play for a better day. Steve threw that same 23-yard pass to Elway in Super Bowl XXII in 1988. Sewell appeared in 3 Super Bowls for the Broncos. He now coaches the running-backs for the CSU - Pueblo Thunderwolves in Colorado.
Mike Bell was signed as an undrafted free agent in 2006 by the Denver Broncos. After a strong training camp, Bell got the starting nod at tailback over Tatum Bell and Ron Dayne. Tatum was the Bell who ended up starting the first regular season game and Mike was used in a backup role. He had mixed results when he got his opportunities. He was put in against Indianapolis in Week 8 and ran off 135 yards and two touchdowns in just one half, filling in for an injured Tatum. He started the following week against the Pittsburgh Steelers, but only gained 28 yards on 17 attempts. That result put him on the Inactive List in Week 10 against the Raiders. Still, Mike led the Broncos with eight rushing scores. He was released by the Broncos on July 21, 2008 having played in 20 games with 3 starts and 680 rushing yards. Bell won a Super Bowl Ring with the New Orleans Saints after the 2009 season and currently plays for the Cleveland Browns.
David Bruton was drafted by the Broncos in the 4th round (114th overall) of the 2009 NFL Draft. He made his 1st career start on December 20, 2009 against the Oakland Raiders where he recorded 4 tackles and finished his rookie 2009 season with 14 total tackles, with 9 coming on Special Teams. Last season, David started 2 games, recording 16 Tackles, one pass defensed and he recovered 2 Fumbles. Bruton deflected a punt in the 4th quarter against the St. Louis Rams. Bruton responded well in his two starts, with seven tackles (6 solo) in each game (Week 13 & 14). David has made an impact on Special Teams while he bides his time ascending to a full-time starter, as the Personal Protector and quarterback on the punt coverage unit.
This is a very good group of players and many of them would take the honors if they played in another jersey. However, it should be unanimous that this accolade should go to someone who was a major contributor in bringing two Lombardi trophies to Denver. So without further ado.
The Greatest Bronco to wear #30 is...
The Broncos went 12-4 in 1997, making it all the way through the playoffs to reach the Super Bowl. In Super Bowl XXXII, Terrell rushed for 157 yards, caught two passes for 8 yards, and became the first player in Super Bowl history ever to score 3 rushing touchdowns. He was named Super Bowl MVP despite sitting out part of the game because of a migraine headache.
If Super Bowl XXXII was for John, 1998 was Terrell's year. He rushed for 2,008 yards, the 3rd highest total in NFL history. This time he earned league MVP honors, his 3rd straight AFC rushing title, his 1st NFL rushing title, and his 2nd time being named NFL Offensive Player of the Year by the Associated Press. The Broncos beat the Atlanta Falcons in Super Bowl XXXIII, and Davis had 102 yards rushing and 50 receiving yards.
That was the last postseason game Davis would play. In his 8 postseason games, his production was unmatched: 204 carries for 1,140 yards and 12 touchdowns, along with 19 receptions for 131 yards. This included a streak of 7 consecutive games with over 100 rushing yards, all of which the Broncos won.
After 1998, Davis was pestered by injuries and saw limited action. In 1999, he tore the ACL and MCL in his right knee while trying to make a tackle on an interception in Week 4. that took him out for the rest of the year.
In 2000, Davis was lost for 11 games because of a stress reaction injury in his lower leg. In 2001, he only played in 8 games because of arthroscopic surgery on both knees.
T.D.'s Swansong came during the 2002 preseason. He walked through the tunnel in uniform for the last time during a preseason game with the San Francisco 49ers at Mile High. He gave his trademark "Mile High Salute" to a standing ovation and was hugged by his teammates.
The Team honored him as the lone Broncos player at the coin toss, after which, Davis retreated to the sideline. He spent the 2nd half in street clothes and the following week, he was placed on Injured Reserve, ending his season and career.
In his first 4 years, Davis rushed for 6,413 yards (4.8 yards per carry) and 56 touchdowns. Among the 24 modern-era Hall of Fame halfbacks and fullbacks, only Earl Campbell (6,457, 4.6 yards per carry) and Eric Dickerson (6,968, 4.8 yards per carry) had more rushing yards during their first 4 seasons; no member of the Hall of Fame matched Davis’ 1st-four-season 56 rushing touchdowns. Davis was selected for ESPN's All-Time 40-Man Super Bowl roster as a running back for his performances in Super Bowls XXXII & XXXIII.
Overall, T.D. finished his 7 NFL seasons with 7,607 rushing yards, 169 receptions for 1,280 yards, and 65 touchdowns (60 rushing and 5 receiving). He and John Elway are the only two Broncos named league MVP.
His Accolades include:
Most Total Yards from Scrimmage (Rushing and Receiving)
Career 2nd (8,887)
NFL
- 1998 NFL 2008 rushing yards is 4th highest All-Time
- 1998 NFL 23 TD's 8th All-Time
- 1998 NFL 21 Rushing TD's 6th All-Time
- 1998 NFL 5.1 rushing average 1st All-Time
- 1996 NFL AP Offensive Player of the Year
- 1997 NFL Super Bowl MVP
- 1998 NFL AP MVP
- 1998 NFL PFWA MVP
- 1998 NFL AP Offensive Player of the Year
- Pro Bowl (1996, 1997, 1998)
- 1st-Team All-Pro (1996, 1997, 1998)
- Inducted into the Denver Broncos Ring of Fame on September 23, 2007
- Hall of Fame semi-finalist in 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010
Why Terrell Davis is not in the NFL Hall of Fame is beyond me, but nevertheless...