Many Denver Broncos fans by now are familiar with last week’s announcement at the National Football League annual meeting relative to the celebration of the 50th year of play by the eight original American Football League teams this year.
I was in elementary school when the AFL and Broncos started playing, at that time unaware that I would be fortunate to ultimately have a career spanning four decades with this new franchise.
One of the pivotal elements of this celebration is that each of the eight teams will wear a throwback uniform, with the Broncos opting for their original threads.
If you are not sitting down, you might want to.
The original uniform of the Denver Broncos was seal brown and gold, although I have always thought “mustard” is a more accurate term for the gold color.
The pants were brown both home and away, the helmet was also brown with just a center stripe and the uniform number on each side. The jersey was gold for home games, white for road, but the most striking — and most would say hideous — element was the socks.
The socks were vertically striped, gold and brown at home, white and brown on the road. Few uniforms like this have been seen before or since.
The combination was frowned upon by all who saw them, and the team’s performance was horrid to boot, so when Jack Faulkner took over as head coach and general manager in 1962, not only did he oversee the switch to orange and blue, but he had the original uniforms burned at a bonfire on the night of the Broncos’ annual intrasquad scrimmage that closed out training camp.
Of course, the bonfire was a big hit — little did they know that they were burning one of the great collectors’ item uniforms in American sport history. A few pair of the socks were sneaked away, one finding its was to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, one to AFL founder Lamar Hunt, soon to be displayed in the Kansas City Chiefs’ new museum, and a few were spirited away by the players themselves.
The Broncos are in possession of just one pair of the socks, the road white and brown, which is displayed at the team’s headquarters in Dove Valley.
One of the most astonishing elements of the story is that the Broncos did not have these uniforms commissioned by a team of artists and tailors.
No, what happened was the Broncos bought them used.
That’s right. The uniform that the Denver Broncos wore in their first two years of operation were purchased from a long defunct and forgotten bowl game called the Copper Bowl, not to be confused with any bowl game that has existed since 1960.
So the uniform and first team colors were literally selected from the rag bag of opportunity. Quite a bit different from how pro sports teams operate today.
The person who gets the credit — yes, credit — because he did what he absolutely had to do given the financial circumstances placed upon him, was general manager Dean Griffing, who came to the Mile High City from the Canadian Football League.
For two years, every rip was stitched, every seam reinforced. Pants and jerseys were let out, taken in, sometimes multiple times each year, and above all, every tear was stitched. After all, these were the uniforms. There were no others.
But some births take place in the best of hospitals, and some take place in a stable. Once born, the person writes his own history, and so does a team.
So since then, this team has fashioned a history like few others. Back to back world championships and at the time the best three-year record in pro football history (1996-98), six AFC championships, eight appearances in the AFC title game, and being chosen by the NFL to play in seven American Bowl games — these are highlights which few teams have. Wins, national television, and growing number of Hall of Famers.
But for the Denver Broncos, it began in the uniform-version of a stable.
And that little chunk of history will be commemmorated this year.
Great info, I like it and I am looking forward to the games that they wear these uniforms!
which games will these be worn? and are they wearin the socks?
kase78matt
Yes, they are wearing the socks.
I am with S.D.Bronco30 as well. I’m looking forward to the games!
I would hate to wear them myself as they would be embarrassing to wear, but funny as heck to watch! I hope no one slides their socks down!
Sweet, we better win both games we play with these on.
Thanks for the History lesson Mr. Saccomano Great info. now we Broncos Fans want our own socks and have our own Bon Fire! Let’s remake this a tradition!
TIME OF POSSESSION ! ! !
GO BRONCOS ! ! !
Should be sweet to see. I wonder what games will be played in these uniforms. You think they will be for sale?
Odd. Earlier on another blog Gray Caldwell said the league mandated the Broncos had to don the hideous brown and yellow. You say the Broncos picked it.
In either case, with at least two other far superior throwback uniforms available to the Broncos, both in orange and blue, brown and yellow is an incredibly odd choice. Orange and blue are the hallmarks of the Broncos, even if the first uniforms were something else.
The Raiders, whose first jerseys as well were completely different from what they have now, decided not to go with their oddball very first uni set, but with something their fans actually recognize as the Raiders.
Choosing a uniform set because they had funny socks is foolish, especially when it has no real visual link to the team Colorado cheers for under blue skies and orange sunsets.
An opportunity wasted.
kewl daug
good story but number of hall of famers is not going up cause our franchise is getting robbed too many bronco greats not in dennis smith steve atwater terrell davis shannon sharp thats 4 huge ones
I want some socks! I would wear them no problem. I’ve seen people wearing worse things in public.
They act like brown and mustard are a *BAD* combination (ha)
I hope we play (and kill) the chargers and chiefs in these
I hope Phillip Rivers has a case of amebic dysentery… but who doesn’t in Broncos nation??? LOL
Why didn’t the Broncos choose to wear the orange uniforms with the “D” logo or at least the one with the drunken horse?
Are they going to wear the vertically striped socks too?!
Gag me with a pitch fork!
Coool cant wait 2 c them. Wonder if we will be able 2 purchase them?
Wonderfully written history lesson Mr. Saccomano ! I enjoyed every sentence.
Can’t want to see brown and mustard all over the Chargers! Go Broncos!
