Former Broncos Coach Red Miller Elected To Ring Of Fame
DENVER (CBS4)- Former Denver Broncos head coach Red Miller has been unanimously elected into the Ring of Fame.
Miller led the team to its initial three postseason appearances and the first of its eight Super Bowls from 1977-1980. The team announced the 32nd member of the Ring of Fame after the selection committee's annual meeting on Thursday.
"Hearing that great news from [Broncos President & CEO] Joe [Ellis] and the rest of the committee brought back so many memories from those special seasons with the Broncos," Miller said in a statement. "Looking back, it was a ragtag operation with where we were at the time. We had to build it up and get it going. All of our players and coaches carried us to a lot of success and brought so much excitement to the fans during those years.
"I'm honored to join the Broncos' all-time greats in the Ring of Fame, and I look forward to celebrating with the many people who helped make this possible."
Miller joins Dan Reeves as the only head coaches in the Denver Broncos Ring of Fame.
Miller was hired as the eighth coach for the Broncos on Feb. 1, 1977. He never had a losing record in his four seasons with the Broncos and tied for the fourth-most regular season wins (40) in the NFL during his head coaching tenure, a figure that ranks fourth in Broncos history.
"The Broncos have a proud championship history, and the person who helped start that winning tradition was Red Miller," Ellis said in a statement. "So many of our franchise's "firsts" happened with Red as our head coach, most notably our first Super Bowl appearance back in 1977. It's the 40th anniversary of that Super Bowl XII team coached by Red, and that makes his Ring of Fame selection this year even more special.
"When you talk to the players and coaches from that period, they'll tell you how Red pushed those teams, led by the historic Orange Crush defense, to a championship level. On behalf of Owner Pat Bowlen and our entire organization, we congratulate Coach Miller and look forward to honoring him as the newest member of the Denver Broncos Ring of Fame."
Miller's 1977 squad posted a 12-2 record and won Denver's first-ever the AFC West title, wrestling it away from the defending Super Bowl-champion Oakland Raiders. After earning their first-ever playoff berth, the Broncos went on to beat the Raiders in the AFC Championship Game and advanced to their first Super Bowl.
Despite losing to the Dallas Cowboys 27-10 in Super Bowl XII, Miller was named 1977 NFL Coach of the Year by the Associated Press and K.C. 101 Club.
The Ring of Fame was created by Broncos owner Pat Bowlen in 1984 to honor former players and administrators who played significant roles in Broncos history.
The Ring of Fame is displayed on the Level 5 façade of Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Inductees are featured on 8-foot bronze and steel pillars in Ring of Fame Plaza outside the south end of the stadium.
Miller's induction ceremony will take place during halftime of a Broncos home game this season that hasn't been announced yet.
DENVER BRONCOS RING OF FAME
Name | Pos. | Yrs. w/Broncos | Year Inducted |
Red Miller | Coach | 1977-80 | 2017 |
Jason Elam | K | 1993-2007 | 2016 |
Simon Fletcher | LB | 1985-95 | 2016 |
John Lynch | S | 2004-07 | 2016 |
Pat Bowlen | Owner | 1984-pres. | 2015 |
Dan Reeves | Coach | 1981-92 | 2014 |
Rick Upchurch | WR | 1975-83 | 2014 |
Gene Mingo | HB/K | 1960-64 | 2014 |
Tom Nalen | C | 1994-2008 | 2013 |
Rod Smith | WR | 1994-2007 | 2012 |
Shannon Sharpe | TE | 1990-99, 2002-03 | 2009 |
Terrell Davis | RB | 1995-2002 | 2007 |
Steve Atwater | S | 1989-98 | 2005 |
Gary Zimmerman | T | 1993-97 | 2003 |
Karl Mecklenburg | LB | 1983-94 | 2001 |
Dennis Smith | S | 1981-94 | 2001 |
John Elway | QB | 1983-98 | 1999 |
Louis Wright | CB | 1975-86 | 1993 |
Tom Jackson | LB | 1973-86 | 1992 |
Randy Gradishar | LB | 1974-83 | 1989 |
Craig Morton | QB | 1977-82 | 1988 |
Haven Moses | WR | 1972-81 | 1988 |
Jim Turner | K | 1971-79 | 1988 |
Billy Thompson | S | 1969-81 | 1987 |
Charley Johnson | QB | 1972-75 | 1986 |
Paul Smith | DT | 1968-78 | 1986 |
Frank Tripucka | QB | 1960-63 | 1986 |
Gerald H. Phipps | Owner | 1961-81 | 1985 |
Austin "Goose" Gonsoulin | S | 1960-66 | 1984 |
Rich Jackson | DE | 1967-72 | 1984 |
Floyd Little | RB | 1967-75 | 1984 |
Lionel Taylor | WR | 1960-66 | 1984 |