In the nearly six months since Gary Zimmerman was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, at least one thing hasn’t changed: His loyalty to the Broncos and owner Pat Bowlen.
Zimmerman reiterated on Thursday morning that on Aug. 2 he will be enshrined in Canton a Bronco, with Bowlen presenting him.
Zimmerman, arguably the best tackle in the 1990s, spent the first seven years of his career with the Minnesota Vikings before joining the Broncos in 1993. He retired after Denver won its first Super Bowl in 1997.
“For me, when I came to Denver, it was like when a dog gets taken to the pound, and you get a new owner, and your loyalty is to that new owner, and that new owner treats you good,” Zimmerman said. “It made you want to stay there, made you want to win for the man.”
Zimmerman will become just the second Bronco in Canton, joining John Elway, who was enshrined in 2004.
Zimmerman first visited Canton to see Elway get inducted, and even with his own stellar resume – the selection of the All-Decade teams for the 1980s and 1990s, seven Pro Bowls, a streak of 169 consecutive starts from 1986-1996 – he had a hard time picturing himself there, too.
“It’s pretty impressive, just going in the hall there, all the busts, it just was kind of unreal,” Zimmerman said.
But in a little more than two weeks, his bust will be there as well. And Elway is expected to be there – along with a handful of other former Broncos teammates and coaches – to welcome him. Zimmerman said the Broncos contingent will include former offensive linemen Mark Schlereth, Brian Habib and David Diaz-Infante.
“It’s a great honor, to be honest there should be more Broncos in there,” Zimmerman said.
Lindsay H. Jones: 303-954-1262 or ljones@denverpost.com
