The list of things for the Denver Broncos to either improve, repair, or throw away completely this off-season is probably as long as what the 2010 season felt like to the Broncos faithful. However, one thing they shouldn’t have to worry about fixing are the elements of the team that provide leadership. That position is filled, and historically for the Broncos, it typically always has been.

Running Back Floyd Little not only energized his teammates, but his play excited the city of Denver into buying more tickets to games, which kept the Broncos from certain relocation with the expansion of Mile High Stadium. He is known as “The Franchise” for helping save the franchise.
 
Tom Jackson was the vocal leader of the Broncos during the 1970’s. So much so in fact, he was voted Denver’s Most Inspirational Player six times by his teammates. He and fellow linebacker Randy Gradishar motivated the Broncos’ “Orange Crush Defense” into becoming one of the greatest in NFL history. The next generation of Denver’s leadership was steered by safeties Steve Atwater and Dennis Smith, who led with bone-jarring hits more than jaw-flapping quips.
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Rob Lytle in his rookie year as a Bronco. (Source: AP)

Lytle passed away last weekend at 56-years-old from a reported heart attack. 

He did not lack heart in his seven years with the Broncos, however, finishing his career with 1,451 rushing yards on 376 attempts, 61 receptions for 562 yards, and 14 total touchdowns. For all of you trivia fans, one of those touchdowns gives him the title of the only Broncos’ player to score a touchdown in Super Bowl XII. 

Lytle played for the Broncos from 1977 to 1983. Prior to that he attended the University of Michigan and also scored a touchdown in the Rose Bowl.

Lytle was from Freemont, OH and was the ultimate football hero in that town. Brian Miller from PhinPhanatic (Fansided’s Dolphins’ site) has a personal side to the story as he also spent a significant amount of time in Freemont and recalls Lytle’s presence on the town.

“Rob Lytle went to a very small school in Fremont, Oh. called Fremont Ross.  The same school my mother graduated from 4 years before Lytle would.  I spent one or two weeks every summer casing the streets of Fremont growing up and still have most of my family living there today.  I vividly remember the clothing store named “Lytles” that his parents owned.  I was saddened when so many years ago it had burned to the ground.”

To read more of Brian’s story, click here. It’s a good read for any Broncos fan that wants to explore the history of the team at another level.

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