MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — The doors at the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, have swung open in recent years for the Broncos.
From 1984-2008, only and Gary Zimmerman were inducted after playing an entire career or prime years with the Broncos.
But since 2009, six induction years will include a Broncos player, including this August with safety , who was selected Saturday. The list includes running back Floyd Little (2010), tight end Shannon Sharpe (2011), running back (2017) and cornerback Champ Bailey (2019) in addition to owner (2019).
“I think the more Broncos players that we have in, I think the more that will get in,” Atwater said when asked if the recent inductions of Davis and Bailey helped him.
Atwater is probably the last player from the Broncos’ back-to-back -winning teams in 1997 and 1998 to gain induction. That leaves coach Mike Shanahan, who saw coaches Bill Cowher (one title) and Jimmy Johnson (two titles) be selected last month as part of the “Centennial Class.”
Next year, quarterback , who played the final four years of his career for the Broncos, is eligible for the first time.
Atwater mentioned linebackers and Karl Mecklenburg as deserving of consideration. Both players are in the Broncos’ Ring of Fame. Gradishar was a finalist for the centennial group.
Atwater and the rest of the newly selected Hall of Famers were recognized after the first quarter of Sunday’s San Francisco-Kansas City Super Bowl. Before the game, Atwater signed several items of memorabilia, filmed segments for NFL Network and was measured for a Hall of Fame jacket.
Briefly. Former Broncos quarterbacks John Elway and Peyton Manning were on the field before the game being recognized as members of the NFL’s all-time team. … The 1-yard touchdown run by Kansas City’s in the first quarter was the first by a quarterback in a Super Bowl since the 49ers’ against Baltimore seven years ago. … On Jimmy Garoppolo’s second-quarter interception, Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones created pressure and teammate Mike Pennel got the knockdown. … San Francisco tied the game at 10 on an 80-yard drive in which it didn’t face a third down — gains of 1, 9, 16, 11, 17, 11 and 15 yards.
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