LOL Denver Broncos History

**John Elway.** That is all.

## 2010's: The Next Age of Tall QB's

* In 2011, after a year of teasing it, Bowlen officially brought Bronco's messiah back into the organization as GM
	+ The one issue: much like the Lions with Matt Millen, Elway had no experience. Bowlen probably just smiled and told him "you'll figure it out" as well.
* So: Elway tried to figure it all out that off season.
	+ Former Panthers HC John Fox was brought in to replace McDaniels, his last season with Carolina was 4-12.
	+ But to the give Elway credit he did pick Von Miller with the 2nd overall pick, so maybe he did have some idea what to do.
* So the 2011 season happened, and honestly wasn't that bad
	+ After losing 4 of their first 5, Orton was finally cut and it was finally Tebow Time.
	+ The switch would luckily give Denver the spark they needed as they would win the AFC West, where the Patriots would kick their assess again.

#### **Omaha for the Glory**

* Despite Tebow showing promise, Elway wasn't a fan of the whole "Scrambling QB" craze. Therefore he brought in the one, the only, Peyton Manning.
	+ Tebow would be shipped off to the Jets for a fourth rounder, just in time for their 2012 circus act, pretty much to fan dismay as there were questions on Manning's age.
	+ Elway also had to find a reliable back up for Manning in the draft, he first noticed Russel Wilson, who almost met all the check boxes but missed what Elway called the most important one: Height, as Russel was 5ft 11in (this was actually confirmed by Jack Del Rio). Therefore the Broncos settled on Brock Osweiler (6ft 7in) as the Seahawks drafted Wilson.
* Manning proved the critics wrong with the Bronco's 2012 season, winning their last 11 games and going into the playoffs hot as hell.
	+ Unfortunately so was Baltimore and they'd lose in a close one via Double OT.
* Next year however, they would make it to the Mecca, against the Seahawks... some of you are already thinking about this game and laughing.
	+ The game started off with Manning **missing** a snap resulting in a Seahawks safety.
	+ After that, the Broncos bent down, opened their anuses, and let the Hawks shove the L straight up to the tune 43-8.
	+ In case you also forgot, this was also at the hands of Russel Wilson, whom Elway passed on in the draft for being too small.
* The Denver Broncos bounced back in 2014, but couldn't make it all the way back as Manning's old team, the Colts, would knock them out in the wild card.
* John Fox, who was pretty much just standing there doing nothing, decided to just leave after the season was over. Gary Kubiak replaced him.
* The Broncos then bounced all the way back in 2015 for Manning's final ride, and then some.
	+ After a 7 game winning streak, Peyton started showing his true age, resulting in Osweiler stepping in for the second half of the season.
	+ Fortunately for Brock, he kept his cool and won 5 of 7 as starter (that and this was the Bronco's "No Fly Zone" defense).
	+ Manning stepped back in for the playoffs and this time the Broncos would make it all the way to the Lombardi. Elway officially defied the "old-face GM" narrative.

#### **Must be This Tall to Play Here**

* Manning officially retired after the season (going out on top... good for him!) and Brock Osweiler decided to leave as well, therefore Denver was back to rebuilding right after the Superbowl win.
* The first two contenders for QB were 2016 First Rounder Paxton Lynch (6ft 7in) and trade acquisition Mark "Buttfumble" Sanchez (6ft 2in), after evalutating both, it was discovered both sucked and the starting role went to former third string QB Trevor Sieman (6ft 3in).
	+ Sanchez never played an was released that September
	+ As for Paxton, he'd only have four starts throughout his 2 year tenure and be released in 2018.
* Luckily for the Broncos the only problem was pretty much the QB situation so they still had a winning season, problem is the QB is the most important position so they missed the playoffs.
* Osweiler returned to Denver that offseason as his stint with Houston didn't work out, him and Lynch played hot potato in the 2017 season as the Broncos went 5-11.
* That offseason the Broncos signed Mr. Minneapolis Miracle Case Keenum (6ft 11in).