The Broncos reorganized their Ring of Fame selection committee and decided for a second straight year against inducting any new honorees.
Instead, the franchise will use its homecoming weekend (Week 2) this fall to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Super Bowl XXXIII championship team and also NFL Hall of Fame inductee DeMarucs Ware.
“One of our key priorities is to deepen relationships with alumni and better connect with not only Ring of Famers but all former players, coaches and administrators,” Broncos owner and CEO Greg Penner said in a statement. “This year, we’re thrilled to celebrate the 25th anniversary of our Super Bowl XXXIII team as well as newest Pro Football Hall of Famer DeMarcus Ware to highlight Alumni Weekend.
“We’re also excited to welcome new perspectives to our Ring of Fame Committee, which met this morning, and look forward to adding to the Broncos’ exclusive group of distinguished alumni in the future.”
The club’s new Ring of Fame committee spans different areas of the league, including players, coaches, executives, ownership and media. Penner and the ownership group are part of the committee, as are two-time Super Bowl champion coach Mike Shanahan, Hall of Fame safety Steve Atwater, voice of the Broncos (and longtime high school football coach) Dave Logan and former vice president of public relations and team historian Jim Saccomano.
They met Tuesday and finalized plans to hold off at least another year on adding to the Ring of Fame. The current area at Empower Field is undergoing construction to expand the amount of space available.
Even without inducting any new members a year ago, the club has added 13 to the Ring of Fame in the past 11 years. That represents more than a third of the 35 total members. In the 11 pervious seasons, the Broncos had inducted just six.
This is the fourth stretch of two or more years without an inductee (2010-11, 1990-91 and 1994-98 previously).
Shanahan, of course, coached the Super Bowl XXXIII team that beat Atlanta, 34-19, to secure a second straight title. The Super Bowl XXXII team was honored last fall against the New York Jets. Shanahan is also the most recent addition to the Ring of Fame, having been inducted in 2021.
Ware spent three years in Denver after starting his career in Dallas. He logged 21.5 of his 138 career sacks in those three seasons and, of course, helped lead the Broncos to a Super Bowl 50 championship in February 2016.
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