1976 Denver Broncos season
OwnerGerald Phipps
General managerJohn Ralston
Head coachJohn Ralston
Home fieldMile High Stadium
Results
Record9–5
Division place2nd AFC West
Playoff finishDid not qualify

The 1976 Denver Broncos season was the team's 17th year in professional football and its seventh with the National Football League (NFL). The team finished the season with a winning record for the third time in the last four seasons. It was John Ralston's fifth and final season as the Broncos' head coach and general manager.[1][2]

Denver was looking to improve on its 6–8 record from 1975 and finished 9–5, second in the AFC West;[3] despite the winning record, the team again missed the playoffs, which included only eight teams. Oakland won the division at 13–1 and New England was the sole wild card team in the AFC at 11–3.[4] Since their inception as an original AFL team in 1960, the Broncos had yet to play in the postseason.

Ralston was relieved of his duties as general manager in mid-December, succeeded by assistant GM Fred Gehrke.[5][6] After several weeks in the restructured organization, Ralston resigned as head coach in late January 1977.[1][2] Red Miller, the offensive line coach at New England under Chuck Fairbanks, was hired as head coach in early February.[7][8] Miller had a previous stint with the Broncos as offensive line coach for three seasons (1963–65).

Offseason

NFL Draft

1976 Denver Broncos draft
Round Pick Player Position College Notes
1 15 Tom Glassic  G Virginia
2 43 Kurt Knoff  S Kansas
4 107 Craig Penrose  QB San Diego State
5 139 Lonnie Perrin  RB Illinois
8 224 James Betterson  RB North Carolina
9 252 Jim Czirr  C Michigan
9 260 Jim Lisko  LB Arkansas State
10 278 Art Gilliam  DE Grambling State
11 306 Greg Pittman  LB Iowa State
12 334 Randy Moore  DT Arizona State
13 362 Donnie McGraw  DB Houston
14 390 Larry Evans  LB Mississippi College
15 418 Wilbur Summers  P Louisville
16 446 John Huddleston  LB Utah
17 474 Randy Cozens  DE Pittsburgh
      Made roster    †   Pro Football Hall of Fame    *   Made at least one Pro Bowl during career

Personnel

Staff

1976 Denver Broncos staff

Front office

Head coaches

Offensive coaches

 Defensive coaches



Roster

1976 Denver Broncos roster
Quarterbacks

Running backs

Wide receivers

Tight ends

 Offensive linemen

Defensive linemen

 Linebackers

Defensive backs

Special teams

 Reserve lists


Practice squad



Rookies in italics

Schedule

Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance
1 September 12 at Cincinnati Bengals L 7–17 0–1 Riverfront Stadium 53,464
2 September 19 New York Jets W 46–3 1–1 Mile High Stadium 62,669
3 September 26 Cleveland Browns W 44–13 2–1 Mile High Stadium 62,975
4 October 3 San Diego Chargers W 26–0 3–1 Mile High Stadium 63,369
5 October 10 at Houston Oilers L 3–17 3–2 Astrodome 45,298
6 October 17 Oakland Raiders L 10–17 3–3 Mile High Stadium 63,431
7 October 24 at Kansas City Chiefs W 35–26 4–3 Arrowhead Stadium 57,961
8 October 31 at Oakland Raiders L 6–19 4–4 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum 52,169
9 November 7 Tampa Bay Buccaneers W 48–13 5–4 Mile High Stadium 62,703
10 November 14 at San Diego Chargers W 17–0 6–4 San Diego Stadium 32,017
11 November 21 New York Giants W 14–13 7–4 Mile High Stadium 63,151
12 November 28 at New England Patriots L 14–38 7–5 Schaefer Stadium 61,128
13 December 5 Kansas City Chiefs W 17–16 8–5 Mile High Stadium 58,170
14 December 12 at Chicago Bears W 28–14 9–5 Soldier Field 44,459
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Standings

AFC West
W L T PCT DIV CONF PF PA STK
Oakland Raiders(1) 13 1 0 .929 7–0 10–1 350 237 W10
Denver Broncos 9 5 0 .643 5–2 7–5 315 206 W2
San Diego Chargers 6 8 0 .429 2–5 4–8 248 285 L1
Kansas City Chiefs 5 9 0 .357 2–5 4–8 290 376 W1
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 0 14 0 .000 0–4 0–13 125 412 L14

References

  1. 1 2 "Following best year, Ralston quits Denver". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. February 1, 1977. p. 17.
  2. 1 2 "Ralston resigns: Miller slated for post". Deseret News. (Salt Lake City, Utah). Associated Press. February 1, 1977. p. 4B.
  3. ↑ "Pro grid stats: final standings". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). December 13, 1976. p. 14.
  4. ↑ "'Skins in, Cards out of playoffs". Deseret News. (Salt Lake City, Utah). Associated Press. December 13, 1976. p. D1.
  5. ↑ "Ralston ponders Denver shakeup". Deseret News. (Salt Lake City, Utah). Associated Press. December 20, 1976. p. 4D.
  6. ↑ "Ralston duties are trimmed". Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). Associated Press. December 20, 1976. p. 36.
  7. ↑ "Broncs select Miller to succeed Ralston". Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). Associated Press. February 1, 1977. p. 24.
  8. ↑ "Broncos pick Miller". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). wire services. February 2, 1977. p. 5B.
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