How many Denver Broncos Super Bowl wins have we witnessed over the years? The team has given us some exciting postseason moments in the past but not all of them have ended in glory. Let’s take a look at the Broncos Super Bowl record to see how many times they’ve won the biggest prize in football.
We can then remember some of their most memorable moments in this game and the players who’ve lit up the Super Bowl for the Broncos. But first, we need to look back to those famous games where Denver won the big game in front of millions of TV viewers.
Denver Broncos Super Bowl Wins
How many Super Bowl wins do the Broncos have to date? The franchise has won a total of three Super Bowls in its history so far. The first of those came in 1998, at Super Bowl XXXII when Denver took on the defending Super Bowl champions the Green Bay Packers. It came after the Broncos had lost their previous four attempts to win this game and that was when they finally managed a win.
Played in San Diego at the Qualcomm Stadium, the game ended in a 31-24 win for Denver despite the Packers being heavily favored to win before it started. It was an exciting game for spectators, where Denver took a commanding lead in the second quarter before being pegged back and eventually winning with a Terrell Davis touchdown with less than two minutes left.
The second of the Denver Super Bowl appearances to end in triumph came just a year later, at Super Bowl XXXIII. This time, it was a game against the Atlanta Falcons and star quarterback John Elway led the Broncos to a 34-19 win. With this, Denver became the first NFL team to both win and lose consecutive Super Bowls.
The game took place at Miami’s Pro Player Stadium, with Denver getting here after recording a 14-2 record in their regular season. The Broncos scored 17 consecutive points in this Super Bowl, with Elway turning in an MVP performance in his final pro game before retiring at the end of a fantastic career.
We had to wait until Super Bowl 50 in 2016 for the third and most recent Broncos wins, led by one of the best coaches in Broncos history Gary Kubiak. This game against the Carolina Panthers took place at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara. Denver had beaten defending champions the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship game to make their eighth Super Bowl appearance, which was a joint record at the time.
The Broncos had the NFL’s top defense and the Panthers the best offense going into this game. The Broncos managed seven sacks and four turnovers in a tough, defensive game where they were in control but not completely comfortable for most of the time. Linebacker Von Miller was named as the MVP and a huge TV audience made this one of the most popular American broadcasts of all time. It was also Peyton Manning’s final game as QB.
On This Date in 2016: The Broncos beat the Panthers in Super Bowl 50, giving Peyton Manning his 2nd title in his final game.
The Broncos took an early lead and never trailed. Denver recorded 7 sacks and forced 3 turnovers in a 24-10 victory. pic.twitter.com/FipMFabzi1
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) February 7, 2022
When was the Last Time the Denver Broncos Won the Super Bowl?
That win in 2016 remains the most recent of the Denver Broncos Super Bowl wins. It was a historic game that was known as the golden anniversary of the event. Denver played a 12-4 regular season with the NFL’s top defense before beating the defending champions the New England Patriots 20-18 in the AFC Championship Game.
Super Bowl 50 saw Denver join the Patriots, the Pittsburgh Steelers, and the Dallas Cowboys in reaching this stage of the postseason on eight occasions, although that no longer stands as the current record. With their rivals, the Carolina Panthers, having the best offensive record in the league, it was set up for a memorable match and turned into one of the most defensive match-ups in the long history of the Super Bowl. A 2-yard touchdown by C.J. Anderson near the end made the victory safe for Denver.
Denver Broncos Super Bowl Appearances
The list of the Denver Broncos Super Bowl appearances and wins features those three triumphs we’ve already looked at. But what about the other times the franchise reached this game? These five losses still hurt Denver fans and there are some big defeats on the list.
- Their five losses in the Super Bowl began in 1978 when they lost Super Bowl XII to the Dallas Cowboys by 27-10. This game was played at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, marking the first Super Bowl played under a dome.
- Next, Super Bowl XXI saw the Broncos line up against the New York Giants at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena. Despite being led by Elway and giving away the lowest number of yards in the AFC that season, Denver lost 39-20 to give the Giants their first Super Bowl win.
- The following year saw the Broncos back for Super Bowl XXII, with the Washington Redskins the opponents this time at the Jack Murphy Stadium in San Diego. It came at the end of a season marked by a players’ strike and where the Broncos relied heavily on Elway’s excellent performances to record a 10–4–1 regular season. Denver led 10-0 towards the end of the first quarter but lost the next 42 points to suffer a 42-10 loss.
- The fourth of the Denver Super Bowl appearances to end in a loss came in Super Bowl XXIV when they played the San Francisco 49ers at the Louisiana Superdome. It was the biggest loss in the history of the NFL Championship game and the biggest difference in offensive yardage, as the 49ers won 55-10 to achieve their second consecutive win. This came after the Broncos finished the regular season 11-5.
