Tag: Demaryius Thomas

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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WATCH: DeMarcus Ware’s full Hall of Fame speech

DeMarcus Ware honored late teammates Demaryius Thomas, Ronnie Hillman and Marion Barber during his Hall of Fame speech.

Denver Broncos Super Bowl 50 champion DeMarcus Ware was enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio on Saturday evening.

If you missed the ceremony, you can watch Ware’s complete, 17-minute Hall of Fame speech in the above video.

During his speech, Ware honored late teammates Demaryius Thomas, Ronnie Hillman and Marion Barber. Thomas, who won Super Bowl 50 with Ware, died of a seizure at age 33 in 2021. Hillman, another member of that championship team, died of renal medullary carcinoma at age 31 last December. Barber, who played with Ware with the Dallas Cowboys, died of heat stroke at age 38 last year.

“I held some seats for you guys here today,” Ware said. “Keep resting in peace fellas.”

Peyton Manning and Von Miller were in attendance to watch Ware’s enshrinement ceremony, joined by Super Bowl 50 teammates including Brandon McManus and Brock Osweiler. Denver’s former defensive coordinator, Wade Phillips, was also in attendance.

Peyton Manning, Russell Wilson win Emmy award for 2022 schedule release video

The Broncos won four Emmy awards from the National Academy of Televisions Arts & Sciences Heartland Chapter earlier this week.

The Denver Broncos were the recipients of four Emmy awards from the National Academy of Televisions Arts & Sciences Heartland Chapter in the digital and broadcast content category earlier this week.

Here is a list of the awards and productions that won these prestigious awards.

Entertainment – Short Form Content-2022 NFL schedule release video

The 2022 schedule release video was the second of Hall of Fame quarterback Peyton Manning’s three appearances (to date). In the video, Manning trains the new “intern,” now-quarterback Russell Wilson. Fellow Hall of Famer John Elway and former head coach Nathaniel Hackett also cameoed in the production.

Sports: One-Time Special-Demaryius Thomas: The Heart of a Legend

Late Broncos receiver Demaryius Thomas was honored by the franchise with a documentary featuring former teammates and his place in the record books of Denver history.

Sports Promotion: Single Spot-Brand Anthem

In preparation for the beginning of the season, the Broncos made a 90-second hype video for fans to get excited. Unfortunately, the team performed worse than the video did, finishing with a dismal 5-12 record.

Program Promotion: Single Spot-Steve Atwater: The Road to Canton

As part of the Pro Football Hall of Fame class of 2020, the Broncos honored former safety Steve Atwater with a first-person perspective of his career. From the draft to receiving a gold jacket, the Denver media team scored a touchdown with this production.

The off-field accolades are well-deserved. Now Broncos fans will hope to see the team compete for on-field awards this season.

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Broncos fans rooting for Miami’s Jimmy Butler, friend of the late Demaryius Thomas

We’d love to see the Nuggets win the NBA Finals, but we’re also rooting for Jimmy Butler, a good friend of late Broncos WR Demaryius Thomas.

The Denver Nuggets fell to the Miami Heat 111-108 in Game 2 of the NBA Finals at Ball Arena on Sunday evening. The series is now tied 1-1 going into Wednesday’s game in Miami.

While most Denver Broncos fans are also fans of the Nuggets, many Broncos fans are rooting for Heat small forward Jimmy Butler, a good friend of late Broncos wide receiver Demaryius Thomas.

Before the NBA Finals started, Brandon Krisztal of KOA Radio asked Butler about his friendship with Thomas and playing in the Finals against Denver.

“That’s my guy, my brother forever,” Butler said last week. “I miss him so much. I spent so much time here with him, watching him be great. He motivated me, because his story is really, really incredible through everything that he’s been through to make it and do what he did for the Broncos. I actually have a lot of love for this city. I miss that guy.

“I wish he was here to sit courtside and watch me do my thing, because we talked about this all the time. Maybe not Denver vs. my team, but just being able to watch me win a championship like he did.”

Butler scored 21 points while adding nine assists and four rebounds on Sunday.

While we’re rooting for the Nuggets to win the series, we’re also supporting Butler.

Demaryius Thomas elected to Georgia Tech Sports Hall of Fame

After being added to Colorado’s Hall of Fame and Georgia Tech’s HOF, the Broncos’ Ring of Fame is up next for the late Demaryius Thomas.

After being posthumously inducted into the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame last month, late Denver Broncos wide receiver Demaryius Thomas has now been elected to the Georgia Tech Sports Hall of Fame as part of a six-person class.

“It is with great pride that we announce the newest elected members of the Georgia Tech Sports Hall of Fame,” Yellow Jackets director of athletics J Batt said in a press release. “These six individuals not only represented Georgia Tech with great honor and distinction here on The Flats, but went on to do so in their lives beyond Tech as well.”

Thomas spent most of his 10-year career with the Broncos (eight and a half seasons.) In his ten years, Thomas nabbed four Pro Bowls, two All-Pro selections and a Super Bowl title, all as a member of the Broncos.

Thomas enjoyed a stellar career as a Georgia Tech Yellow Jacket, nabbing 120 receptions,  2,339 yards and fifteen touchdowns in three seasons.

