Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Jon Heath

View all of the Broncos players in the Pro Football Hall of Fame

Former Denver Broncos linebacker Randy Gradishar will be enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio on Saturday evening.

So, how many players do the Broncos have in the Hall of Fame now? That depends on who you believe qualifies for the count.

There are several players — running back Floyd Little, quarterback John Elway, safety Steve Atwater, tight end Shanahan Sharpe, offensive lineman Gary Zimmerman, running back Terrell Davis and cornerback Champ Bailey — who are obvious Broncos Hall of Famers. That’s seven.

Quarterback Peyton Manning only played four years in Denver, but he won the AFC West in all four seasons and won Super Bowl 50 with the Broncos. That’s eight. Outside linebacker DeMarcus Ware spent the majority of his career with the Dallas Cowboys, but he won his ring in Denver. Nine.

John Lynch won a Super Bowl with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers but he, like Manning, played the final four years of his career with the Broncos — and he’s a member of the team’s Ring of Fame. Ten.

So Gradishar is essentially the 11th Denver player to reach Canton. There are others, though. Safety Brian Dawkins played three seasons with the Broncos. Cornerback Willie Brown played four seasons in Denver before a 12-year stint with the Oakland Raiders. Running back Tony Dorsett and cornerback Ty Law also spent one season each with the Broncos.

Additionally, late team owner Pat Bowlen was enshrined in the Hall of Fame in 2019. So there are at least a dozen members of the Hall of Fame who Broncos fans can claim as their own. Up next should be former coach Mike Shanahan, who was snubbed again by voters in 2024.

Here’s a quick list of every former Bronco in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

1. RB Floyd Little (1967-1975)

(Dick Raphael-USA TODAY Sports)

2. LB Randy Gradishar (1974-1983)

(Rod Hanna-USA TODAY Sports)

3. QB John Elway (1983-1998)

(Photo By USA TODAY Sports)

4. DB Steve Atwater (1989-1998)

(Getty Images)

5. TE Shannon Sharpe (1990-1999, 2002-’03)

(MARK LEFFINGWELL/AFP via Getty Images)

7. OL Gary Zimmerman (1993-1997)

(USA TODAY Sports, US Presswire Sports Archive)

8. RB Terrell Davis (1995-2001)

(Jamie Squire /Allsport)

9. CB Champ Bailey (2004-2013)

(Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports)

10. DB John Lynch (2004-2007)

(Rick Scuteri-US Presswire Copyright Rick Scuteri)

11. QB Peyton Manning (2012-2015)

(Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports)

12. OLB DeMarcus Ware (2014-2016)

(Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

13. Owner Pat Bowlen (1984-2019)

(Manny Rubio-USA TODAY Sports)

14. DB Brian Dawkins (2009-2011)

(Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports)

15. CB Willie Brown (1963-1966)

(Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports)

16. RB Tony Dorsett (1988)

(Rod Hanna-USA TODAY Sports)

17. CB Ty Law (2009)

(Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports)
Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.