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1997 Denver Broncos
Franchise Index: Previous Season / Next Season
Record: 12-4-0, Finished 2nd in AFC West Division
NFL Season Summary
1997 Super Bowl Champions
Scored 472 points (29.5/g), 1st of 30 in the NFL.
Allowed 287 points (17.9/g), 6th.
Differential of 185 points (11.6/g), 1st.
Expected W-L: 12.2-3.8.
Takeaway/Giveaway Differential +10 (0.6/g), 4th.
Simple Rating System: Total 10.7, Offense: 8.1, Defense: 2.6, SoS: -0.9, versus averages of 0.0.
Coached by
Mike Shanahan
Offensive Coordinator: Gary Kubiak
Training Camp: University of Northern Colorado (Greeley, Colorado)
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Starters
ProBowl(*), 1st-team All-Pro(+),Hide Non-primary Starters
| Pos | Age | Yrs | GS | Summary of Player Stats | Drafted (tm/rnd/yr) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Offensive Starters | ||||||
| QB | John Elway* | 37 | 14 | 16 | 280 for 502, 3,635 yards, 27 td, 11 int, & 50 rushes for 218 yards and 1 td | Baltimore Colts / 1st / 1st pick / 1983 |
| RB | Terrell Davis*+ | 25 | 2 | 15 | 369 rushes for 1,750 yards, 15 td, & 42 catches for 287 yards and 0 td | Denver Broncos / 6th / 196th pick / 1995 |
| FB | Howard Griffith | 30 | 4 | 13 | 9 rushes for 34 yards, 0 td, & 11 catches for 55 yards and 0 td | Indianapolis Colts / 9th / 236th pick / 1991 |
| WR | Ed McCaffrey | 29 | 6 | 15 | 45 catches for 590 yards, 8 td | New York Giants / 3rd / 83rd pick / 1991 |
| WR | Rod Smith | 27 | 2 | 16 | 70 catches for 1,180 yards, 12 td, & 5 rushes for 16 yards and 0 td | |
| TE | Shannon Sharpe*+ | 29 | 7 | 16 | 72 catches for 1,107 yards, 3 td | Denver Broncos / 7th / 192nd pick / 1990 |
| LT | Gary Zimmerman | 36 | 11 | 14 | New York Giants / 1st / 3rd pick / 1984 Supp | |
| LG | Mark Schlereth | 31 | 8 | 11 | 1 fumble recovered | Washington Redskins / 10th / 263rd pick / 1989 |
| C | Tom Nalen* | 26 | 3 | 16 | Denver Broncos / 7th / 218th pick / 1994 | |
| RG | Brian Habib | 33 | 8 | 14 | Minnesota Vikings / 10th / 264th pick / 1988 | |
| LT | Tony E. Jones | 31 | 9 | 16 | ||
| Defensive Starters | ||||||
| LDE | Neil Smith* | 31 | 9 | 13 | 8.5 sacks, 0 interceptions, 0 fumbles recovered | Kansas City Chiefs / 1st / 2nd pick / 1988 |
| LDT | Keith Traylor | 28 | 6 | 16 | 2.0 sacks, 1 interception, 0 fumbles recovered | Denver Broncos / 3rd / 61st pick / 1991 |
| RDT | Michael Dean Perry | 32 | 9 | 9 | Cleveland Browns / 2nd / 50th pick / 1988 | |
| RDE | Alfred Williams | 29 | 6 | 16 | 8.5 sacks, 0 interceptions, 1 fumble recovered | Cincinnati Bengals / 1st / 18th pick / 1991 |
| LLB | Bill Romanowski | 31 | 9 | 16 | 2.0 sacks, 1 interception, 0 fumbles recovered | San Francisco 49ers / 3rd / 80th pick / 1988 |
