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Broncos Running Backs: All-Time Greats

Trends January 13, 2025

Who are the greatest Broncos running backs of all time?

The Denver Broncos have a long and storied history, and their running backs have played a major role in the team's success. From Hall of Famers to Super Bowl MVPs, the Broncos have had some of the best running backs in NFL history.

Here are some of the most notable Broncos running backs of all time:

Name	Years	Rushing yards	Rushing touchdowns
Floyd Little	1967-1975	6,323	43
Terrell Davis	1995-2001	7,607	60
Clinton Portis	2002-2006	5,584	46
Mike Anderson	2000-2002	3,051	33
Olandis Gary	1999-2001	2,934	28

These are just a few of the many great running backs who have played for the Denver Broncos. These players have helped the Broncos win multiple Super Bowls and have left a lasting legacy on the team.

The Broncos have a rich history of running back success, and the players on this list are a big reason why.

Broncos Running Backs

The Denver Broncos have a long and storied history, and their running backs have played a major role in the team's success. Here are eight key aspects of Broncos running backs:

Hall of Famers: Floyd Little and Terrell Davis are two of the greatest running backs in NFL history, and both played for the Broncos.
Super Bowl MVPs: Terrell Davis and John Elway are the only two players in NFL history to win Super Bowl MVP as a running back and quarterback, respectively.
Record-setters: Terrell Davis set the NFL single-season rushing touchdown record in 1998, and Clinton Portis set the Broncos' single-season rushing record in 2002.
Consistency: The Broncos have had a number of running backs who have been consistently productive, such as Mike Anderson and Olandis Gary.
Versatility: Many Broncos running backs have been able to contribute in multiple ways, such as catching passes out of the backfield and returning kicks.
Toughness: Broncos running backs have been known for their toughness and physicality, such as Tatum Bell and Reuben Droughns.
Leadership: Broncos running backs have often been leaders on the team, such as Floyd Little and Terrell Davis.
Legacy: The Broncos have a rich history of running back success, and their running backs have left a lasting legacy on the team.

These eight key aspects highlight the importance of running backs to the Denver Broncos. These players have helped the Broncos win multiple Super Bowls and have left a lasting legacy on the team.

1. Hall of Famers

Little was a five-time Pro Bowler and three-time All-Pro selection during his nine seasons with the Broncos. He led the NFL in rushing touchdowns in 1971 and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2010.

Davis was a two-time Pro Bowl selection and one-time All-Pro selection during his seven seasons with the Broncos. He led the NFL in rushing touchdowns in 1998 and was named Super Bowl XXXII MVP after rushing for 102 yards and a touchdown in the Broncos' 31-24 victory over the Green Bay Packers.

The presence of Little and Davis in the Broncos' backfield was a major factor in the team's success during the 1970s and 1990s. Both players were inducted into the Broncos' Ring of Fame, and their numbers have been retired by the team.

The Broncos have a rich history of running back success, and Little and Davis are two of the greatest players to ever wear a Broncos uniform. Their Hall of Fame careers are a testament to their talent and dedication, and they helped make the Broncos one of the most successful teams in the NFL.

2. Super Bowl MVPs

The Denver Broncos have a long and storied history, and their running backs have played a major role in the team's success. Two of the greatest running backs in NFL history, Floyd Little and Terrell Davis, both played for the Broncos. Terrell Davis is one of the only two players in NFL history to win Super Bowl MVP as a running back, the other being John Elway, who won the award as a quarterback. This highlights the importance of running backs to the Broncos' success, and the fact that they have had some of the best running backs in NFL history.

Running backs are essential to the Broncos' offense, and they have been a key part of the team's success over the years. The Broncos have won multiple Super Bowls, and their running backs have played a major role in those victories. Terrell Davis was named Super Bowl XXXII MVP after rushing for 102 yards and a touchdown in the Broncos' 31-24 victory over the Green Bay Packers. This shows the importance of running backs to the Broncos' success, and the fact that they have had some of the best running backs in NFL history.

The Broncos have a rich history of running back success, and Terrell Davis is one of the greatest players to ever wear a Broncos uniform. His Super Bowl MVP performance is a testament to his talent and dedication, and he helped make the Broncos one of the most successful teams in the NFL.

3. Record-setters

Terrell Davis and Clinton Portis are two of the most prolific running backs in Broncos history. Davis set the NFL single-season rushing touchdown record in 1998 with 21 touchdowns, and Portis set the Broncos' single-season rushing record in 2002 with 1,581 yards.

These records are a testament to the talent and skill of Davis and Portis, and they also highlight the importance of running backs to the Broncos' success. Running backs are essential to the Broncos' offense, and they have been a key part of the team's success over the years.

The Broncos have won multiple Super Bowls, and their running backs have played a major role in those victories. Terrell Davis was named Super Bowl XXXII MVP after rushing for 102 yards and a touchdown in the Broncos' 31-24 victory over the Green Bay Packers. Clinton Portis also played a key role in the Broncos' Super Bowl XXXIII victory, rushing for 72 yards and a touchdown.

The Broncos have a rich history of running back success, and Terrell Davis and Clinton Portis are two of the greatest players to ever wear a Broncos uniform. Their record-setting performances are a testament to their talent and dedication, and they helped make the Broncos one of the most successful teams in the NFL.

4. Consistency

Consistency is a key factor in the success of any running back, and the Broncos have had a number of running backs who have been consistently productive throughout their careers. Mike Anderson and Olandis Gary are two examples of running backs who were able to produce at a high level year after year.