- Finally, the last Denver loss came in Super Bowl XLVIII. Their rival was the Seattle Seahawks at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, making it the first outdoors NFL Championship decider in a cold-weather city. An 8-43 loss made his one of the biggest losing margins in Super Bowl history as well as one of the biggest upsets since the Broncos were the favorites to win. This record-breaking fifth loss for Denver was the first Super Bowl win for the Seahawks and came after both franchises had a 13-3 regular season. Even neutral fans tend to describe this as one of the most disappointing Super Bowls because of its one-sided nature.
Happy Birthday, no. 9⃣4⃣ @DeMarcusWare! Ware was one of the best FA signings in Denver Broncos history! He played for the team for 3 seasons (2014–2016). Ware was instrumental in the team winning its third Super Bowl and wrecking havoc—on opposing teams and QBs—with @vonmiller! pic.twitter.com/noWGvo69La
— Mile High Moments (@MileHighMoments) July 31, 2023
Most Memorable Broncos Super Bowl Moments
Perhaps the most memorable moment of all came in Super Bowl XXXII. Having already lost football’s biggest game four times, fans were worried this might be another heavy loss. The Packers were favorites but Elway’s iconic helicopter play seemed to swing the game, as the QB showed incredible determination and awareness to spin into space and then jump into three Green Bay defenders and make a crucial eight-yard gain. Terrell Davis’ touchdown at the end of the game sealed the win that the Broncos had been dreaming of.
Super Bowl XXXIII also had some unforgettable plays, with none more so than Elway sending Rod Smith away for an 80-yard touchdown. The veteran QB also ensured his pro career ended in style by reaching the end zone for a TD.
Super Bowl 50 perhaps provided fewer memorable moments, but fans fondly recall the play in which Von Miller sacked Cam Newton to allow Malik Jackson to pounce on the loose ball to extend Denver’s lead in the first quarter. Anderson’s TD near the end of the game allowed fans to relax, knowing that the trophy was safe for a third time.
Best Broncos Super Bowl Players
There’s no doubt that legendary quarterback John Elway has made a massive impact in the Broncos’ biggest games. He played in two of their three wins and also lost three other Super Bowls during a 16-year pro career spent entirely at the Broncos. By doing so, Elway set a number of records such as being the first player to take part in five Super Bowls and the first QB to score a rushing TD in four of these games. He was named MVP in Super Bowl XXXIII.
Von Miller won the MVP award for Super Bowl 50, which analysts have described as one of the greatest defensive performances of all time. The linebacker made six tackles and was credited with 2 and a half sacks as well as a couple of forced fumbles. In addition to the TD by Jackson mentioned earlier, the fumble that he forced in the last five minutes stopped the Panthers’ in their final attempt to win the game.
Running back Terrell Davis was MVP in Super Bowl XXXII, as he scored three touchdowns and collected 157 rushing yards. This was despite a migraine that kept him out of the second quarter and he earned his place on the list of the best Broncos players of all time.
Ronnie Hillman died on Wednesday from a rare form of cancer. He was 31 years old.
Hillman was part of the Super Bowl-winning Broncos team in 2016. pic.twitter.com/6aehiSndjz
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) December 22, 2022
Denver Broncos Super Bowl Wins FAQ
How Many Super Bowl Wins Do The Broncos Have?
The Broncos have a total of three Super Bowl wins to their name to date. These victories were achieved in the XXXII, XXXIII, and 50 games after they had lost their first four Super Bowls.
How Many Super Bowl Appearances Do The Broncos Have?
The Denver Broncos have reached the Super Bowl on eight occasions. Out of these games, the franchise has achieved three wins and has lost the remaining five games. Their last appearance came in Super Bowl 50, making Denver the NFL champion for the 2015 season.
How Many Super Bowls Did John Elway Win For The Broncos?
John Elway won two Super Bowls and was on the losing side on three occasions. His wins came at the XXXII and XXXIII games, and he was named MVP in the second of those wins.
Has Denver Ever Hosted The Super Bowl?
No Super Bowl has ever been held in Denver. The reason seems to come down to the cold-weather location and the fact that the stadium is relatively old and uncovered. Attempts have been made to bring the season’s final game here, but without success so far.
Conclusion
A record of three wins from eight games only tells us part of the story. The Denver Broncos history in these games is a tale of heartbreak but also of great triumphs. After losing their first four Super Bowls, they showed tremendous courage and determination to win three of the next four attempts.
There have been some memorable moments and huge plays from iconic players through those games. While no one knows when the Broncos will next reach the Super Bowl, their history in this game to date gives us plenty of exciting times to look back on while we wait for their next trip to the biggest game of the season.
Want to Learn More?
Best Denver Broncos Players of All Time
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Best Denver Broncos Linebackers of All-Time
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