| MLB | Allen Aldridge | 25 | 3 | 15 | Denver Broncos / 2nd / 51st pick / 1994 | |
| RLB | John Mobley+ | 24 | 1 | 16 | 4.0 sacks, 1 interception, 1 fumble recovered | Denver Broncos / 1st / 15th pick / 1996 |
| LCB | Ray Crockett | 30 | 8 | 16 | 0.0 sacks, 4 interceptions, 0 fumbles recovered | Detroit Lions / 4th / 86th pick / 1989 |
| PR | Darrien Gordon | 27 | 4 | 16 | 40 punt returns for a 13.6 average and 3 td | San Diego Chargers / 1st / 22nd pick / 1993 |
| SS | Tyrone Braxton | 33 | 10 | 16 | 0.5 sacks, 4 interceptions, 3 fumbles recovered | Denver Broncos / 12th / 334th pick / 1987 |
| FS | Steve Atwater | 31 | 8 | 15 | 1.0 sacks, 2 interceptions, 2 fumbles recovered | Denver Broncos / 1st / 20th pick / 1989 |
| Special Teams Starters | ||||||
| K | Jason Elam | 27 | 4 | 0 | 26 of 36 field goals & 46 of 46 extra points | Denver Broncos / 3rd / 70th pick / 1993 |
| P | Tom Rouen | 29 | 4 | 0 | 60 punts for a 43.3 average, 0 blocked | |
| PR | Darrien Gordon | 27 | 4 | 16 | 40 punt returns for a 13.6 average and 3 td | San Diego Chargers / 1st / 22nd pick / 1993 |
| KR | Vaughn Hebron | 27 | 4 | 1 | 43 kick returns for a 23.5 average and 0 td |
| No. | Age | Pos | G | GS | Wt | Ht | College/Univ | BirthDate | Yrs | AV | Drafted (tm/rnd/yr) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 57 | Allen Aldridge | 25 | MLB | 16 | 15 | 254 | 6-1 | Houston | 5/30/1972 | 3 | 7 | Denver Broncos / 2nd / 51st pick / 1994 |
| 83 | Flipper Anderson | 32 | 4 | 0 | 175 | 6-0 | UCLA | 3/7/1965 | 9 | 0 | Los Angeles Rams / 2nd / 46th pick / 1988 | |
| 27 | Steve Atwater | 31 | FS | 15 | 15 | 218 | 6-3 | Arkansas | 10/28/1966 | 8 | 6 | Denver Broncos / 1st / 20th pick / 1989 |
| 3 | Scott Bentley | 23 | 1 | 0 | 203 | 6-0 | Florida St. | 4/10/1974 | Rook | 0 | ||
| 34 | Tyrone Braxton | 33 | SS | 16 | 16 | 185 | 5-11 | North Dakota St. | 12/17/1964 | 10 | 7 | Denver Broncos / 12th / 334th pick / 1987 |
| 6 | Bubby Brister | 35 | 1 | 0 | 205 | 6-3 | Tulane,La-Monroe | 8/15/1962 | 11 | 0 | Pittsburgh Steelers / 3rd / 67th pick / 1986 | |
| 70 | Jamie Brown | 25 | t | 11 | 2 | 320 | 6-8 | Florida A&M | 4/24/1972 | 2 | 2 | Denver Broncos / 4th / 121st pick / 1995 |
| 56 | Keith Burns | 25 | 16 | 0 | 235 | 6-2 | Oklahoma St. | 5/16/1972 | 3 | 1 | Denver Broncos / 7th / 210th pick / 1994 | |
| 59 | Glenn Cadrez | 27 | 16 | 0 | 240 | 6-3 | Houston | 1/2/1970 | 5 | 1 | New York Jets / 6th / 154th pick / 1992 | |
| 89 | Dwayne Carswell | 25 | te | 16 | 3 | 290 | 6-3 | Liberty | 1/18/1972 | 3 | 3 | |
| 86 | Byron Chamberlain | 26 | 10 | 0 | 250 | 6-1 | Missouri,Wayne State (NE) | 10/17/1971 | 2 | 1 | Denver Broncos / 7th / 222nd pick / 1995 | |