Durability: Anderson and Gary were both known for their durability, and they were able to stay healthy and on the field for most of their careers. This allowed them to be a consistent presence in the Broncos' offense, and it helped the team to be successful.
Production: Anderson and Gary were both productive runners, and they were able to gain yards and score touchdowns on a consistent basis. They were both able to average over 4.0 yards per carry for their careers, and they both had multiple seasons with over 1,000 rushing yards.
Versatility: Anderson and Gary were both versatile running backs, and they were able to contribute in a variety of ways. They were both able to run between the tackles, catch passes out of the backfield, and return kicks. This versatility made them valuable to the Broncos' offense, and it helped the team to be successful.

The consistency of Anderson and Gary was a major factor in the Broncos' success during the late 1990s and early 2000s. They were both key members of the team's offense, and they helped the Broncos to win multiple AFC West championships and reach the Super Bowl twice.

5. Versatility

The versatility of Broncos running backs has been a key factor in the team's success over the years. Running backs who can do more than just carry the ball are invaluable to an offense, and the Broncos have had a number of players who have been able to contribute in a variety of ways.

Receiving: Many Broncos running backs have been able to catch passes out of the backfield, which makes them a threat in both the running and passing game. This versatility makes it difficult for defenses to stop the Broncos' offense, and it gives the team more options on each play.
Returning kicks: Some Broncos running backs have also been able to return kicks, which gives the team a chance to gain good field position or even score a touchdown. This versatility makes these players even more valuable to the team, and it gives the Broncos an advantage over their opponents.

The versatility of Broncos running backs has been a major factor in the team's success over the years. These players have been able to contribute in a variety of ways, and they have helped the Broncos to win multiple AFC West championships and reach the Super Bowl twice.

6. Toughness

The Denver Broncos running backs have a long and storied history of toughness and physicality. This is due in part to the team's location in Denver, Colorado, which is a high-altitude city that can take a toll on players' bodies. As a result, Broncos running backs have had to be tough and physical in order to succeed.

Physicality: Broncos running backs have been known for their physicality, both in terms of their running style and their blocking ability. This physicality has helped the Broncos to be a successful running team over the years.
Durability: Broncos running backs have also been known for their durability, which is essential for a running back who is going to carry the ball 20-30 times per game. This durability has helped the Broncos to avoid injuries at the running back position, which has been a key factor in their success.
Mental toughness: Broncos running backs have also shown a lot of mental toughness, which is essential for a player who is going to be hit hard every time he touches the ball. This mental toughness has helped the Broncos to overcome adversity and win games.
Examples: Tatum Bell and Reuben Droughns are two examples of Broncos running backs who have been known for their toughness and physicality. Bell was a bruising runner who was not afraid to lower his shoulder and take on defenders. Droughns was a versatile back who was known for his ability to block and catch passes out of the backfield.

The toughness and physicality of Broncos running backs has been a key factor in the team's success over the years. These players have helped the Broncos to win multiple AFC West championships and reach the Super Bowl twice.

7. Leadership

The leadership of Broncos running backs has been a key factor in the team's success over the years.

Example 1: Floyd Little was a leader both on and off the field for the Broncos during his nine seasons with the team. He was a five-time Pro Bowler and three-time All-Pro selection, and he led the NFL in rushing touchdowns in 1971. Little was also a key member of the Broncos' Super Bowl XII team in 1977.
Example 2: Terrell Davis was another great leader for the Broncos. He was a two-time Pro Bowl selection and one-time All-Pro selection during his seven seasons with the team. Davis led the NFL in rushing touchdowns in 1998 and was named Super Bowl XXXII MVP after rushing for 102 yards and a touchdown in the Broncos' 31-24 victory over the Green Bay Packers.

These are just two examples of the many great leaders who have played running back for the Broncos. These players have helped to set a winning culture for the team, and they have been a key part of the Broncos' success over the years.

8. Legacy

The Denver Broncos have a long and storied history of running back success. From Hall of Famers like Floyd Little and Terrell Davis to Super Bowl MVPs like Terrell Davis and John Elway, the Broncos have had some of the best running backs in NFL history.

These running backs have helped the Broncos to win multiple AFC West championships and reach the Super Bowl five times. They have also set numerous individual records, including the NFL single-season rushing touchdown record (Terrell Davis, 21 touchdowns in 1998) and the Broncos' single-season rushing record (Clinton Portis, 1,581 yards in 2002).

The legacy of the Broncos' running backs is one of excellence and success. These players have helped to make the Broncos one of the most successful teams in the NFL, and they have left a lasting impact on the team and its fans.

FAQs about Broncos Running Backs

Here are some frequently asked questions about the Denver Broncos' running backs:

Question 1: Who are the greatest Broncos running backs of all time?

Answer: The greatest Broncos running backs of all time include Floyd Little, Terrell Davis, Clinton Portis, Mike Anderson, Olandis Gary, Tatum Bell, and Reuben Droughns.

Question 2: How many Super Bowls have Broncos running backs won?

Answer: Broncos running backs have won four Super Bowls: Terrell Davis won Super Bowl XXXII, Clinton Portis won Super Bowl XXXIII, and John Elway won Super Bowls XXI and XXXII as a quarterback.

Question 3: What records do Broncos running backs hold?

Answer: Broncos running backs hold the NFL single-season rushing touchdown record (Terrell Davis, 21 touchdowns in 1998) and the Broncos' single-season rushing record (Clinton Portis, 1,581 yards in 2002).

Question 4: What is the legacy of Broncos running backs?

Answer: The legacy of Broncos running backs is one of excellence and success. These players have helped the Broncos to win multiple AFC West championships and reach the Super Bowl five times.

Question 5: What are some common traits of Broncos running backs?

Answer: Common traits of Broncos running backs include toughness, physicality, versatility, leadership, and a commitment to winning.

These are just a few of the many frequently asked questions about the Denver Broncos' running backs. These players have played a major role in the team's success over the years, and they have left a lasting legacy on the Broncos and the NFL.

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