RED MILLER ADDED TO THE RING OF FAME
Two pillars of the Broncos’ rich history were honored Sunday afternoon.
In the northwest corner of Sports Authority Field at Mile High, a Pro Football Hall of Fame logo was unveiled next to Terrell Davis’ Ring of Fame placard.
In the southeast corner of the stadium, Red Miller’s name was added to the Ring of Fame as its 32nd member, 40 years after the fiery coach led the Broncos to their first Super Bowl. Miller died on Sept. 27 at age 89.
“That’s a long time ago — 40 years,” said Nan Miller, the late coach’s wife. “That’s a long time to remember. It all happened back then; it all got started back then. And things have never been the same, and now it’s one of the best franchises. We’re proud of Red for starting that.”
The 1977 Broncos, led by the famed Orange Crush defense, went 12-2 and earned the franchise’s first-ever playoff win. After beating the hated Oakland Raiders in the AFC Championship Game, Denver lost to Dallas in Super Bowl XII.
Members of Broncos royalty spoke passionately about Miller.
“Red Miller was the embodiment of what we stood for when we made the playoffs and Super Bowl for the first time,” Ring of Fame linebacker Tom Jackson said during the halftime ceremony. “It was not an accident. He set the foundation for the successes that have come after, and for the great organization that you see today. I couldn’t be prouder as a Ring of Fame member to speak for Broncos country as we welcome Red Miller into the Ring of Fame.”
Craig Morton, the veteran quarterback of the 1977 Broncos and who was inducted into the Ring of Fame in 1988, knew what made Miller the right man at the right time.
“When you think about Red, you think about excitement,” Morton said. “All he preached was ‘team, team, team.’ And he brought so much energy and excitement to that team. He was special.”
Davis, inducted into the Hall of Fame last summer, was honored during a pregame ceremony. Looking on were three other Broncos who’ve been enshrined in Canton, Ohio — John Elway, Gary Zimmerman and Floyd Little. Hall of Fame tight end Shannon Sharpe was not present.
Davis said that Sunday was the day he had penciled in on his calendar, adding that it meant as much, or more, to him than his day of induction into the Hall of Fame in the summer.
“This is where it all started,” Davis said. “All of the fans who have been behind me, my family, teammates and people who didn’t get a chance to go to Canton were (here today). This was kind of a special day for them, and for me, to be around them and share it with them.”
Davis also made a heartfelt pitch to get more Broncos inducted into the Hall of Fame, especially members of the Broncos’ defense who helped lead the team to three Super Bowls in four seasons from 1986-89.
“I was talking to (linebacker) Karl Mecklenburg and (safety) Dennis Smith, and I’m shocked that (no one) from that team, that era … nobody on defense has a gold jacket.
“Of course, (owner) Pat Bowlen, in my opinion, should be the next guy in the Hall of Fame. Hopefully we can get momentum for him for next year.”