DeMarcus Ware among ex-Broncos nominated for 2023 Hall of Fame class

After being snubbed last year, Broncos Super Bowl 50 champion DeMarcus Ware should be a favorite to reach the Hall of Fame this year.

After being snubbed by voters in his first year of eligibility in 2021, Denver Broncos Super Bowl 50 champion DeMarcus Ware has once again been nominated as a modern-era candidate for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Ware is among 11 former Broncos who were nominated this week, the Hall of Fame announced Tuesday. Five players who won back-to-back Super Bowls with Denver in the late 1990s headline the list: wide receiver Rod Smith, center Tom Nalen, kicker Jason Elam, guard Mark Schlereth and defensive lineman Neil Smith.

Some of those players had longer tenures with the Broncos than Ware, but he is arguably the team’s most accomplished candidate, and he’s probably the most likely to reach the Hall of Fame first.

Denver also had former linebackers Al Wilson and Seth Joyner, wide receiver Wes Welker, defensive lineman Simeon Rice and cornerback Dre’ Bly nominated for the 2023 Hall of Fame class.

Former Broncos linebacker Randy Gradishar was snubbed as a senior candidate this year, as were Mike Shanahan and the late Dan Reeves as coach candidates. Denver hasn’t gotten the love it deserves from Hall of Fame voters historically, but Ware should be a strong candidate for the 2023 class.

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Peyton Manning among 9 ex-Broncos nominated for Hall of Fame

Manning is a lock to enter the Hall of Fame next year.

Former Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning is among nine ex-Denver players who have been nominated for the 2021 Pro Football Hall of Fame class as modern-era candidates.

A total of 130 modern-era players were nominated and Manning is among 14 first-year eligible players, joining Calvin Johnson and Charles Woodson, among others (view the full list on the Hall of Fame’s website).

Manning won two Super Bowls during his career, one with the Colts and one later in his career with the Broncos. He is a lock to be voted into the Hall of Fame this year.

In addition to Manning, former Denver center Tom Nalen, wide receiver Rod Smith, kicker Jason Elam, defensive lineman Neil Smith and safety John Lynch were also nominated. The list of nominated players who spent time with the Broncos also includes receiver Wes Welker, running back Glyn Milburn and defensive lineman Michael Dean Perry.

Denver legend Steve Atwater was set to enter the Hall of Fame this year but the ceremony was pushed back until 2021 because of the coronavirus. Manning will likely join Atwater in Canton next summer.

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