Tag: Aqib Talib

Broncos will have a ‘No Fly Zone’ reunion on Sunday

The Broncos will recognize their “No Fly Zone” secondary before the Falcons game on Sunday.

Before Sunday’s matchup against the Atlanta Falcons, the Denver Broncos will recognize several members of “The No-Fly Zone” defense as part of the pregame festivities.

Former Broncos Aqib Talib, Chris Harris, T.J. Ward, Darian Stewart, Bradley Roby and David Bruton will be present for the Week 11 tilt at Empower Field at Mile High.

According to the team’s official website, the former teammates will participate in the flag plant prior to kickoff, and be a part of the Salute to Service halftime relay race.

Game recognizes game, and current Broncos star cornerback Pat Surtain was asked about the “No Fly Zone” on Wednesday.

“I watched them a lot growing up,” Broncos cornerback Pat Surtain said this week. “I always remember it was them and the ‘Legion of Boom.’ Those two secondaries were… They just kept on producing big-time numbers. I still communicate [with them]. I just saw Chris Harris for the first time when they came here to honor his name. I’ve talked with Talib a few times too. So it’s going to be pretty awesome to see them come back. I can’t wait to meet all of them. It’s going to be a great experience for sure.”

The No Fly Zone boasts a combined 10 Pro Bowl appearances and they were key members of the 2025 defense that led the team to a victory in Super Bowl 50.

Earlier this season, Harris signed a ceremonial contract with the Broncos to retire with the team which gave him his first NFL opportunity.

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Full list of 30 former Broncos nominated for 2025 Hall of Fame class

The Broncos have 30 former players nominated for the 2025 Hall of Fame class, and Mike Shanahan is expected to be a top coach candidate.

Earlier this week, the NFL announced 19 former Denver Broncos players have been nominated for the 2025 Pro Football Hall of Fame class as modern-era candidates.

Those 19 players join a previous list of 11 senior candidate nominees who were announced earlier this month, giving the Broncos 30 total players who have been nominated for next year’s Hall of Fame class. Here are the full lists.

Broncos modern-era HOF candidates

  1. WR Rod Smith
  2. C Tom Nalen
  3. K Jason Elam
  4. G Mark Schlereth
  5. LB Bill Romanowski
  6. DL Neil Smith
  7. WR Demaryius Thomas
  8. CB Aqib Talib
  9. WR Wes Welker
  10. RB Clinton Portis
  11. WR Brandon Marshall
  12. RB Glyn Milburn
  13. CB Dré Bly
  14. TE Vernon Davis
  15. DL Jamal Williams
  16. LB Keith Brooking
  17. RB Jamaal Charles
  18. DL Ted Washington
  19. DL Simeon Rice

Broncos senior HOF candidates

  1. LB/DL Karl Mecklenburg
  2. LB Tom Jackson
  3. DB Dennis Smith
  4. WR Lionel Taylor
  5. WR/R Rick Upchurch
  6. CB Louis Wright
  7. WR Bob Scarpitto
  8. DL Michael Dean Perry
  9. RB Sammy Winder
  10. DL Lyle Alzado
  11. DE Rich Jackson

Former Denver coach Mike Shanahan is also expected to be nominated for the 2025 Hall of Fame class in the coach category.

The Hall of Fame’s selection committee will trim the list of nominees in mid-October before announcing semifinalists and finalists later in the fall. The 2025 class will be announced before Super Bowl LVIX next year.

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Rod Smith among 19 former Broncos nominated for Hall of Fame

Rod Smith is one of eight Broncos Super Bowl champions who have been nominated for the 2025 Pro Football Hall of Fame class.

The Pro Football Hall of Fame has announced 167 modern-era finalists for the 2025 class. The list includes 19 former Denver Broncos players, including eight Super Bowl champions.

Former Broncos wide receiver Rod Smith headlines the list of players who won Super Bowls with Denver in the late 1990s. He is joined by center Tom Nalen, kicker Jason Elam, guard Mark Schlereth, linebacker Bill Romanowski and defensive lineman Neil Smith.

The Broncos also had two members of their Super Bowl 50 squad — late wide receiver Demaryius Thomas and cornerback Aqib Talib — nominated for the Hall of Fame in their first year of eligibility.

Other players nominated include running backs Clinton Portis and Glyn Milburn, receivers Wes Welker and Brandon Marshall and cornerback Dré Bly. View the full list below.

