We continue our series of looking at some of our most popular athletes and sports speakers who are local to major markets and are available for speaking engagements and athlete appearances. Today, we focus on the “Mile High City” of Denver, Colorado.
Denver: Home to Four Major Professional Sports Franchises
Denver is home to four major professional sports franchises – the Colorado Rockies, Denver Broncos, Colorado Avalanche and Denver Nuggets. And although Sports Speakers 360 books athletes from each of these teams, the majority of our requests and the most popular keynote speakers are former Broncos and for good reason. The Broncos are not only the oldest and most established professional sports franchise in the Rocky Mountain region but also the most successful, winning three Super Bowls. They’ve sold out every game since 1970, an NFL record. Below are a few of our most requested former Broncos…
John Elway is considered the greatest Broncos player in franchise history. He played for the Broncos from 1983-1998 and led the franchise to two Super Bowl championships and was MVP of Super Bowl XXXIII. Elway was a nine-time Pro Bowl selection, two-time AFC Offensive Player of the Year and the 1987 NFL MVP. The Broncos retired his #7 jersey and he’s a member of the Broncos Ring of Fame. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2004. Today, Elway is president of football operations for the Broncos.
Peyton Manning came to Denver in 2012 after spending the first 14 seasons of his career in Indianapolis. In his four seasons with the Broncos, he led them to two Super Bowls, including a win and MVP performance in Super Bowl XLI. Manning was a 14-time Pro Bowl selection, seven-time first-team All-Pro and five-time NFL MVP. He holds numerous NFL records, including single-season passing yards (5,477 in 2013) and touchdown passes (539).
Ed McCaffrey was one of John Elway’s favorite targets (along with Rod Smith) during his career with the Broncos which spanned from 1995-2003. He won three Super Bowls – two with the Broncos – and is a member of the Broncos 50th Anniversary Team. Ed’s son Christian is currently a running back for the Carolina Panthers.
Rod Smith was also one of John Elway’s favorite targets (along with Ed McCaffrey) during his career in Denver from 1994-2007. Smith won two Super Bowls with the Broncos and finished his career as the team’s all-time leader in career touchdowns, receiving yards and receptions. Incredibly, the Broncos signed Smith as an undrafted free agent and he became the first undrafted player in NFL history to record 10,000 receiving yards. Smith is a member of the Broncos Ring of Fame.
Karl Mecklenburg played linebacker for the Broncos from 1983-1994. He was a six-time Pro Bowl selection, four-time first-team All-Pro and is a member of the Broncos Ring of Fame. Besides being an excellent sports motivational speaker, Mecklenburg is also a Christian speaker and arguably does more speaking than any other former Broncos great.
Randy Gradishar is considered one of the greatest linebackers in Broncos history and starred for the Broncos from 1974-1983. He was a seven-time Pro Bowl selection, two-time first-team All-Pro and is a member of the Broncos Ring of Fame.
Mark Schlereth is a retired offensive lineman who played for the Broncos from 1995-2000 after a successful stint with the Washington Redskins. Schlereth won two Super Bowls with the Broncos (and one with the Redskins). Today, he is a popular local sports radio personality and Fox Sports NFL analyst.
Steve Atwater was considered one of the hardest hitting safeties of his generation. He won two Super Bowls with the Broncos and was an eight-time Pro Bowl selection. He was named to the NFL 1990s All-Decade Team and is a member of the Broncos Ring of Fame.
Mike Shanahan coached the Broncos for 14 seasons from 1995-2008 and led them to consecutive Super Bowl wins. He is the winningest coach in Broncos history in total wins (138) and winning percentage (.646).
Brian Griese was quarterback of the Broncos from 1998-2002. He was a member of the Broncos team that won Super Bowl XXXIII over the Atlanta Falcons, 34-19. After retiring Griese embarked on a successful sports broadcasting career. He is the son of Miami Dolphins Hall of Fame quarterback Bob Griese.
Other local former Broncos available for speaking engagements and athlete appearances include Tom Nalen, Brandon Stokley, Haven Moses, Billy Thompson, Joel Dreessen, Vance Johnson, Jake Plummer, Daniel Graham and Mark Jackson.
About Sports Speakers 360
Sports Speakers is a sports talent agency and sports speakers bureau that offers one of the most extensive databases of current and retired athletes in the United States. For more than 20 years, Sports Speakers 360 has worked with thousands of companies and organizations looking to book sports motivational speakers, athlete appearances and endorsements. Please contact us to request more information and to book Denver Broncos appearances and speaking engagements.
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