| 39 | Ray Crockett | 30 | LCB | 16 | 16 | 185 | 5-10 | Baylor | 1/5/1967 | 8 | 6 | Detroit Lions / 4th / 86th pick / 1989 |
| 30 | Terrell Davis*+ | 25 | RB | 15 | 15 | 206 | 5-11 | Long Beach St.,Georgia | 10/28/1972 | 2 | 19 | Denver Broncos / 6th / 196th pick / 1995 |
| 63 | David Diaz-Infante | 33 | lg | 16 | 7 | 291 | 6-3 | San Jose St. | 3/31/1964 | 10 | 4 | |
| 33 | Dedrick Dodge | 30 | db | 16 | 1 | 184 | 6-2 | Florida St. | 6/14/1967 | 6 | 1 | |
| 1 | Jason Elam | 27 | K | 15 | 0 | 200 | 5-11 | Hawaii | 3/8/1970 | 4 | 0 | Denver Broncos / 3rd / 70th pick / 1993 |
| 7 | John Elway* | 37 | QB | 16 | 16 | 215 | 6-3 | Stanford | 6/28/1960 | 14 | 18 | Baltimore Colts / 1st / 1st pick / 1983 |
| 82 | David Gamble | 26 | 2 | 0 | 190 | 6-1 | New Hampshire | 6/14/1971 | Rook | 0 | ||
| 23 | Darrien Gordon | 27 | PR | 16 | 16 | 184 | 5-11 | Stanford | 11/14/1970 | 4 | 17 | San Diego Chargers / 1st / 22nd pick / 1993 |
| 85 | Willie Green | 31 | wr | 16 | 1 | 185 | 6-4 | Mississippi | 4/2/1966 | 6 | 3 | Detroit Lions / 8th / 194th pick / 1990 |
| 29 | Howard Griffith | 30 | FB | 15 | 13 | 230 | 6-0 | Illinois | 11/17/1967 | 4 | 1 | Indianapolis Colts / 9th / 236th pick / 1991 |
| 75 | Brian Habib | 33 | RG | 14 | 14 | 299 | 6-7 | Washington | 12/2/1964 | 8 | 7 | Minnesota Vikings / 10th / 264th pick / 1988 |
| 96 | Harald Hasselbach | 30 | de | 16 | 3 | 281 | 6-6 | Washington | 9/22/1967 | 3 | 3 | |
| 22 | Vaughn Hebron | 27 | KR | 16 | 1 | 195 | 5-8 | Virginia Tech | 10/7/1970 | 4 | 2 | |
| 21 | Randy Hilliard | 30 | 14 | 0 | 165 | 5-11 | NW State (LA) | 2/6/1967 | 7 | 1 | Cleveland Browns / 6th / 157th pick / 1990 | |
| 81 | Patrick Jeffers | 24 | 10 | 0 | 217 | 6-3 | Virginia | 2/2/1973 | 1 | 0 | Denver Broncos / 5th / 159th pick / 1996 | |
| 25 | Darrius Johnson | 24 | 16 | 0 | 185 | 5-9 | Oklahoma | 5/18/1973 | 1 | 1 | Denver Broncos / 4th / 122nd pick / 1996 | |
| 72 | Ernest Jones | 26 | 1 | 0 | 263 | 6-2 | Oregon | 4/1/1971 | 2 | 0 | Los Angeles Rams / 3rd / 100th pick / 1994 | |
| 77 | Tony E. Jones | 31 | LT | 16 | 16 | 290 | 6-5 | West. Carolina | 5/24/1966 | 9 | 10 | |
| 8 | Jeff Lewis | 24 | 3 | 0 | 211 | 6-2 | Northern Arizona | 4/17/1973 | 1 | 0 | Denver Broncos / 4th / 100th pick / 1996 | |
| 97 | Mike Lodish | 30 | 16 | 0 | 275 | 6-3 | UCLA | 8/11/1967 | 7 | 2 | Buffalo Bills / 10th / 265th pick / 1990 | |
| 31 | Derek Loville | 29 | 16 | 0 | 203 | 5-10 | Oregon | 7/4/1968 | 7 | 1 | ||
| 37 | Anthony Lynn | 29 | 16 | 0 | 230 | 6-3 | Texas Tech | 12/21/1968 | 4 | 0 | ||
| 87 | Ed McCaffrey | 29 | WR | 15 | 15 | 215 | 6-5 | Stanford | 8/17/1968 | 6 | 7 | New York Giants / 3rd / 83rd pick / 1991 |
| 26 | Tim McKyer | 34 | db | 16 | 1 | 174 | 6-0 | Texas-Arlington | 9/5/1963 | 11 | 1 | San Francisco 49ers / 3rd / 64th pick / 1986 |
