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Denver Broncos: 9 players who deserved to win a Super Bowl

By Travis Wakeman

Jan 1988: Receivers Ricky Nattiel (left), Vance Johnson (center) and Mark Jackson of the Denver Broncos, The Three Amigos, pose for the camera during Media Day for Super Bowl XXII at Jack Murphy Stadium in San Diego, California. Mandatory Credit: Allspor
Jan 1988: Receivers Ricky Nattiel (left), Vance Johnson (center) and Mark Jackson of the Denver Broncos, The Three Amigos, pose for the camera during Media Day for Super Bowl XXII at Jack Murphy Stadium in San Diego, California. Mandatory Credit: Allspor /
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Champ Bailey

Champ Bailey was so good and so consistent and he was that way for so long that it is a shame he didn’t get a Super Bowl ring. It’s literally the only thing missing in his career.

Originally a first-round pick of the Redskins, Bailey was part of one of the most infamous trades in league history, one in which the Broncos swapped Clinton Portis for him. He spent 10 seasons with the Broncos and played in the Pro Bowl in eight of those.

He got close a couple of times.

During the playoffs following the 2005 season, Bailey made one of the most memorable plays in Broncos history when he intercepted a pass thrown by Tom Brady in the end zone and raced the other way, finally getting pushed out at the 1-yard line. It catapulted the Broncos over the Pats and was the first postseason loss for Boll Belichick and Brady since they had been together.

The very next week, the Broncos hosted the AFC Championship Game and were upset and embarrassed by the Pittsburgh Steelers. Bailey would have to wait eight years for another chance at a ring.

The Broncos made it to the Super Bowl in 2013, cruising through their schedule thanks to one of the most prolific offenses in league history. It appeared that they would steamroll the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl XLVIII, but it was the other way around.

It would be Bailey’s final game in Denver and it was one that he is likely haunted by. Not only were the Broncos throttled by the Seahawks by 35 points, but Bailey was an absolute liability on the field in that game.

It was great to see the Broncos stay loyal to their guy, but he played a poor game on that day.

Still, he is one of the best cornerbacks in NFL history and his entry to the Pro Football Hall of Fame on the first ballot was proof of that. It’s too bad he didn’t get the other ring though as well.

Who did we miss?

There are likely other players you could make the case for to be on this list. The Broncos have a rich Super Bowl history and though fans exuberantly celebrated each of the team’s three Super Bowl victories, the general feeling is that the team could easily have had at least a couple more.

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