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Denver Broncos: 4 men who should have their own documentary

By Travis Wakeman

30 Dec 1990: Denver Broncos owner Pat Bowlen looks on during a game against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The Broncos won the game, 22-13. Mandatory Credit: Tim de Frisco /Allsport
30 Dec 1990: Denver Broncos owner Pat Bowlen looks on during a game against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The Broncos won the game, 22-13. Mandatory Credit: Tim de Frisco /Allsport /
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Denver Broncos Marlin Briscoe
MIAMI, FL – NOVEMBER 12, 1972: Wide receiver Marlin Briscoe #86, of the Miami Dolphins, runs the ball down the sidelines as defensive back Ron Bolton #27, of the New England Patriots, tries to stop him during a game on November 12, 1972, at the Orange Bowl in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Kidwiler Collection/Diamond Images/Getty Images) /

Marlin Briscoe was a historical first

Who was the first black starting quarterback in American professional football? The answer is Marlin Briscoe, who started for the Broncos in the 1968 season when the team was part of the AFL.

Briscoe only spent one season in Denver and was not the starting quarterback when the season started. The starter, Steve Tensi, went down with injury and the head coach at the time, Lou Saban, was not comfortable putting the backup, Joe DeVito in. Briscoe was given the chance.

On October 6, 1968, he made his first career start and held the job the rest of that season. He threw 14 touchdowns that season, including four in one game. Both of those are rookie records for the team to this day.

Following that season, he was released when it was clear the Broncos intended to go in a different direction at quarterback. He landed with the Buffalo Bills and played wide receiver for them, a position he was also very good at.

He made the Pro Bowl and was an All-Pro in 1970. Prior to the start of the 1972 season, the Bills traded him to the Miami Dolphins and he ended up being a member of the NFL’s first — and still only — undefeated team.

Though Briscoe didn’t do for professional sports what a guy like Jackie Robinson did, but his career should be fondly remembered as one that inspired young athletes to follow through the door that he opened.

But his story is largely forgotten as it happened so long ago. A potential documentary could also touch on Briscoe’s severe post-career drug addiction, one he overcame before becoming the director of the Boys and Girls Club in Long Beach, California.

It’s a story that football fans should be able to become much more familiar with at some point, as a biopic titled The Magician has been in development for about four years now.

How would these documentaries fare?

While none of these potential documentaries could be a 10-part series on the scale of The Last Dance, they would all be entertaining, interesting shows that Broncos fans would love.

All four of these great men could be featured on a future 30 for 30 or A Football Life.

Next. Which devastating playoff loss was worse?. dark

All of these stories have been told on a smaller scale either through local news stories or articles similar to this. But all of these stories should be told to a larger audience. Not only would these stories be intriguing to those that may not be totally familiar with them, but each of these men greatly deserves it.

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