Tag: Floyd Little

Floyd Little was the best player to wear No. 44 for the Broncos

A member of the College Football and Pro Football Halls of Fame, Floyd Little was the best player to ever wear No. 44 for the Broncos.

Floyd Little was the best player to ever wear jersey No. 44 for the Denver Broncos.

After playing college football at Syracuse, Little was drafted by the Broncos in the first round (sixth overall) in the 1967 NFL draft. He went on to spend his entire nine-year career in Denver, rushing for 6,323 yards and 43 touchdowns.

Little was a five-time Pro Bowler and one-time first-team All-Pro. He led the NFL with 1,133 rushing yards in 1971, and his 12 rushing touchdowns in 1973 tired for the most in the league that season.

A three-time first-team All-American in College, Little had his No. 44 retired by the Syracuse Orange. The Broncos also retired Little’s number and the team added him to their Ring of Fame in 1984.

Little was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1983 and the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2010. His 6,323 career rushing yards rank second in franchise history only behind fellow Hall of Famer Terrell Davis (7,607 yards).

Nicknamed “The Franchise,” Little helped prevent the Broncos from moving out of Denver in the 1960s. He was one of the best (and most important) players in franchise history.

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Denver Broncos’ top-12 all-time leaders in return yards

Rick Upchurch ranks No. 1 on the Broncos’ all-time return list with 5,363 yards.

From wide Rick Upchurch to Pro Football Hall of Fame running back Floyd Little, the Denver Broncos have had some brilliant kick and punt returners in their history.

Upchurch ranks No. 1 on the team’s all-time return list with 5,363 yards, almost 2,000 yards more than the next-highest player (Little with 3,416 yards).

The team’s most recent game-changing returner was arguably Trindon Holliday, who ranks No. 11 on the team’s all-time return list despite playing just two seasons in Denver. Holliday might have had a longer tenure with the Broncos if not for his fumbles (he had 10 in 25 games).

Here’s a quick look at the top-12 players on the team’s all-time list for combined punt and kickoff return yards.

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.

Denver Broncos’ top-10 all-time leaders in rushing yards

Despite having his career cut short by injury, Terrell Davis ranks No. 1 on the Broncos’ all-time rushing list.

Denver Broncos Pro Football Hall of Fame running backs Terrell Davis and Floyd Little rank first and second, respectively, on the team’s all-time rushing list.

Here’s a quick look at the top-10 rushing leaders in franchise history.

President-elect Joe Biden with stirring salute to friend Floyd Little

Joe Biden paid tribute to his former fellow Syracuse University student, Floyd Little

President-elect Joe Biden attended Syracuse University. Despite his long career, he hasn’t forgotten his Orange roots.

That came out on Saturday when Biden paid homage through a statement to the great Syracuse running back, Floyd Little, who died a day earlier after a battle with cancer.

“Floyd Little and I were students at Syracuse University together,” Biden said in a statement. “I was in law school and he was a star halfback on the football team. I watched him play in Archbold Stadium, his number 44 flashing by defenders who had no chance, running as if he was chasing the spirit of his dear friend and fellow 44 legend, Ernie Davis.

“In the years that followed, I got to know Floyd as the man behind the number. He was full of character, decency, and integrity. He was always gracious with his time with fans — parents and grandparents who wanted to introduce their children and grandchildren to a genuine role model.

“I was one of them. My family got to know Floyd. We’d call each other after Syracuse games and to check in on one another. I remember our call when he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the joy in his voice. And I remember the more recent call when he shared his cancer diagnosis, and how fearless he was in his conviction to fight it. As with everything else he did in life, Floyd lived to the very end with grit and heart, and love for his family and faith in God.

“I will miss my friend. He was a good man. The entire Biden family sends our love to DeBorah and the entire Little family.”

Well played, by the man who becomes Mr. President on Jan. 20.

Syracuse, Denver Broncos great Floyd Little dies at 78

Former Denver Broncos and Syracuse great running back Floyd Little died at 78

Floyd Little, a great running back at Syracuse University and for the Denver Broncos died Friday at the age of 78.

Little had been battling cancer and was in hospice care.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y5gx7Bnh13M&feature=emb_logo

The following is a statement from Hall of Fame President & CEO David Baker:

“Floyd Little was a true hero of the game. He was a man of great integrity, passion and courage. His contributions off the field were even greater than his amazing accomplishments he did on it. Floyd’s smile, heart and character epitomized what it meant to have a Hall of Fame life.

Our thoughts and prayers are with Floyd’s wife, DeBorah, and their entire family. We will forever keep his legacy alive to serve as inspiration for future generations. The Hall of Fame flag will be flown at half-staff in Floyd’s memory.”

A member of the 2010 Pro Football Hall of Fame class, had 1,641 carries for 6,323 rushing yards, 215 receptions for 2,418 receiving yards, 81 punt returns, 893 return yards, and 54 total touchdowns.

In college, he played from 1964-66 for Syracuse and ran for 2,750 yards and scored 35 rushing touchdowns.  He was a three-time All-American for the Orange and followed Jim Brown and 1961 Heisman Trophy winner Ernie Davis in Syracuse’s legendary running backs who wore the No. 44

Little served as a special assistant to the athletic director at Syracuse from 2011-16. In 2016, he received an honorary doctorate degree from Syracuse. Statues of him, Brown, and Davis are erected at the football practice facility.

“Floyd Little is a Syracuse treasure,” Syracuse University Director of Athletics John Wildhack said. “The legacy that he leaves here is so much more than just one who wore #44, was an All-American, was in the College Football Hall of Fame and the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Floyd’s legacy is that he was a wonderful, wonderful person. He treated everyone with genuine care and respect and was always there for people. His impact as a person is those who he impacted.