Broncos Hall of Fame nominees

  1. WR Rod Smith
  2. C Tom Nalen
  3. K Jason Elam
  4. G Mark Schlereth
  5. LB Bill Romanowski
  6. DL Neil Smith
  7. WR Demaryius Thomas
  8. CB Aqib Talib
  9. WR Wes Welker
  10. RB Clinton Portis
  11. WR Brandon Marshall
  12. RB Glyn Milburn
  13. CB Dré Bly
  14. TE Vernon Davis
  15. DL Jamal Williams
  16. LB Keith Brooking
  17. RB Jamaal Charles
  18. DL Ted Washington
  19. DL Simeon Rice

The Broncos also have 11 senior candidates for the 2025 class, and former coach Mike Shanahan is expected to be a top candidate in the coach category. Voters will trim the list down to 20 finalists with 15 modern-era candidates, three senior candidates, one coach and one contributor. The selection committee will meet before Super Bowl LVIX to elect the 2025 class.

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Broncos share highlights from No Fly Zone’s preseason ‘Alt Cast’

Chris Harris and Aqib Talib hosted an ‘Alt Cast’ for the Broncos’ preseason game against the Packers last week. Check out the highlights.

Two members of the “No Fly Zone” secondary took a page out of Peyton and Eli Manning’s playbook last week.

Following the success of the “ManningCast,” former Denver Broncos cornerbacks Chris Harris and Aqib Talib joined James Palmer for an “Alt Cast” of last week’s preseason game against the Green Bay Packers.

Due to the NFL’s broadcasting restrictions, the alternate broadcast was only available to stream in Colorado, but the team shared a few of the highlights on their Twitter/X page.

Talib reflected on the team’s 29-10 win over the Green Bay Packers during the 2015 season. That victory improved Denver to 7-0 and dropped Green Bay to 6-1:

Talib and Harris also reacted to Tim Patrick’s comeback from back-to-back injuries.

“Me and Chris knew he was going to be good because he would come out and he was the ultimate competition, man,” Talib said. “Every day, he tried to smash us.”

Update: The Broncos uploaded a 21-minute highlight video from the broadcast on their YouTube page:

The alternate broadcast was well-received by fans in Colorado.

Judging from Sunday’s success, this probably won’t be the last time we see an alternate broadcast for a Broncos preseason game.

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Broncos announce alternate ‘No Fly Zone’ broadcast for second preseason game

Aqib Talib and Chris Harris will host an alternate ‘No Fly Zone’ broadcast for the Broncos-Packers game on Sunday for fans in Colorado.

The success of the “ManningCast” seems to have inspired a pair of former Denver Broncos cornerbacks.

The Broncos announced Tuesday that the team will have an alternate “No Fly Zone” broadcast for their upcoming preseason game against the Green Bay Packers. Unfortunately for out-of-state fans, the broadcast will only be available for fans in Colorado on Sunday evening. The broadcast will be streamed on live.denverbroncos.com

The alternate broadcast will feature former Denver cornerbacks Aqib Talib and Chris Harris, who helped the team win Super Bowl 50 in 2015. James Palmer will join the former cornerbacks alongside several special guests.

Harris currently co-hosts a Broncos podcast on the Bleav Network and Talib has served as a Fox commentator for NFL games in the past. They seem to be following in the footsteps of Peyton and Eli Manning, who co-host alternate broadcasts of “Monday Night Football” on ESPN2.

The primary Denver-Green Bay broadcast will air locally on KUSA-TV and nationally on NFL Network. Kickoff between the Broncos and Packers has been set for 6:00 p.m. MT (8:00 p.m. ET). Fans can stream the NFLN broadcast of Sunday’s game on fuboTV (try it free).

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Aqib Talib praises Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes’ offensive weapons ahead of the 2024 season

Aqib Talib praises Kansas City #Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes’ offensive weapons ahead of the 2024 season | @EdEastonJr

The Kansas City Chiefs offense has been great throughout the Patrick Mahomes era, but last season was the first year without the usual dominance. The addition of several new players to fuel the unit has many critics curious and optimistic about what the team can accomplish in the new year.

Super Bowl champion cornerback Aquib Talib appeared as a guest recently on the ‘Up and Adams Show with Kay Adams’ to discuss the current state of the Chiefs offense.

“You almost got a Tyreek. You got a Tyreek. You got almost two of them. Now you have Hollywood (Marquise Brown) and (Xavier) Worthy.” said Talib. “You can stretch the field with both of those good guys. Then you have one of the best catch-and-run guys underneath, Rashee Rice (who) is almost like a Deebo Samuel type. And then you got (Travis) Kelce. And you then got a great running back. And then they got Andy Heck. No matter who you give him on the O-Line, he seems to revamp them. Have them Super Bowl ready.”

The Chiefs’ offense has impressed many, who have viewed the many clips online from training camp featuring several of Mahomes’ weapons making incredible plays.

