Even if the naked eye can’t spot it, the ring of names encircling the upper reaches of Invesco Field at Mile High must have a crack.
How else to explain the omission of Rick Upchurch from the Broncos’ Ring of Fame? Frank Tripucka is up there with his 51 touchdown passes and 85 interceptions. Upchurch is missing, although he is third all time among Broncos in combined yardage and is arguably one of the top five punt returners in NFL history.
“I couldn’t tell you about this Ring of Fame thing,” Upchurch said. “I’ve heard people say maybe it was because I didn’t play for Pat Bowlen, I don’t know. But I don’t think that’s it, because Jim Turner didn’t play for Pat Bowlen. Haven Moses didn’t. I don’t know what it is I did to upset some people. All I know is I tried to help this football team, and we did that. We went to our first Super Bowl.”
To be fair to Bowlen, who declined comment on Upchurch’s candidacy, there was no Broncos Ring of Fame until he bought the team in 1984. Knowing little about the team before he took control, Bowlen organized a selection committee made up of longtime Broncos followers. The committee failed to elect Upchurch in the early years, then began considering another era.
“Yes, Rick’s name comes up, but I don’t want to comment about any player relating to the Ring of Fame,” said Joe Collier, the Broncos’ defensive coordinator during Upchurch’s term and one of four members – Bowlen, John Beake and Larry Zimmer are the others – on the Ring committee.
At one time, Upchurch held seven NFL records, including career punt- return yardage (3,008) and punt-return touchdowns (eight).
Upchurch wasn’t merely a specialist. He compiled big numbers in the combined yardage category of rushing, receiving and returns.
With 10,081 yards, Upchurch trails only Ring member Floyd Little and likely Ringer Rod Smith. Terrell Davis is fourth. Shannon Sharpe is fifth.
Upchurch has been inducted into the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame and now coaches the Pueblo East High School football team.
