Peyton Manning (18) celebrates with tight end Jacob Tamme (84) the 26-16 victory against the New England Patriots following the 2013 AFC Championship football game at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. (Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports)
Of the four Denver Broncos who have played in the Super Bowl before, only one has won it. Of course that one would be Peyton Manning.
Tight end Jacob Tamme played in the 2009 Super Bowl with Manning and lost to the New Orleans Saints.
“I think if anything, it’s even more exciting,” Tamme said. “The first time, obviously, you’re extremely excited and sort of in awe in a way. I know, for me, it’s a special opportunity because I wasn’t able to get it done when I was there last time.”
Tamme grew up in Danville, KY, and playing a Super Bowl in New York never crossed his mind.
“I never dreamed I’d get to play in one Super Bowl—much less two—and have a chance to go get that win,” Tamme said.
From playing receiver and defensive back in high school to playing tight end in the NFL, the journey for Tamme has been a bumpy one. Mainly a special teams guy at the beginning of his career, Tamme worked his way into the starting lineup and had his best season in 2010, with Manning, catching 67 passes for 631 yards and four touchdowns.
In 2013, Tamme was nursing a quad injury during training camp that had him in and out of practices. There was even a question as to whether he would make the team, especially with the emergency of Julius Thomas.
When the regular season was all said and done, Tamme played in all 16 games (including one start) and led the Broncos with 10 special teams tackles. In the November game against the Patriots, he led the team with five receptions and a touchdown, and then he added another touchdown against the Patriots in the AFC Championship Game.
It’s a tremendous benefit to have a guy like Tamme around for this game. What he brings to the field is great, but the experience he brings to the locker room may be even more of an asset.
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