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Denver Broncos: Looking back on team’s history with No. 15 overall pick

By Travis Wakeman

Special to Philadelphia Daily News: File Picture: 21 Sep 1997: Linebacker John Mobley #51 of the Denver Broncos celebrates during the Broncos 38-20 win over the Cincinnati Bengals at Mile High Stadium in Denver, Colorado. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Dunn
Special to Philadelphia Daily News: File Picture: 21 Sep 1997: Linebacker John Mobley #51 of the Denver Broncos celebrates during the Broncos 38-20 win over the Cincinnati Bengals at Mile High Stadium in Denver, Colorado. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Dunn /
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23 Dec 2000: Jerry Rice #80of the San Francisco 49ers stretches out to catch the ball as he is interfered with by John Mobley #51 of the Denver Broncos at the Mile High Stadium in Denver, Colorado. The Broncos defeated the 49ers 38-9.Mandatory Credit: Harry How /Allsport
23 Dec 2000: Jerry Rice #80of the San Francisco 49ers stretches out to catch the ball as he is interfered with by John Mobley #51 of the Denver Broncos at the Mile High Stadium in Denver, Colorado. The Broncos defeated the 49ers 38-9.Mandatory Credit: Harry How /Allsport /

John Mobley came from a tiny college in the town Kutztown, Pennsylvania and was the first player to ever be drafted out of the school.

Though Kutztown is a Division II school, Mobley was a talented player with first-round talent. In fact, only six defensive players were taken ahead of Mobley in the 1996 draft.

The Broncos were all too happy to get him. He became a steady constant in the middle of the team’s defense, able to come down and defend the run or drop back and play a role in the passing game.

An All-Pro in 1997, Mobley had 634 carer tackles with 10.5 sacks and five interceptions. It was the play he gave the team during their back-to-back runs to the Super Bowl that he should be best remembered for.

When the Broncos finally won their first Super Bowl, it was Mobley who knocked down the pass of Brett Favre on a 4th-and-6 play that sealed the victory.

Like Glassic and Smith, Mobley also spent his entire career in one jersey.

That career lasted only eight seasons as Mobley suffered a severe spinal cord injury during a game against the Baltimore Ravens during the 2003 season. In a scary scene, Mobley laid on the field for some time before being carted off. It would prove to be the final play of his career.

Still, Mobley should be mentioned among the better linebackers in team history and he certainly proved to be a valuable first-round pick over the course of his career.

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