| 51 | John Mobley+ | 24 | RLB | 16 | 16 | 236 | 6-1 | Kutztown Pennsylvania | 10/10/1973 | 1 | 17 | Denver Broncos / 1st / 15th pick / 1996 |
| 66 | Tom Nalen* | 26 | C | 16 | 16 | 286 | 6-3 | Boston Col. | 5/13/1971 | 3 | 11 | Denver Broncos / 7th / 218th pick / 1994 |
| 62 | Dan Neil | 24 | 3 | 0 | 285 | 6-2 | Texas | 10/21/1973 | Rook | 0 | Denver Broncos / 3rd / 67th pick / 1997 | |
| 95 | Michael Dean Perry | 32 | RDT | 9 | 9 | 285 | 6-1 | Clemson | 8/27/1965 | 9 | 4 | Cleveland Browns / 2nd / 50th pick / 1988 |
| 93 | Trevor Pryce | 22 | dt | 8 | 3 | 295 | 6-5 | Michigan,Clemson | 8/3/1975 | Rook | 2 | Denver Broncos / 1st / 28th pick / 1997 |
| 99 | David Richie | 24 | 2 | 0 | 280 | 6-4 | Washington | 9/26/1973 | Rook | 0 | ||
| 53 | Bill Romanowski | 31 | LLB | 16 | 16 | 245 | 6-4 | Boston Col. | 4/2/1966 | 9 | 8 | San Francisco 49ers / 3rd / 80th pick / 1988 |
| 16 | Tom Rouen | 29 | P | 16 | 0 | 225 | 6-3 | Colorado St.,Colorado | 6/9/1968 | 4 | 0 | |
| 58 | Steve Russ | 25 | 14 | 0 | 245 | 6-4 | Air Force | 9/16/1972 | Rook | 1 | Denver Broncos / 7th / 218th pick / 1995 | |
| 69 | Mark Schlereth | 31 | LG | 11 | 11 | 282 | 6-3 | Idaho | 1/25/1966 | 8 | 6 | Washington Redskins / 10th / 263rd pick / 1989 |
| 84 | Shannon Sharpe*+ | 29 | TE | 16 | 16 | 228 | 6-2 | Savannah St. | 6/26/1968 | 7 | 17 | Denver Broncos / 7th / 192nd pick / 1990 |
| 42 | Detron Smith | 23 | 16 | 0 | 229 | 5-10 | Texas A&M | 2/25/1974 | 1 | 1 | Denver Broncos / 3rd / 65th pick / 1996 | |
| 90 | Neil Smith* | 31 | LDE | 14 | 13 | 270 | 6-4 | Nebraska | 4/10/1966 | 9 | 12 | Kansas City Chiefs / 1st / 2nd pick / 1988 |
| 80 | Rod Smith | 27 | WR | 16 | 16 | 200 | 6-0 | Missouri Southern | 5/15/1970 | 2 | 15 | |
| 74 | Harry Swayne | 32 | 7 | 0 | 290 | 6-5 | Rutgers | 2/2/1965 | 10 | 1 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers / 7th / 190th pick / 1987 | |
| 98 | Maa Tanuvasa | 27 | rdt | 15 | 5 | 270 | 6-2 | Hawaii | 11/6/1970 | 2 | 4 | Los Angeles Rams / 8th / 209th pick / 1993 |
| 94 | Keith Traylor | 28 | LDT | 16 | 16 | 340 | 6-2 | Oklahoma,Central Oklahoma | 9/3/1969 | 6 | 8 | Denver Broncos / 3rd / 61st pick / 1991 |
| 32 | Tony Veland | 24 | 12 | 0 | 209 | 6-1 | Nebraska | 3/11/1973 | Rook | 1 | Denver Broncos / 6th / 181st pick / 1996 | |
| 91 | Alfred Williams | 29 | RDE | 16 | 16 | 260 | 6-6 | Colorado | 11/6/1968 | 6 | 9 | Cincinnati Bengals / 1st / 18th pick / 1991 |
| 65 | Gary Zimmerman | 36 | LT | 14 | 14 | 294 | 6-6 | Oregon | 12/13/1961 | 11 | 9 | New York Giants / 1st / 3rd pick / 1984 Supp |
| Team Total | 28.3 | 16 | 238.2 | 6-2.1 | 5.0 |
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