Denver Broncos: Power Ranking the Top 9 Running Backs in Team History
For a team that boasted one of the toughest running attacks in the league for a long period of time, the position of running back is not a celebrated one for the Broncos.
At least, not in terms of enshrinement in the Hall of Fame or having numerous individual accolades.
Still, there are names that will spark some good feeling for Broncos fans young and old. However, some of the good feelings might be tempered with disappointment for the ways things ended.
Regardless, Broncos fans can claim to know a few things for sure, and one of them is when a guy can “run.” The players on this list could all run, each perhaps in his own special way, but their places on this list were certainly earned.
9. Honorable Mentions
1 of 9
These players were less than spectacular in their time as Broncos but their place in NFL history had been cemented before they came to Denver. If nothing else, they deserve respect for trying to come to Denver and prove that they still had it, even though sadly they did not.
Cookie Gilchrist.
Jim Kiick.
Tony Dorsett.
All of these men won championships and deserved the opportunity to try and give the Broncos all they had left.
8. Bobby Humphrey
2 of 9
The talent was easy to see, and all signs pointed to a long and prosperous career with the Broncos.
However, after only one pro bowl appearance Humphrey was ready to try and throw his weight around in terms of a new contract. This mistake would haunt another Bronco later on this list.
After a prolonged holdout, Humphrey returned overweight and nowhere near the player he was before. He was promptly traded and faded into obscurity.
This was a true NFL tragedy of greed and complacence.
7. Jon Keyworth
3 of 9
This former Buff was a man of many talents and made the most out of every carry or reception he had.
He showed in 1975 that, with a good amount of carries, he could chew up yardage. Keyworth was also able to become versatile as his carries were given to other players.
If nothing else, Jon reminded us all to “Make Those Miracles Happen” every time he took the field.
6. Sammy Winder
4 of 9
Winder makes his way onto this list because of longevity and a prolonged period of “pretty good” running.
Many experts love to say that Elway was a one-man band during most of the 1980s, and in many respects that’s true. Still, Winder deserves some credit for being solid and garnering two pro bowl nods in his career.
In retrospect, the fumbles may have been at a bad times but there really weren't that many in his career as a Bronco.
5. Mike Anderson
5 of 9
The “Marine” had a tough career, but from that pain came redemption and a fitting end to his Broncos career.
With almost 1,500 yards as a rookie, Anderson ran away with the Offensive Rookie of the Year award. However, like many Broncos before him, Anderson would lose time to injury and a promising start to a career came off the rails.
Something special happened in Bronco Nation though. Anderson fought back and did something that those before him could not do. He came back and recaptured the glory of his rookie season.
Anderson set the record for longest time between 1,000 yard rushing seasons and even though the glory he reclaimed was fleeting, it was earned and deserved.
4. Clinton Portis
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Remember the old story about the player who had a few great seasons and then wanted to be paid like a hall of famer?
The sad thing is that it wasn’t the first time that it happened for the Broncos, but Portis is the one who has suffered most for it.
He averaged over 100 yards per game and 5.5 yards per carry as a Bronco. Portis had a good run, but in the grand scheme of things were happy to part with him in order to get Champ Bailey.
However, that offensive line had a lot of years left in it and one can’t help but wonder what life would be like if Portis were still a Bronco.
He could have easily topped this list, but alas, his greed and ego drove him down the list of Bronco greats.
3. Otis Armstrong
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How many times can Broncos fans listen to the same broken record? A promising career mired by injuries which limited the impact of a great talent.
Otis Armstrong makes third place on this list because of the defense he was matched up against in the 1970’s. The “Steel Curtain” of Pittsburgh, the “no-names” of Miami and of course…the Raiders.
It’s no wonder that Armstrong had injuries considering the punishing defenses he was asked to run against. Despite those defenses, he managed two 1,000-yard seasons in the 1970’s and those are no small feats.
2. Floyd Little
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Bronco fans can rejoice that the name Floyd Little is now followed by the letters “HOF.”
The man who was known as “The Franchise” was the only bright spot in an otherwise dismal time for the Broncos. He was a player who was ahead of his time and forced to ply his trade on a lackluster team.
Suffice it to say that if Floyd were a Cowboy or a Steeler, his name would be a household one, and his spot in Canton secured long ago.
He kept the Broncos relevant just long enough for the team to stick it out in Denver and enter the brighter days that would follow his 1975 retirement. The stat sheet will never truly describe his contributions or his talent.
1. Terrell Davis
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If the Broncos wrote a book about promising careers cut short, the chapter on Terrell Davis would be the greatest tear-jerker.
Everyone knew they were seeing greatness and it was evidenced by the fact that his yardage total grew every year until his excellent 2,008 yard effort in 1998. Judging by his track record, there was every reason to believe that trend would continue.
Sadly, Broncos fans will never know if TD could have become the NFL’s all-time leading rusher.
Just for fun though, if you take all of the rushing totals for Broncos after the injury bug hit TD, it would have taken him about thirteen seasons (if not less, considering the rate at which his yardage was increasing per season) to match or surpass the record.
Anyone surprised by that?
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