There’s a legacy at stake at the moment in Denver — and no, it’s not Peyton Manning’s.
This Sunday at Sports Authority Field at Mile High, fans of the Denver Broncos will have an opportunity to create a legacy of their own.
For those fortunate enough to have a ticket to the game, you will be privileged to witness what may be Manning’s last game played in Denver. You will also have a chance to represent those of us who believe that now is the time to express gratitude and respect for the quarterback who has been the epitome of dedication, excellence, humility and class since his arrival in the NFL.
Over the past couple of years, some sports analysts (national as well as local) have made the mistake of assuming their role to be that of Peyton’s quarterback coach — dissecting every throw and examining every statistic in order to prove their theory that Manning is, indeed, older than he used to be. Their groundbreaking research has ultimately led to the incredible conclusion that time does, in fact, exist, and that the sport of football takes its toll on the human body.
Brilliant, folks. Well done.
The only problem is that their analysis has led many to believe that we should take for granted Manning’s contributions to the Denver Broncos’ organization, to the city of Denver, and to the entire National Football League.
That’s where you come in, Broncos fans.
You have one more chance to say thank you.
Of course, if you believe that your sentiment should be dependent upon the outcome of Sunday’s game, or upon Manning’s performance in this particular matchup, then consider this bit of Broncos history:
Back in January of 1978, a group of Denver’s original Broncomaniacs took a road trip to New Orleans in order to attend this franchise’s first Super Bowl. They made the 1,300-mile trek to cheer on the Cinderella team that had captured the hearts of nearly everyone in the Denver area that season.
Then they watched helplessly as our beloved Broncos got crushed by a clearly superior Dallas Cowboys team. It was a loss that felt just as one-sided, and just as depressing, as any of Denver’s subsequent Super Bowl defeats.
But what happened next was what left a permanent impression on this then-young fan. Reports began to surface that, during the last few minutes of the lopsided game, the attending Broncos fans had collectively stood and cheered, repeatedly chanting: “Thank you, Broncos!”
The Denver Broncos were not competitive in Super Bowl XII. They did not appear to go down kicking and screaming. Their abundance of soul was not enough to bless them with a championship.
Nonetheless, that group of fans chose to express their appreciation for everything that the team had given to the city of Denver and to the entire Rocky Mountain region. They did not allow their personal disappointment to turn into personal attacks. Those fans recognized that, as upset as they felt at that moment, Broncos players probably felt even worse, and they chose compassion over condemnation.
As a kid, the actions of those fans completely shaped my experience of what it meant to be a Broncos fan, and I felt proud to count myself among them.
For the past four seasons, fans in Denver have been granted the good fortune and the privilege of having Peyton Manning as their quarterback. I no longer reside in Denver, but I can tell you from the perspective of an outsider that the rest of the nation is watching. Today’s young fans are watching. As the career of the future Hall of Fame quarterback winds down, Broncos fans have an opportunity to create a legacy of their own. History will record whether this generation of Broncos fans chooses to handle this moment with the grace and class that it deserves.
Teresa Dunlap, who was raised in Littleton, currently resides in the San Francisco Bay Area.
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