Tag: Champ Bailey

View all of the Broncos players in the Pro Football Hall of Fame

After adding Randy Gradishar, how many former Broncos are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame now? Here’s the full list.

Former Denver Broncos linebacker Randy Gradishar was announced as a member of the 2024 Pro Football Hall of Fame class on Thursday night.

So, how many players do the Broncos have in the Hall of Fame now? That depends on who you believe qualifies for the count.

There are obvious players — running back Floyd Little, quarterback John Elway, safety Steve Atwater, tight end Shanahan Sharpe, offensive lineman Gary Zimmerman, running back Terrell Davis and cornerback Champ Bailey are obvious Broncos Hall of Famers. That’s seven.

Quarterback Peyton Manning only played four years in Denver, but he won the AFC West in all four seasons and won Super Bowl 50 with the Broncos. That’s eight. Outside linebacker DeMarcus Ware spent the majority of his career with the Dallas Cowboys, but he won his ring in Denver. Nine.

John Lynch won a Super Bowl with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers but he, like Manning, played the final four years of his career with the Broncos — and he’s a member of the team’s Ring of Fame. Ten.

So Gradishar is essentially the 11th Denver player to reach Canton. There are others, though. Safety Brian Dawkins played three seasons with the Broncos. Cornerback Willie Brown played four seasons in Denver before a 12-year stint with the Oakland Raiders. Running back Tony Dorsett and cornerback Ty Law also spent one season each with the Broncos.

Additionally, late team owner Pat Bowlen was enshrined in the Hall of Fame in 2019. So there are at least a dozen members of the Hall of Fame who Broncos fans can claim as their own. Up next should be former coach Mike Shanahan, who was snubbed again by voters in 2023.

Here’s a quick list of every former Bronco in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Champ Bailey says ‘the sky’s the limit’ for Broncos CB Pat Surtain

“He can have a Hall-of-Fame career, and he’s on his way,” Champ Bailey said of Broncos cornerback Pat Surtain.

Denver Broncos star defensive back Pat Surtain has established himself as one of the best defensive players in the NFL. In his rookie season, Surtain was named to the Pro Football Writers of America All-Rookie Team. Last year, he was named to the Pro Bowl and a First-team AP All-Pro.

Although Surtain is still in the beginning stages of his career, Broncos legend Champ Bailey believes the sky is the limit for the third-year corner. During last week’s Broncos Alumni Weekend, Bailey elaborated on how he sees the Hall of Fame as a potential future destination for Surtain.

“He’s doing what I expected, to be honest,” Bailey said of Surtain. “When he [entered the draft] — I said this — the sky’s the limit for him. He can have a Hall-of-Fame career, and he’s on his way.

“I’m not going to shy away from putting those lofty goals in front of him. I’m sure he’s just thinking about the next game. When you see it, you see it. God-willing he stays healthy and continues to play and get better. You can’t complain. He’s going to be one of the all-time greats.”

Bailey has also been impressed by star safety Justin Simmons.

“The kid, man,” Bailey said when asked about Simmons. “I keep thinking he’s peaking, and he just keeps getting better. You can just tell, every year he gets more and more comfortable with what he has to do. He’s a great leader; [he] leads by example. When you talk about a Bronco great, he’s going to be one of those that you talk about — one of the greats.”

Surtain has totaled 27 pass breakups and six interceptions through his first 35 games in the NFL. Simmons has recorded 27 interceptions in 105 games, which ranks eighth in franchise history. They are elite defensive backs, and Bailey’s a fan.

Follow the Broncos Wire Podcast:
Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts

[vertical-gallery id=674374]

LOOK: New owners, legends and other pro sports stars in attendance for Commanders’ win

Former players returned and a pair of NBA superstars were at FedEx Field.

The stars were out for the Washington Commanders’ season-opener against the Arizona Cardinals from FedEx Field. Sunday’s game was dubbed the “Welcome Home” game by Washington’s new owners, as several former players returned to FedEx Field after being alienated from the franchise for years.

However, Sunday wasn’t just about former players, owners, or celebrities. It was mainly about the fans. Washington’s new ownership group has seen what has happened to the fan base over the past 24 years. Heck, three of Washington’s new owners grew up as fans of the franchise.

If Sunday was any indication of the future, the Commanders should be excited. FedEx Field was sold out — and loud. Until Washington becomes a consistent winner, it won’t be easy to keep opposing fan bases, such as Dallas and Philadelphia, out, but you must start somewhere. And Week 1 was a terrific starting point.

Here are some images and videos of former players and current professional sports stars who attended Sunday’s game.

LOOK: Champ Bailey and Clinton Portis together ahead Commanders’ Week 1 game

Champ Bailey and Clinton Portis are forever linked to one another.

Clinton Portis and Champ Bailey will be forever linked to one another. In 2004, the then-Washington Redskins traded Bailey and a second-round pick to the Denver Broncos for Portis.

The trade worked out for both teams, as Bailey would continue making Pro Bowls and All-Pro teams on his way to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. While Portis isn’t in the Hall of Fame, he spent seven years with Washington, rushing for 6,824 yards and 46 touchdowns.

Portis has remained close to the franchise throughout the years, working in the media for the team and is often a guest on local radio. But Bailey remained estranged from the franchise that selected him No. 7 overall in 1999.

Until now.

The Commanders announced last week that Bailey would be Washington’s “Legend of the Game” and honorary captain for Week 1 against the Arizona Cardinals.

