Broncos Who Belong in Hall of Fame: Rick Upchurch | No. 5

We continue to shine a light on the careers of those former Denver Broncos who deserve Hall-of-Fame recognition.

Special teams players rarely get enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. It is even harder for those players who were listed on the roster at an offensive or defensive position but were typically only used as third-phase specialists because that was their forte.

It's understandable that such players get passed over because they're only on the field for a few plays per game. However, players who are considered the greatest at their position should be in the Hall of Fame, regardless of how many offensive or defensive snaps they received. They're the greatest because they impacted games tremendously in the role they played. 

The player who was considered the greatest returner of all time until very recently should warrant entry into Canton: former Denver Broncos stand-put Rick Upchurch. The Hall-of-Fame voters are going to put the greatest returner of all time — Devin Hester — in the Hall of Fame in only a few short years. It's only right that the player who Hester had to knock off the mantle gets enshrined. 

The Case for Upchurch

Upchurch was listed as a wide receiver, but he made his living returning kicks and punts. His reputation as the best punt returner in the history of the NFL is well-earned. 

Many lists of the top returners of all time include his name, even today. What he did during his nine years in the NFL warrants his name being on those lists.

Upchurch returned 248 punts for 3,008 yards and 95 kickoffs for 2,355 yards. His eight punt returns for touchdowns tied the all-time record and was not topped until 1997, more than a decade after his retirement.

Upchurch's mark of returning four punts for a touchdown in a single season has been tied but never bested. For his career, he tallied 10,081 all-purpose yards and has held 11 Broncos team records.

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Upchurch was an All-Pro five times and went to four Pro Bowls. He also was selected to both the 1970s All-Decade Team and the 1980s All-Decade Team. Those voters recognized his greatness during his playing days. Hall-of-Fame voters should take notice as well.

Morten Anderson is another special teams player who has the distinction of being selected to two All-Decade teams, and was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2017. Upchurch’s ability as a returner impacted games and contributed to team wins. The voters should recognize how important he was to the Broncos and how distinguished he was in the NFL.

During the Broncos' 1977 Super Bowl run, the 'Orange Crush' defense got all the recognition, and rightfully so, but Upchurch was a significant contributor that season, contributing 1,373 yards and four touchdowns. His play in Super Bowl XXII goes largely unnoticed. 

The Broncos' offense coughed the ball up eight times in that Super Bowl, making it nearly impossible for the team to pull out a victory, but Upchurch did his part to overcome them by contributing 116 yards in punt and kick returns, which isn’t far off from the 156 yards of total yards the offense mustered that dreadful day. His 67-yard kick return set up the Broncos' only touchdown of the game. 

Bottom Line

If the Hall-of-Fame voters decide to select special teams returners for enshrinement, Upchurch should be the first. His name must be the one that ushers in others because he was considered the greatest for several decades. 

To include others without having him go first would be a travesty.

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