Broncos – A “bronco” is an unbroken or untamed horse, and it is a reference to Denver’s Wild West heritage. The Broncos nickname came about by being the winning entry of a name the new team contest that the new Denver AFL franchise had in early 1960.
Denver Broncos Best Running Backs Of All-Time
1. Terrell Davis (1995-2001)
Davis is officially a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Davis is the longtime Denver Broncos running back that this franchise has ever seen at the position.
He spent his entire NFL playing career as a member of the Broncos en route to becoming the team’s all-time leader in every major category for a running back.
Appearing in 77 career regular-season games for the Broncos, Davis rushed for 7,607 yards and even 60 touchdowns on 1,655 carries. Even 20 years after his retirement from the NFL, Davis remains the team’s all-time leader in each of those three categories:
•A two-time Super Bowl champion, •three-time All-Pro, and •three-time Pro Bowler.
Davis was also mentioned as the league’s Offensive Player of the Year twice while serving as the NFL MVP in 1998-99. Perhaps most impressively, Davis became just one of seven players in the history of the NFL to rush for more than 2,000 yards in a single season upon recording 2,008 rushing yards in 1998-99.
The Broncos reached the playoffs four times under the leadership of Davis, including in three straight seasons from 1996-97 to 1998-99.
2. Floyd Little (1967-75)
Prior to fellow running back Terrell Davis’ arrival in Colorado, longtime Denver Broncos running back Floyd Little was no doubt categorized as the best to ever do it at the position for AFC powerhouse.
Spending a total of nine seasons with the organization, like Davis, Little also spent his entire NFL playing career as a member of the Broncos while going on to record 6,323 rushing yards and 43 rushing touchdowns on 1,641 carries.
Also, Davis is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Little ranks behind only Davis in all three of those major categories in regards to the Broncos’ all-time rankings.
Appearing in 117 career regular-season games before eventually hanging his cleats up after nearly a decade in Denver, Little was a five-time Pro Bowler and one-time All-Pro selection, though he was unfortunately never able to play a single postseason game atop the highest level.
Even though the Broncos couldn’t even manage a winning record between 1967-68 and 1975-76, Little was ultimate—and appropriately—enshrined in Canton back in 2010 at nearly 70 years old.
3. Sammy Winder (1982-90)
Although not a Pro Football Hall of Famer like the pair of legends that are Terrell Davis and Floyd Little, longtime Denver Broncos running back Sammy Winder was yet another rusher that spent his entire NFL playing career with the franchise.
As a result of his nine-year stint in Denver, Winder helped lead the Broncos to five appearances in the postseason, all of which were highlighted by back-to-back AFC Championships in 1986-87 and 1987-88.
Winder and the Broncos would reach a third Super Bowl in 1989-90, though Denver would once again come up just shy of a title. Nonetheless, Winder was absolutely stellar during his time with the Broncos as he currently ranks third on many of the team’s all-time rushing lists.
Ranking third behind only the tandem of Davis and Little in terms of career rushing yards, rushing attempts, and rushing touchdowns, Winder strung together 5,427 rushing yards, 39 rushing touchdowns and 1,495 carries in all.