Before Sunday’s Week 1 game, Bailey and Portis took time for a photo together.

Even more, the pair rode to FedEx Field together Sunday morning, per Ben Standig of The Athletic.

It’s officially a new era of Washington football.

Champ Bailey: ‘I never wanted to leave’

Bailey is excited to be reunited with the franchise that drafted him.

A new era of Washington football begins on Sunday as the Washington Commanders host the Arizona Cardinals in Week 1. Washington’s new ownership group has a theme for Sunday’s game: “Welcome home.”

It’s a welcome home to the fans returning to the franchise after Daniel Snyder sold the team. It’s a welcome home to some of the former players who’ve stayed away over the years, including Hall of Famers John Riggins and Champ Bailey.

Both will be in attendance on Sunday. Riggins and Bailey have different legacies in the eyes of Washington fans. Riggins is an iconic figure, an honorary “Hog” who won a Super Bowl during his time with the organization.

Bailey, though, was different. He was a top-10 pick in the 1999 NFL draft by Washington and spent his first five seasons with the franchise before he was traded with a second-round pick to the Broncos for running back Clinton Portis ahead of the 2004 season.

Yet, despite only playing five seasons in the burgundy and gold, Bailey left a legacy. He made four Pro Bowls and was a two-time second-team All-Pro. He intercepted 18 passes in five seasons with Washington. Bailey would go on to play 10 seasons for the Broncos, and when he would be questioned about his time in Washington, it was primarily negative.

Bailey always praised Washington’s fan base. He didn’t have a lot of positive things to say about Snyder.

While we’ve heard rumors of why Bailey wanted out over the years, they remain rumors. Bailey spoke to Sam Fortier of The Washington Post over the weekend and maintained he never wanted to leave the franchise that drafted him.

“I never wanted to leave,” Bailey told Fortier. “Like, that was not my intentions. I valued this franchise.”

Bailey spoke of Snyder and his lack of relationship with the former owner, including an impersonal phone call from Snyder to Bailey when he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2019.

How did that call from Snyder begin? “Hold for Daniel Snyder,” Bailey said.

While Bailey has nothing but love for the Broncos and what they meant to him, he is more than excited to also be reunited with the team that drafted him.

“But as we move forward, I would love to be a part of the organization,” Bailey said. “They’ve been patient. They’ve offered several ways to come back. The timing just never felt right. Now, with new ownership, it just feels like things are being revived here, a little rejuvenated. I just want to be a part of that. And I think the timing is good.”

Bailey is one of several legends and former team standouts who will be in attendance for the Week 1 game against the Cardinals. Bailey will serve as Washington’s honorary captain and “Legend of the Game.”

 

Champ Bailey returns to Washington, will serve as Commanders’ honorary captain for Week 1

Champ Bailey is the latest former Washington player to return to the franchise.

Another Washington legend is returning to the fold for the Commanders’ Week 1 game against the Arizona Cardinals.

Via John Keim of ESPN, Pro Football Hall of Fame cornerback Champ Bailey will be honored as the franchise’s Legend of the Game and also serve as an honorary captain.

“Now, for several reasons, it feels like the perfect time to show up and become part of the franchise again,” Bailey said. “I’ve been wanting this for years. Timing is everything.”

Bailey was the No. 7 overall pick in the 1999 NFL draft by former general manager Charley Casserly. After five outstanding seasons in Washington, the team traded Bailey — and a second-round pick — to the Denver Broncos for running back Clinton Portis. Bailey would spend 10 seasons with the Broncos and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2019.

Portis would go on to have an excellent career for Washington, but Bailey would become one of the greatest cornerbacks in NFL history. Bailey was in a contract dispute with Washington in 2003 at the time of his trade.

During his time in Washington, Bailey was named a second-team All-Pro twice and was selected to the Pro Bowl four times.

Bailey hasn’t been back at FedEx Field since 2009, when he returned for a game while with the Broncos. Bailey has been critical of the organization — mainly former owner Dan Snyder — over the years. But since Snyder sold the organization in July, new owner Josh Harris and his partners have worked hard to repair relationships with the fan base and former players.

Former Washington running back Tim Hightower, the franchise’s director of alumni relations, has worked hard to bring back several of the franchise’s legends, including Bailey. However, former ownership complicated matters, specifically Bailey.

Bailey is the latest former player to return for Sunday’s game, joining Pro Football Hall of Fame running back John Riggins and former NFL offensive rookie of the year Robert Griffin III.

 

5 best Broncos who never won a Super Bowl

It’s heartbreaking that these Broncos legends never won a Super Bowl ring.

As we come to the close of another NFL season following Super Bowl LVII on Sunday, we take a look back at some of the best Denver Broncos who never won a Super Bowl.

Reliving Tom Brady’s most memorable losses to the Broncos

Here’s a look back at Tom Brady’s most memorable losses to the Broncos.

At age 45, Tom Brady has (hopefully) announced his retirement for the last time. Brady and the Denver Broncos have clashed many times over the years, most of the games resulting in classic quarterback duels, championship matchups and memorable moments. Brady finished his career 9-9 against Denver, 8-6 in the regular season and 1-3 in the postseason.

Broncos fans love to hate Brady, whose face often makes appearances on the Ball Arena Jumbotron to make fans boo louder.

In honor of Brady’s retirement, we’re taking a look back at his five most memorable losses to Denver.

We will not do this series again, in the chance that Brady pulls a Brett Favre, which is immortalized by this hilarious This is SportsCenter sketch.