Broncos Legends: Top-5 Quarterbacks of All Time

There have been some great quarterbacks in Denver Broncos history, but who are the top-5?

The Denver Broncos have two quarterbacks in the Pro Football Hall of Fame and a few other solid players. The Broncos have had many quarterbacks start for the club, with a rich history of top-notch signal-callers. 

But who are the five greatest quarterbacks in Broncos history?

Here is the list in descending order and the reasons why these QBs have been selected for this illustrious list.

5. Frank Tripucka

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Tripucka was the first quarterback in NFL history to throw for 3,000 or more yards in a season. He accomplished that feat in 1960, leading the league, and then led all passers in yards again in 1962, earning an AFL All-Stars invitation. 

Tripucka was inducted into the Broncos Ring of Fame for what he did for the franchise in those early years and had his jersey retired.

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4. Charley Johnson

Rod Hanna-USA TODAY Sports

The Broncos were a bad team for the first 13 seasons of their existence. Denver had 13 straight losing seasons until Charley Johnson arrived. In his second season as the starter, the team had its first year above .500, and the franchise didn’t look back. 

Coming to Denver in his later years, Johnson didn’t put up with huge statistics, but his presence solidified the position with a winning mentality and changed the club’s fortunes. The Broncos were in the Super Bowl two seasons after he retired. 

3. Craig Morton

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What Johnson brought to the team, Morton expanded upon. He came with what the Broncos needed, playoff experience, guiding the team to a 12-2 record, and its debut Super Bowl appearance in his first season.

Morton was with the team for only six seasons but is still ranked No. 3 all-time in passing yards, and his 1981 season, from an era-adjusted statistical standpoint, was one of the best in franchise history and ranked very high in NFL history. He was twice in the running for NFL MVP awards. 

2. Peyton Manning

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Manning is considered one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time. In only four seasons in the Mile High City, he took the team to two Super Bowls, winning one, and is No. 2 all-time in passing yards and passing touchdowns. 

Manning also commanded the greatest offense in the history of the NFL in 2013, whose 606 points remain the most ever, while winning his fifth MVP award. No player has been named NFL MVP more times in a career than Manning. 

He is in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and his shared No. 18 is retired by the Broncos. 

1. John Elway

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The greatest quarterback to ever don the Orange and Blue, John Elway holds all the passing records for the club. He was a first-ballot Pro Football Hall-of-Famer, was an immediate Broncos Ring-of-Fame member, and had his jersey retired. 

With arguably the strongest arm ever in the NFL, Elway took the Broncos to three Super Bowls in the 1980s and finally won back-to-back championships in the 1990s to give him five overall appearances. At the time of his retirement, he had won more games than any other starting quarterback and trailed only Dan Marino for the most passing yards in history. 

Elway won an MVP award and was the first-team quarterback of the 1990s All-Decade team.

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