The idea of going back to the old Broncos uniforms is a misguided one
Jun 10, 2022, 6:00 AM
The Denver Broncos have officially sold to the Walton-Penner family for an unimaginable amount of money. It’s a new era for the Broncos.
For the first time in a long time, the team will not belong to the Bowlen family. Like any business with new ownership, changes will be made.
Immediately, Broncos fans are talking about how the deep pockets of ownership can benefit their favorite franchise. A new stadium (and surrounding district) and a Russell Wilson contract extension have dominated conversations about potential benefits from the Walton-Penner regime.
These are both legitimate expectations for Broncos Country. The Broncos will need to extend Wilson and something should be done about the bland stadium situation.
As far as other changes, there has been one that is not so much connected to money, but rather a change Broncos Country would like to see.
Broncos fans clamor every offseason for a uniform change. Generally, these uniform changes revolve around a return to the old Broncos D logo with jersey and pants reminiscent of what we saw in the ’70s, ’80s and ’90s. This desire intensified a few years ago when the NFL introduced the color rush uniforms.
New uniforms are exciting, but the Broncos should not do it. The Broncos have made a lot of positive changes in the past few months – new head coach, quarterback and now owner have provided renewed excitement for the Broncos. These changes were necessary, but a uniform change is not needed.
Nostalgia is a big part of sports. Fans love to reminisce about games and players. For whatever reason, the old uniforms and logos have a special place in the heart of Broncos fans.
I don’t get it. The previous uniforms were cool, but there isn’t much to celebrate in bringing them back in some updated variation.
The Broncos got stomped in four Super Bowls in those uniforms. The Broncos lost to the Jaguars in those uniforms. The Broncos and John Elway were a running joke for losing Super Bowls in those uniforms.
Changing uniforms in the late 1990s is one of the best things the Broncos ever did. In 1997, the Broncos introduced the first variation of the current uniform and won back-to-back Super Bowls. The only change in the uniforms was in 2012 when they changed the primary home jersey color from blue to orange.
The current Broncos uniforms have had the best memories for Broncos fans. Back-to-back Super Bowls in 1997-98, being the first team to defeat Tom Brady in the playoffs, Peyton Manning, the 2013 offense, a Super Bowl appearance in 2013 and a Super Bowl win 2015.
In the previous uniforms, the Broncos are 0-4 in Super Bowls. But in the current uniforms, the Broncos are 3-1.
Wilson is about to be the third Hall of Fame quarterback that will wear the present day ensemble.
I’m not sure why everybody is quick to move on from the Broncos uniform that has yielded the most success.
The present-day attire of the Broncos has been part of the most successful seasons in Broncos history.
Players and fans are superstitious and uniforms are no exception. The evidence is Super Bowl 50.
The Broncos chose to wear white that day because the franchise is 0-4 when wearing orange jerseys in Super Bowls. It might not have played a role in the Super Bowl 50 victory, but maybe it did.
Sure, the stripe on the side looks weird, but it’s been there for three Super Bowl victories. The old D is cool because it stands for Denver which the current logo lacks, but that old log didn’t win anything.
The uniforms the Broncos presently wear have been winners from day one, and it’s baffling everybody wants to run them out of town. The Broncos went from punchline to flagship NFL organization in these uniforms.
Changing uniforms is for teams like the Jets that never win so they must do something else to get fans excited.
The Walton-Penner family might be quick to make changes, but it’s important they understand that The Broncos have their highest level of success in the uniform they currently wear.
Sports fans love nostalgia. They love to look back and talk about the best years of their teams.
I’m confused as to why anyone would want to change the uniforms associated with the literal best of years of the Broncos. It’s fun to see the old logo on color rush, but that should be like bumping into your ex.
“Hey, cool, nice to see you, but I’m with somebody better now.”
If the Broncos do change their uniforms, it will be like that stupid song from the 1980s. “You don’t know what you have until it’s gone.”
***