Broncos Legends: Top-5 Interior O-Linemen of All Time
The Denver Broncos don’t have a member of the interior offensive line in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, but that needs to change. One has a rock-solid case to be enshrined, and another has an argument.
Furthermore, the Broncos have had some solid centers and guards throughout their history. But who are the five greatest interior offensive linemen in Broncos history?
Here is the list in descending order and the reasons why they have been selected for this illustrious list.
5. Keith Bishop
Bishop is one of those underappreciated players. He was able to play both guard and center in Denver in the 1980s and was a starter in all three of the team’s Super Bowl appearances.
Bishop was voted to two Pro Bowls for his work on the offensive line. He was a key member of one of the greatest moments in Broncos history, 'The Drive.' His quote that day — “We’ve got them right where we want them” — will remain fondly remembered by Broncos Country.
4. Paul Howard
Not many players were with the Broncos longer than Howard. In fact, only five players had a longer tenure, and only one player on the offensive line (Tom Nalen) played in more games than the offensive guard.
Howard’s career started with Charley Johnson as the starting quarterback and ended three seasons into John Elway’s tenure. He was a member of the team for its first two Super Bowl appearances.
3. Bill Bryan
Bryan was drafted by the Broncos in 1977 and spent his entire time in the NFL with the organization. He was a member of the team for their Super Bowl appearances in 1977, 1986, and 1987.
In all, Bryan started 151 games on the interior offensive line and seven games in the playoffs. Even though he was not recognized for many awards, he was one of the best interior offensive linemen to ever don the Orange and Blue.
2. Mark Schlereth
Schlereth came to the Broncos having played on the iconic offensive line in Washington nicknamed 'The Hogs' and helped build another in Denver, 'The Orange Hush.' He also brought a championship pedigree, having won a Super Bowl in Washington.
That experience helped the Broncos win back-to-back championships in the late 90s. Schlereth was a key member of the offensive line that manhandled the highly favored Green Bay Packers defensive line in Super Bowl XXXII and got Terrell Davis into the 2,000-yard club in 1998. Schlereth received a Pro Bowl invitation for his work in the latter.
1. Tom Nalen
If any modern player is overlooked for the Hall of Fame, it’s Nalen. He was the first of only two centers to pave the way for a whopping TEN 1,000-yard rushers and one 2,000-yard rusher. The other is in Canton.
Nalen is the most technically sound center of all time and was pivotal in the Broncos' first two championships. He was the leader of an offensive line that churned out no-name 1,000-yard rushers like they were on an assembly line.
Nalen helped launch the zone blocking scheme in Denver as the pivot and changed the game forever. He was often ignored for the major voted-on awards, but he did win three All-Pro awards and five Pro Bowl invitations.
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