Denver Broncos Top 5 Quarterbacks of All Time

(last updated on January 27, 2026)

After a rejuvenating last two seasons where they reached the playoffs and hopefully ended an interminable quarterback carousel, the Denver Broncos appear ready to reclaim their role as one of the most successful franchises in NFL history. They are only one of 10 franchises to win at least three Super Bowls. In fact, their eight Super Bowl appearances are tied for second all time. You can tack on 15 AFC West titles to the team resume. The franchise was born in 1960 and struggled for a while. But then in the late 70s the Orange Crush defense made them contenders, and a few years later they acquired a two-sport star to lead them at quarterback for two decades. More recently they tasted a second glorious run as an NFL legend chose to finish his career in Denver. As Sean Payton appears to have identified the next great signal-caller for this team, let’s look back at their top signal-callers from the past. Your ears might start popping as we go to the Mile High City and reel off the top quarterbacks in Denver Broncos history.

Brian Griese had some history to battle. First, his dad was a Hall of Fame quarterback. Second, he had to follow John Elway in Denver. With that said, Brian Griese had a decent enough run as the Broncos man behind center to get a place with their best quarterbacks ever. Drafted to be the heir apparent to #7 in 1998, Griese was mentored a year (and collected a Super Bowl ring) before becoming the starter in 1999. That year he threw for over 3,000 yards and 14 TDs, but Denver fell short of a three-peat with a 7-9 record. In 2000, when healthy, he had a 7-3 record and a league-leading passer rating of 102.9 that earned him a Pro Bowl selection. Although the Broncos never won a playoff game with this Michigan man at the helm, his record as the starting QB was 27-24, and in his four years as a starter he hit at least 2,600 yards passing and 14 TDs every year. After 2002, Denver moved on from Griese, but he is still fourth in passing yards (11,763) and passing touchdowns (71) for the franchise. Brian Griese may not go down with the top QBs of all time, but he did enough to earn a spot with the best quarterbacks in Denver Broncos history.

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The next guy on the Denver Broncos all-time quarterback list followed Brian Griese: Jake Plummer. Denver acquired Plummer in 2003, and he went on to have a 39-15 record in four years as the starter. He got the Broncos to the playoffs three straight years (‘03-’05), and that includes an AFC Championship Game trip in 2005, a season where they went 13-3. In 2004, Jake the Snake had his career year with 4,089 yards and 27 TDs. During the 2005 season, in a 49-21 win over the defending NFC champ Eagles, Plummer arguably had his best game throwing for 309 yards and 4 touchdowns with a 129.3 passer rating. This Arizona State product was known for his grit, and his 10 game-winning drives as a Bronco demonstrate that. Furthing displaying that grit as a runner, Jake rushed for 670 yards, 7 TDs, and 57 first-down scampers in the mountain air. In four seasons, Jake Plummer almost got the Broncos to the Super Bowl while putting up very solid numbers, so that makes him one of the top Denver Broncos quarterbacks of all time.

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What quarterback got the Denver Broncos to their first Super Bowl ever? Craig Morton was the man in 1977 with a little help from the Orange Crush defense. After years with the Cowboys and Giants, Morton came to Denver in 1977 and led the Broncos to Super Bowl XII with a 12-2 mark. He finished second in the NFL MVP voting with almost 2,000 yards passing, 14 passing TDs, and 4 rushing TDs. The Super Bowl wasn’t Craig’s finest hour, but in the AFC Divisional Round and the AFC Championship Game, he had a combined 4 passing touchdowns and a 101.75 passer rating to get Denver to the grandest stage. In ‘78 and ‘79 the Broncos got back to the playoffs but lost in their opening game both times. At the age of 38 in 1981, Morton had a renaissance with a fourth-place finish in the MVP race; he threw for a career-best 3,195 yards, 21 TDs, and led the league in yards per attempt (8.5). If you analyze Craig Morton’s career stats, it is fair to call him a game manager, but he was a winner in Denver with a 41-23 record as their guy. He also is third in team history with 11,895 passing yards and 74 touchdown tosses … not too shabby for a game manager. Craig Morton has the distinction of being the first man behind center to get the Broncos to the biggest game, and he deserves to be recognized with the best quarterbacks in Denver history.

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If you appear on a top-five quarterback list for two different NFL franchises, then you have to be pretty good in the pocket. It is safe to say that Peyton Manning was pretty good, and after only four years in Denver, he definitely was one of the best quarterbacks in Broncos history. We all know what Peyton Manning did in Indy, but have you ever looked at his four seasons in the Mile High City? For starters …. a 45-12 record, another NFL MVP award, set the single-season touchdown record (55) and passing yards record (5,477), and a third Lombardi Trophy for Denver. From 2012-2014, Denver had one of the best offenses ever. Manning’s season averages for that stretch are almost incomprehensible: 4,954 passing yards, 44 TDs, a 67.7 completion %, a 107.4 passer rating, and 310 passing yards per game. In the 2013 season opener, a 49-27 demolition over the Ravens, he tied the league record with seven touchdown passes in a game. In that MVP year, Peyton had four games with at least four TDs and 400 yards in the air, en route to setting both of those NFL records. That season ended in a disappointing Super Bowl loss to the Seahawks. Ironically, after falling short of a title in three dominant seasons, Peyton and the Broncos got a title in 2015 when this former Tennessee Volunteer was injured and closing out his career and the defense was carrying the team. In his last game, Super Bowl 50, Eli’s brother gutted out a 24-10 victory over the Panthers. A storybook career got its storybook finish. Peyton Manning was one of the best quarterbacks ever, and his four phenomenal seasons in Denver make him an all-time great with the Broncos.

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When you think of certain franchises in pro sports, there is a certain name that immediately comes to mind. The Denver Broncos and John Elway would fall in that category. #7 was the Denver Broncos from 1983 to 1998. He is the franchise’s all-time leader in virtually every major passing category. Although he was drafted first overall in 1983 by the Colts, Elway forced a trade to Denver. After a tough rookie season, Elway then ran off 15 years in a row with at least 2,220 passing yards and 10 TD strikes. In the 80s, he got the Broncos to three Super Bowls. He will always be remembered for “The Drive” at Cleveland late in the 4th quarter of the 1986 AFC Championship Game. He was the 1987 NFL MVP with 3,198 passing yards, 19 TDs, and a return trip to the Super Bowl. In 1993, this former Yankee prospect put up some of his best stats: a league-leading 4,030 passing yards, 25 TDs with only 10 picks, a 92.8 passer rating, and a career-best 63.2 completion %. Towards the end of John’s career, he was intent on getting that elusive Super Bowl title, and from 1996-1998 he had a 35-8 record as a starter. Elway got the Broncos back to the Super Bowl in 1997 after clutch road wins at Kansas City and Pittsburgh. In Super Bowl XXXII against a heavily favored Packers squad, this 37-year-old man’s heroic dive for a huge first down inspired his team, and the Broncos got their first Lombardi Trophy. He ended his career in style by winning the Super Bowl XXXIV MVP with 336 passing yards in his last game ever, a beatdown of the Atlanta Falcons 34-19. In terms of all-time ranks, this Denver legend is ninth in game-winning drives (40), 12th in passing yards (51,475), and 14th in passing touchdowns (300). John Elway is an NFL Hall of Famer and very possibly the top quarterback of all time for the Denver Broncos.

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This entry was posted on Friday, October 25th, 2024 at 10:55 am and is filed under NFL History. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.