Thomas passed away just sixteen days shy of his 34th birthday in 2021. After being added to Colorado’s and Georgia Tech’s Halls of Fame, Thomas will undoubtedly join the Broncos’ Ring of Fame next. He will be eligible for the club’s Ring of Fame in 2024 or 2026 (Thomas last played in 2019 but officially retired in 2021).

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Demaryius Thomas posthumously inducted into Colorado Sports Hall of Fame

Demaryius Thomas was posthumously inducted into the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame on Wednesday. Manning awarded a scholarship in DT’s honor.

Demaryius Thomas was posthumously inducted into the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame on Wednesday evening.

Thomas, who died from complications of seizure disorder at age 33 in 2021, played wide receiver for the Denver Broncos from 2010-2018, helping the team win Super Bowl 50 in 2015.

Peyton Manning, a former quarterback who played with Thomas from 2012-2015, announced two scholarships in DT’s honor last year, one for Georgia Tech students and one for Colorado high school athletes.

The first Colorado scholarship, the “18 to 88” scholarship, was presented to Swink High School’s Ben Miner on Wednesday.

“Tonight we honored my late friend and teammate Demaryius Thomas who was inducted into the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame,” Manning wrote on his Instagram page after the event. “Like Demaryius, Ben Miner, the recipient of this year’s 18-88 scholarship, has overcome adversity throughout his life and is someone who D.T. would be very proud of. #LLDT”

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Following his induction into the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame, Thomas will undoubtedly be added to the Broncos’ Ring of Fame next. The late receiver caught 724 passes for 9,763 yards and 63 touchdowns in 10 seasons (143 games) in the NFL. He was a five-time Pro Bowler, two-time second-team All-Pro and a Super Bowl champion.

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5 Broncos who should get into the Hall of Fame after DeMarcus Ware

Following DeMarcus Ware’s Hall of Fame nod, these former Broncos should be next.

Since their humble beginnings in the late 1960s, the Denver Broncos have a storied history of players and coaches, among whom are several which have been honored with pro football’s highest award: enshrinement in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

This year, former Broncos pass rusher DeMarcus Ware found out he will get his gold jacket as a member of the 2023 class, making him Denver’s 11th representative in Canton, Ohio.

This got us thinking: Who are some other former players and coaches who deserve enshrinement? Here’s a list of five candidates.

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.

Bill Kollar, Tim Tebow elected to College Football Hall of Fame

Former #Broncos Bill Kollar and Tim Tebow were elected to the College Football Hall of Fame earlier this week.

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The College Football Hall of Fame announced 22 new honorees are joining their ranks on Monday, and two former Denver Broncos are in the class.
Former Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow and longtime Denver defensive assistant coach Bill Kollar were elected into the Hall of Fame from a national ballot of more than 170 players and 40 coaches.
Tebow was drafted by the Broncos 25th overall in the 2010 NFL draft out of the University of Florida, two spots behind teammate Demaryius Thomas, who became one of Tebow’s go-to targets during his Denver tenure. Tebow led the Broncos to the 2011 playoffs, winning the AFC West that year. In the 2011 AFC Wild Card game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Tebow hooked up with Thomas in what has become one of the most iconic moments in franchise history, an 80-yard overtime touchdown. “Tebowmania” gripped the nation, before Denver signed Pro Football Hall of Famer Peyton Manning ahead of the 2012 season.
Kollar has been a long-time Denver assistant coach, and had an integral role in the 2015 “No-Fly Zone” defense that set NFL marks for being one of the best units in history. Kollar’s election into the College Football Hall of Fame stems from his time as a defensive tackle at Montana State, where he made 17 tackles, one sack, three pass breakups and had three fumble recoveries in the 1973 season. Kollar is the first Bobcat to receive the honor of election into the Hall of Fame.

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Late Broncos WR Demaryius Thomas voted into Colorado Sports Hall of Fame

A well-deserved honor for late Broncos wide receiver Demaryius Thomas

Demaryius Thomas has been posthumously voted into the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame as a member of the 2023 class, it was announced Tuesday.

Thomas will join other impactful Colorado legends such as George Karl, Evie Dennis, and the late Vincent Jackson, a fellow NFL receiver.

Thomas passed away last December at 33, just 16 days shy of his 34th birthday. Thomas was a vital member of the Denver Broncos’ 2015 Super Bowl team. He caught 105 passes for 1,304 yards and six touchdowns that season. In nine and a half years, Thomas parlayed his productive time with the Broncos into five Pro Bowl nods and two All-Pro selections. 

“Demaryius Thomas was one of the key figures of Broncos teams that won Super Bowl 50, two AFC Championships and five AFC West titles. One of his biggest highlights in Denver was scoring an 80-yard touchdown in overtime as the Broncos upset the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 2011 NFL playoffs,” the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame said in a statement.

“Thomas played 8 1/2 seasons for the Broncos (2010-18), racking up more receiving yards — 9,055 — than anyone in franchise history other than Rod Smith. His 60 TD receptions are also No. 2 on the Broncos’ all-time list. Thomas played half of the 2018 season with Houston before spending 2019 with the New York Jets, then retiring in 2021. All told, he was named to the Pro Bowl five times, all while a Bronco. Thomas was also beloved for his work in the Denver community, most notably spending countless hours with kids in need.”

The 58th annual Hall of Fame induction will occur in Denver on April 26, 2023.

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