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Denver Broncos: 5 forgotten quarterbacks in team’s history

By Travis Wakeman

Denver Broncos' quarterback Bubby Brister argues a call with the referees during second quarter action against the San Diego Chargers 08 November at Mile High Stadium in Denver, Co. The Broncos won 27-10. AFP PHOTO/Mark LEFFINGWELL (Photo by MARK LEFFINGWELL / AFP) (Photo credit should read MARK LEFFINGWELL/AFP via Getty Images)
Denver Broncos' quarterback Bubby Brister argues a call with the referees during second quarter action against the San Diego Chargers 08 November at Mile High Stadium in Denver, Co. The Broncos won 27-10. AFP PHOTO/Mark LEFFINGWELL (Photo by MARK LEFFINGWELL / AFP) (Photo credit should read MARK LEFFINGWELL/AFP via Getty Images) /
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Denver Broncos, Peyton Manning
ENGLEWOOD, CO – MARCH 20: Quarterback Peyton Manning (R) shakes hands with executive vice president of football operations John Elway during a news conference announcing Manning’s contract with the Denver Broncos in the team meeting room at the Paul D. Bowlen Memorial Broncos Centre on March 20, 2012, in Englewood, Colorado. Manning, entering his 15th NFL season, was released by the Indianapolis Colts on March 7, 2012, where he had played his whole career. It has been reported that Manning will sign a five-year, $96 million offer. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images) /

The quarterback position is always going to be the one that is talked about the most on any team.

It has long been the case that the quarterback gets most, if not all, of the credit when their team wins and they take most, if not all, of the blame when their team loses. That is the nature of the game.

For the Denver Broncos, the talk has surrounded the quarterback for many years as the team has been fortunate to have two of the best to ever play the game in John Elway and Peyton Manning.

The talk has been much more negative since the retirement of Manning as the team has cycled through a variety of quarterbacks from Trevor Siemian to Paxton Lynch to Case Keenum to Joe Flacco and now to Drew Lock. Or is it Teddy Bridgewater? You get the point.

Whoever does not win the quarterback competition in Denver this summer could easily go down as a forgotten quarterback down the road. For all of the great, memorable quarterbacks that the Broncos have had, here are five others that have lined up under center that you may have forgotten (or possibly didn’t even know) played for the team at one time.

Steve DeBerg

Denver Broncos, Steve DeBerg
ANAHEIM, CA – DECEMBER 12: Steve DeBerg #17 of the Denver Broncos pitches the ball to Gerald Willhite #47 against the Los Angeles Rams during an NFL football game on December 12, 1982, at Anaheim Stadium in Anaheim, California. DeBerg played for the Broncos from 1981-83. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /

Steve DeBerg was a journeyman quarterback if there ever was one and he was also a Dan Reeves guy.

Drafted all the way back in 1977, DeBerg was traded to Denver ahead of the 1981 season. Reeves had targeted him after their time together with the Dallas Cowboys and DeBerg served as a backup to both Craig Morton and Elway.

He played for the team from 1981-83 and helped the team reach the playoffs in 1983 in relief of the rookie Elway. The Broncos traded him to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers following that season.

DeBerg played in the league until he was 45 years old and became the oldest player ever to be a member of a Super Bowl roster when he went to Super Bowl  XXXIII with the Atlanta Falcons who were coached by Reeves. Coincidentally, they played the Broncos in that game.

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