“They got a bunch of guys who can play football. So, and then Mahomes is just now getting to his OG veteran days. So I don’t know, man,” said Talib, “we may be looking at the GOAT.”

Mahomes’s labeling as a GOAT by another Super Bowl winner and former defensive star is a further testament to his greatness. He and the rest of the Chiefs’ offense hope for a breakout season.

Who was the best player to wear No. 21 for the Broncos?

Gene Mingo was one of the most versatile players in franchise history. Aqib Talib won a Super Bowl. Who was the best No. 21 for the Broncos?

As we continue our series listing the best player to wear each number for the Denver Broncos, which reached No. 21, which is a difficult decision.

Gene Mingo is definitely part of the conversation. Mingo spent four and a half seasons in Denver and he scored 408 points, eighth-most in franchise history. Mingo was more than just a kicker, though. He also totaled 777 rushing yards and eight touchdowns, 454 receiving yards and four scores and 956 return yards and another score. He even threw for 200 yards and two touchdowns.

A two-time AFL All-Star and a member of the Broncos Ring of Fame, Mingo was a do-it-all contributor as a kicker, halfback and returner. One could make a strong case that Mingo was the best No. 21 in franchise history.

Aqib Talib spent four seasons in Denver and he totaled 11 interceptions, six of which he returned for touchdowns (most in franchise history). During his 12-year career with five teams, Talib recorded 35 interceptions and 10 pick-sixes, which ranked fourth in NFL history.

A five-time Pro Bowler and two-time All-Pro, Talib was a key member of the Broncos’ famous “No Fly Zone” defense that led the team to a victory in Super Bowl 50 following the 2015 season.

So, who was the best No. 21 in franchise history? Vote in the poll!

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Demaryius Thomas, Aqib Talib eligible for Hall of Fame next year

Broncos Super Bowl 50 champions Demaryius Thomas and Aqib Talib will be eligible for the Hall of Fame in 2025.

The 2024 Pro Football Fame class was announced last week, and attention has now turned to which players will be eligible in 2025.

The list of former players with first-year eligibility in 2025 includes late Denver Broncos wide receiver Demaryius Thomas and retired cornerback Aqib Talib.

Thomas ranks second in franchise history with 9,055 receiving yards and 60 touchdowns. A four-time Pro Bowler and two-time All-Pro, Thomas set a then-record with 13 receptions for 118 yards and a touchdown in Super Bowl XLVIII. Two years later, he won Super Bowl 50. Thomas died at age 33 in 2021.

Talib, 37, totaled 35 interceptions during his 12-year career, including 11 interceptions in four seasons with the Broncos. Talib returned 10 interceptions for touchdowns, the fourth-highest total in NFL history. Six of those pick-sixes happened during his tenure in Denver. A five-time Pro Bowler, Talib also won Super Bowl 50 with the Broncos.

Other first-year eligible candidates next year will include quarterback Eli Manning, linebacker Luke Kuechly, pass rusher Terrell Suggs, running back Marshawn Lynch and kicker Adam Vinatieri. The list of eligible players still waiting to get in includes tight end Antonio Gates, pass rusher Jared Allen and receivers Torry Holt, Reggie Wayne, Steve Smith and Hines Ward.

Broncos legendary linebacker Randy Gradishar will be enshrined as a member of the 2024 class this summer and former coach Mike Shanahan should be a top candidate to get in as coach/contributor next year. Thirteen players who spent multiple seasons in Denver have reached the Hall of Fame. Thomas and Talib will hope to join them in 2025.

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Aqib Talib’s brother pleads guilty to murder, faces 37 years in prison

Prosecutors say Yaqub Talib has agreed to a plea in the murder case he faced

What started out as a youth football game in 2022 and turned into a shooting death has led to Yaqub Salik Talib, brother of former NFL cornerback Aqib Talib entering a guilty plea to a murder charge.

Yaqub Talib pleaded guilty to the shooting of Michael Hickmon in Texas last year. He agreed to a sentence of 37 years in prison and will be formally sentenced in August, a spokesperson for the Dallas County DA’s office told ESPN.

The sons of both Talib brothers played on one of the teams and Hickmon’s son played on the other in the youth football game.

Aqib Talib was a five-time Pro Bowl DB.

T.J. Ward discusses impact and relationships from Super Bowl 50 win

“These are my brothers for life,” T.J. Ward said of his bond on and off the field with former teammates from the Super Bowl 50 team.

Broncos Wire recently conducted an exclusive interview with former Denver Broncos safety T.J. Ward. This is the second part of a three-part series. 

In the second installment of this series, Ward details the special bond of the Super Bowl 50-winning team, including his bond on and off the field with his former defensive teammates.