“He was always willing to share his time, his wisdom, his support. His passion for Syracuse University – not just Syracuse Athletics, but the entire University – was inspiring to all of us. It is a legacy that will last forever and will never be replaced. He is someone who leaves a legacy of pure class in every single respect. There was only one Floyd Little and there will never be another one like him.”

Pro Football Hall of Famer Floyd Little enters hospice care

Pro Football Hall of Famer Floyd Little has entered hospice care

The great former Syracuse and Denver Broncos running back Floyd Little has entered hospice care after undergoing cancer treatments since the spring.

“Floyd’s courageous battle with a difficult disease (cancer) is now at a critical stage in his life,” former Syracuse teammate Pat Killorin wrote on Facebook Saturday night. “This is a time when a husband and wife must make important decisions regarding potential end of life decisions.”

Today we are going to talk about a new phase in Floyd’s journey…. hospice,” Killorin wrote. ” … In the many years I have had the honor to be a family caregiver for hospice, I have seen the mentral strain, tearful decision-making process, and frustration of two people in love asking the Lord to take their hand and guide them to make the right decision for their loved one. So much is discussed that is heartbreaking, however necessary for peace of mind. Hospice provides a chaplain to help hospice patients as they struggle through this process.”

He was the NFL rushing champion in 1971 (1,133 yards) and currently ranks second in team history in rushing attempts (1,641), yards (6,323), and touchdowns (43), behind fellow Hall of Famer Terrell Davis in all three categories.

A Gofundme called Friends of Floyd has been ongoing. You can click here if you wish to contribute.

Twitter shares support for Floyd Little after cancer diagnosis

Sports fans took to Twitter to tweet support for former Broncos running back Floyd Little.

Pro Football Hall of Fame running back Floyd Little has been diagnosed with a “treatable but aggressive form of cancer,” former college football teammate Pat Killorin told Nate Mink of Syracuse.com.

Killorin started a GoFundMe page to help pay for Little’s medical expenses. As of Sunday morning, the page has raised almost $13,000.

“Floyd has a wide community of support who expressed the desire to support him in prayer and in the expense of his cancer treatment,” Killorin wrote on the GoFundMe page. “So we created this Friends of Floyd (‘FOF’) Page with the permission of the Little Family to receive words of encouragement and to solicit funds to offset the financial burden this journey will take on Floyd and his family. We believe the last thing we want our friend Floyd to do is to worry about this expense or to give up in order to avoid it.”

Broncos fans, Syracuse alumni, media members and coaches shared messages of support for Little on Twitter.

Little, 77, was a three-time first-team All-American at Syracuse before going on to earn five Pro Bowl selections with the Broncos in the NFL. He is a member of the College Football Hall of Fame and the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Denver and Syracuse both retired his No. 44 jersey.

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Pro Football Hall of Famer Floyd Little battling cancer

Former Syracuse and Denver Bronco great Floyd Little is battling cancer.

Former Syracuse and Denver Broncos great Floyd Little is battling cancer.

The Pro Football Hall of Fame running back “was recently diagnosed with a treatable but aggressive form of cancer. No doubt it will be the toughest fight of his life,” Pat Killorin, who played for Syracuse in the 1960s, wrote on the Friends of Floyd page.

A GoFundme has been set up in hopes of raising $250,000 to defray costs of the medical treatment for Little, 77, who lives in Las Vegas. As of this writing, more than $11,000 had been raised.

Floyd Little, #44, 3-time All America Running Back and College Football Hall of Famer from Syracuse University, and Pro Football Hall of Famer from the Denver Broncos, known for his generosity on and off the gridiron, is now confronting a challenge common to many sports fans. The challenge of cancer.

Floyd was recently diagnosed with a treatable but aggressive form of cancer. No doubt it will be the toughest fight of his life.

… Floyd has a wide community of support who expressed the desire to support him in prayer and in the expense of his cancer treatment. So we created this Friends of Floyd (“FOF”) Page with the permission of the Little Family to receive words of encouragement and to solicit funds to offset the financial burden this journey will take on Floyd and his family. We believe the last thing we want our friend Floyd to do is to worry about this expense or to give up in order to avoid it.

We don’t believe Floyd should have to make these kinds of choices when his focus must be on becoming the next cancer survivor we all celebrate.

Join FOF in supporting Floyd Little with a seed of love. No amount is too small or too large. Lets help Floyd sprint to the finish line. Lets help him finish this race strong.

Little was a three-time All-American at Syracuse from 1964-66. A bronze statue of Little stands outside the football team’s practice facility next to the two legendary running backs who preceded him: Jim Brown and Ernie Davis. Little chose to attend Syracuse, keeping a promise he made to Davis before Davis died of leukemia at age 23.

Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

Little was selected sixth overall in the 1967 combined AFL-NFL draft by the Broncos, going from the Syracuse Orange to the Denver orange. He spent his entire nine-year career with the franchise and rushed for 6,323 yards and 43 touchdowns. Little led the NFL in rushing yards (1,133) and yards from scrimmage (1,388) in 1971. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2010.

Little and his wife, DeBorah, now live in Las Vegas.

Melvin Gordon joins tradition of great Denver Broncos running backs

Melvin Gordon has agreed to terms with the Denver Broncos, stepping into a backfield that has a great history.

Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

Melvin Gordon has switched his allegiance from the Los Angeles Chargers to the Denver Broncos. Going from one AFC West team to another means he will face the Bolts twice a season. It also means he joins a team that has had many running backs who have had 1,000-yard seasons. A high bar for Gordon, who has one 1,000-yard season to his credit, to maintain.

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