Favorite Broncos of All Time, Secondary

 


Last off-season I ticked down my favorite Broncos of All Time. This off-season, to pass the weeks until we get football, I'm going to be sharing my Top 5 at each position, plus an Honorable Mention. Today I continue with players in the Secondary.

1. Champ Bailey (2004-2013)
Stats:
34 INTs, 122 Passes Defensed, 2 Sacks
About: Bailey is one of my favorite Broncos of All Time, a Hall of Fame defensive back who anchored the Broncos' secondary for a decade. He was a great leader on and off the field and made some outstanding plays, including picking off Tom Brady in the end zone to hand him his first ever playoff loss. When thinking about secondary players for Denver, Bailey is top of the heap for me.

2. Steve Atwater (1989-1998)
Stats:
24 INTs, 68 Passes Defensed, 5 Sacks
About: Atwater was a rock on the back end of the Broncos' defense throughout much of my formative years, including the Super Bowl run. He was a tenacious hitter and fierce competitor, and I was thrilled that he finally made it to the Hall of Fame.

3. Chris Harris, Jr. (2011-2019)
Stats:
20 INTs, 86 Passes Defensed, 4.5 Sacks
About: I was bummed when Harris left following the 2019 season, but grateful for his years in Denver. He was my favorite member of the No Fly Zone, and a tremendous pass defender. He had a great personality and was a lot of fun to watch in a Broncos' uniform.

4. Tyrone Braxton (1987-1993, 1995-1999)
Stats:
34 INTs, 76 Passes Defensed, 3.5 Sacks
About: Braxton played 10 of his 11 seasons with the Broncos in two stints, with a year in Miami wedged in between. He was a fierce competitor and one of the better players to patrol the back end of the Broncos' defense.

5. Aqib Talib (2014-2017)
Stats:
11 INTs, 48 Passes Defensed, 1 Sack
About: When you think of swagger, it's easy to think of Talib. He wasn't with Denver long, but he certainly made an impression. He caused some plenty of drama on the field, but he was a great player that was part of the Super Bowl run.

Honorable Mention: Dennis Smith (1981-1994)
Stats:
30 INTs, 15 Sacks
About: Smith was a great safety who played his entire career with the Broncos. For the last few years of his run he was a great partner with Atwater in the back end. Smith is an under-rated player and one who I always enjoyed watching play.

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