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View all of the Broncos players in the Pro Football Hall of Fame

Former Denver Broncos linebacker Randy Gradishar was announced as a member of the 2024 Pro Football Hall of Fame class on Thursday night.

So, how many players do the Broncos have in the Hall of Fame now? That depends on who you believe qualifies for the count.

There are obvious players — running back Floyd Little, quarterback John Elway, safety Steve Atwater, tight end Shanahan Sharpe, offensive lineman Gary Zimmerman, running back Terrell Davis and cornerback Champ Bailey are obvious Broncos Hall of Famers. That’s seven.

Quarterback Peyton Manning only played four years in Denver, but he won the AFC West in all four seasons and won Super Bowl 50 with the Broncos. That’s eight. Outside linebacker DeMarcus Ware spent the majority of his career with the Dallas Cowboys, but he won his ring in Denver. Nine.

John Lynch won a Super Bowl with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers but he, like Manning, played the final four years of his career with the Broncos — and he’s a member of the team’s Ring of Fame. Ten.

So Gradishar is essentially the 11th Denver player to reach Canton. There are others, though. Safety Brian Dawkins played three seasons with the Broncos. Cornerback Willie Brown played four seasons in Denver before a 12-year stint with the Oakland Raiders. Running back Tony Dorsett and cornerback Ty Law also spent one season each with the Broncos.

Additionally, late team owner Pat Bowlen was enshrined in the Hall of Fame in 2019. So there are at least a dozen members of the Hall of Fame who Broncos fans can claim as their own. Up next should be former coach Mike Shanahan, who was snubbed again by voters in 2023.

Here’s a quick list of every former Bronco in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

RB Floyd Little (1967-1975)

(Dick Raphael-USA TODAY Sports)
(Dick Raphael-USA TODAY Sports)

LB Randy Gradishar (1974-1983)

(Rod Hanna-USA TODAY Sports)
(Rod Hanna-USA TODAY Sports)

QB John Elway (1983-1998)

(RVR Photos-USA TODAY Sports)
(RVR Photos-USA TODAY Sports)

DB Steve Atwater (1989-1998)

(Rod Hanna-USA TODAY Sports)
(Rod Hanna-USA TODAY Sports)

TE Shannon Sharpe (1990-1999, 2002-2003)

(MARK LEFFINGWELL/AFP/Getty Images)
(MARK LEFFINGWELL/AFP/Getty Images)

OL Gary Zimmerman (1993-1997)

(USA TODAY Sports, US Presswire Sports Archive)
(USA TODAY Sports, US Presswire Sports Archive)

RB Terrell Davis (1995-2001)

(RVR Photos-USA TODAY Sports)
(RVR Photos-USA TODAY Sports)

DB John Lynch (2004-2007)

(Rick Scuteri-US Presswire)
(Rick Scuteri-US Presswire)

CB Champ Bailey (2004-2013)

(AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
(AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)

QB Peyton Manning (2012-2015)

(Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports)
(Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports)

OLB DeMarcus Ware (2014-2016)

(Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
(Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

Owner Pat Bowlen (1984-2019)

(Manny Rubio-USA TODAY Sports)
(Manny Rubio-USA TODAY Sports)

DB Brian Dawkins (2009-2011)

Brian Dawkins
(Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports)

CB Willie Brown (1963-1966)

(Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports)
(Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports)

RB Tony Dorsett (1988)

(Rod Hanna-USA TODAY Sports)
(Rod Hanna-USA TODAY Sports)

CB Ty Law (2009)

(Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports)
(Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports)

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Story originally appeared on Broncos Wire