Tag: Louis Wright

Karl Mecklenburg among ex-Broncos players snubbed by Hall of Fame voters

Karl Mecklenburg, Louis Wright, Lionel Taylor and eight other Broncos players were snubbed by Hall of Fame voters in the senior category.

Karl Mecklenburg and 10 other former Denver Broncos players were named senior candidates for the 2025 Pro Football Hall of Fame class last month. Voters have since narrowed the pool of 183 nominees down to 60 candidates, and no former Broncos players advanced in the voting.

Mecklenburg, linebacker Tom Jackson, safety Dennis Smith, wide receiver Lionel Taylor, returner Rick Upchurch, cornerback Louis Wright, receiver Bob Scarpitto, defensive lineman Michael Dean Perry, running back Sammy Winder, defensive lineman Lyle Alzado and defensive end Rich Jackson will all have to wait at least another year for a chance to reach Canton.

There is still a chance that the Broncos could be represented in the 2025 class. In addition to the 11 senior nominees, Denver also had 19 modern-era players nominated this year, and Mike Shanahan is expected to be a top candidate in the coach category.

Broncos candidates for Hall of Fame

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

The Hall of Fame’s selection committee will trim the list of nominees this month 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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Karl Mecklenburg among former Broncos nominated for Hall of Fame

Karl Mecklenburg headlines the list of former Broncos players nominated for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s 2025 class.

Following the enshrinement of senior candidate Randy Gradishar this year, 11 more Denver Broncos legends are now candidates for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

The Hall of Fame announced 183 senior nominees for the 2025 class on Tuesday and do-it-all-defender Karl Mecklenburg is joined by linebacker Tom Jackson, safety Dennis Smith, wide receiver Lionel Taylor, returner Rick Upchurch, cornerback Louis Wright, receiver Bob Scarpitto, defensive lineman Michael Dean Perry, running back Sammy Winder, defensive lineman Lyle Alzado and defensive end Rich Jackson on the ballot.

Former Broncos coach Mike Shanahan is also expected to be a candidate once again this year in the coach category. Shanahan’s chances of getting in might be improved now that coach and contributor categories have been separated.

As for senior players, Mecklenburg, Jackson, Smith, Taylor, Upchurch and Wright all have impressive resumes and they are all members of the Broncos Ring of Fame. Because he was a versatile playmaker in Denver’s 3-4 defense, Mecklenberg might have the best chance to get in among the team’s senior candidates.

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Louis Wright was the best player to wear No. 20 for the Broncos

A five-time All-Pro and five-time Pro Bowler, Louis Wright was named to the NFL’s 1970s All-Decade Team, and he deserves a Hall of Fame nod.

Louis Wright was one of the best cornerbacks in Denver Broncos history, and he was the best player to ever wear No. 20 for the franchise.

Brian Dawkins deserves as a shoutout as one of the best safeties in league history. Dawkins was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2018, but he spent the majority of his career with the Philadelphia Eagles before playing his final three seasons with the Broncos.

Wright, on the other hand, spent his entire career (1975-1986) in Denver, and he also deserves a spot in the Hall of Fame. Wright totaled 26 interceptions during his 12-year career and he was selected to five Pro Bowls and he earned five All-Pro nods.

He is already a member of the Broncos Ring of Fame and the team’s 50th Anniversary Team, but Wright deserves more recognition.

Wright is one of four cornerbacks who made the NFL’s 1970s All-Decade Team — the other three are already in the Hall of Fame. Wright is long overdue to join them in Canton.

Shout out to Louis Wright, the best No. 20 in Broncos history.

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Making the case for 10 Broncos who should be in the Hall of Fame

Randy Gradishar appears to be on the verge of reaching the Hall of Fame, but these Broncos players continue to be overlooked by voters.

The Denver Broncos are represented by 10 former players and late former owner Pat Bowlen in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and another former player will likely join them in Canton next year.

Former Broncos linebacker Randy Gradishar was named a senior finalist for the Hall of Fame last August, and he seems likely to be elected as a member of the 2024 class in January. Even with Gradishar seemingly on the verge of getting in, though, Denver remains underrepresented in Canton.

Two months ago, 16 former Broncos were named among 173 modern-era nominees for the 2024 Hall of Fame class. That list of nominees was narrowed down to a list of 25 semifinalists announced Tuesday and not a single Denver player made the cut.

Granted, many of the modern-era semifinalists this year are more than deserving — Antonio Gates, Julius Peppers, Dwight Freeney and Devin Hester among them — but the Broncos also have many deserving players who have been overlooked for years, and they are now one more year removed from possible enshrinement.

Here’s a quick look at ten Denver representatives who should already be in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Which former Bronco will reach the Hall of Fame next?

Randy Gradishar should already be in the Hall of Fame. Mike Shanahan and late coach Dan Reeves also have strong HOF resumes.

After DeMarcus Ware was named a member of the 2022 Pro Football Hall of Fame class on Thursday evening, the Denver Broncos now have 11 representatives in the Hall of Fame.

The question for fans in Denver now becomes, which former Bronco will be enshrined in Canton, Ohio next?

The team’s biggest snub is arguably linebacker Randy Gradishar, a senior candidate who has been inexcusably overlooked by Hall of Fame voters.

Other player snubs include linebacker Karl Mecklenburg, cornerback Louis Wright, wide receivers Rod Smith and Lionel Taylor and center Tom Nalen, among others.

The Broncos’ next representative to reach the Hall of Fame might not be a player, though.

Late coach Dan Reeves is the only former coach not in Canton who reached four Super Bowls. Reeves will likely reach the Hall of Fame eventually, it’s just a matter of when.

Fellow coach Mike Shanahan also has a strong Hall of Fame resume that includes three Super Bowl wins, including two as Denver’s head coach.

Reeves and Shanahan seem to be the most likely candidates among former Broncos to get a Hall of Fame nod next.

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