I hope P.R. breaks his neck when BBQ and mustard wipe him six yards backwards
Really Mustard and Brown? Really? Has no one let you all in on a little secret known as team identity? How about ANY of the Blue and Orange jerseys, that we would happily buy…But no, some retread decided that we should go with the original ugliness? Too bad the Rayduhs even showed more smarts than to go back to their first uniform. Seriously, an opportunity wasted, and I promise you the sales of that garbage will disappoint what you’d of gotten from us lifelong Bronco Fans. Pathetic.
i think orange & blue would of been a better choice but its also cool to go back to the roots of the foundation so to speak! but still bad choice on passing up the uniform that i grew up idolizing!
May it suffice that the Broncos have improved their appearance significantly since those days. In any case, no matter what they wear, the Broncos will dominate.
I am very excited to see the uniforms. I have only seen pictures of those days and I am curious to see the helmet. I am yet to see a picture of what the Broncos’ helmet will look like that day.
The helmey is brown with a jersey number on it
I think it would be great if they wore all the jerseys from the ugly brown & mustard to the present.
Sound good. All the unis in one season. Hey, wouldnt it be funny if they made the Raven use there original unis. Browns vs Browns???? Of corse they are not in Clevland but it was there 1st. They are making the cheifs wear the orig Texans unis. Glad we dont have another state on our helmets.
I think it will be cool to see the original uni but, I really wish the Broncos would make the orange jersies, not the throwbacks but the ones they wore twice last year, their permanent home jersies. I miss the Broncos in orange. Does anyone else agree?
lets face it, unless cutler gets a new contract before the draft, hes not going to be wearing this uniform this year. I loathe bus cook
All tht needs to be done here to resolve the whole situation. is mcdaniels needs to fly out to tennessee or whever cutler is staying. Say i apologize for not being straight forward now can we act like men and win some football games. nd then to put the icing on the cake and offer a HUGE contract extension. He jus needs to give Cutler some stability and foundation so tht he knows hey i jus signed a 5 year contract extension worth 80 mil. i aint goin nowhere. Without that this mess will never be resolved.
P.S. God-forbid Jay gets traded on draft day. BUT!! If he gets traded for anything less than Brady Quinn nd a draft pick, then Mcdaniels will be in super heat with fans, sports networks, nd the organization.
M.D. U better make this right!!
Hehe!! Did anybody notice Coach Josh McDaniels holding up the old school uniform with Cutlers name and number????
First of all, I seem to remember hearing that Cutler and the coach are scheduled to talk today, Tuesday. Isn’t that what the ESPN report said – reporting from the owners meeting? Anyone verify this? If so, tonight or tomorrow could be the day we hear something definitive about what’s going to happen. I seriously hope the coach puts forth some real effort to win over “our quarterback.” I tend to think Cutler would change his tune, if he felt like he was wanted in Denver. Obviously, he’s got the skillset to go somewhere where he is wanted. It’s all up to the coach’s mgmnt skillset. We’ll see if he really blew it as much as it seems.
Secondly, I agree whole-heartedly with txbronco53, that the orange jerseys should be Denver’s permenant home jerseys. txbronco 53, is your name a reference to Randy Gradishar by any chance? I think there are many of us who feel the same. Orange is a defensive minded color, as in “Orange Crush.” We need to bring that back to town.
Cutler needs to get to practice and prove he can live up to the hype. http://www.nfl.com reported that he has not even called Bowlen yet. I know if any of my employees didn’t return my calls for weeks they would be out. Time to grow up and be a leader. I think Josh is right for treating everyone the same. Teams win championships not quarterbacks. That’s why Big Ben has 2 super bowls. It’s about being a selfless leader. It’s not about being a great talent with no leadership skills i.e. Ryan Leaf and Jeff George.
When was the last time Steelers coach tried to trade Big Ben? Oh yea… never. Broncochick1, I understand what you mean–that we all want Cutler to get to work. But It’s also a two way street. It’s the coach’s job to manage the team, and this coach started off by alienating our best player–Jay Cutler, who is so inherently loyal that he stayed at Vandy for his entire college career. To make matters worse, now the players are boycotting the media altogether (aka: communicating with the fans). Not a great chapter in Bronco fan history if you ask me.
Broncochick1, is your name a play on Bellechick (I probably mispelled the name. I usually just call him “the coach in NE”) because you’re such a big fan of his? Or are you a Bronco-chick, as in a bronco fan who is of the female persuassion? Personally, I hope it’s the latter. I like Bronco-chicks! In any case, you may want to clarify, in light of the current situation.
Hoping for good news tonight!
Bleeding mustard and brown now (I guess).
Go Denver!
I am a female Cutlerizer. Bronco Chick!!! And I get what you’re saying too. My point was just that from day 1 Big Ben proved he was a leader. His team went to the AFC championship game his rookie year and lost to the Pats. From them he has taken his team to 2 Super Bowl victories. So rest assure he is not being traded. However, I think anyone could be traded in this league. It’s football… But it’s a business. So Josh entertained some trades for Cutler. So what? He’s trying to make our team better… And if Cutler can’t handle that then I doubt he can handle playoff football. You have to prove yourself in the NFL sometimes. Ask Big Ben, Tom Brady and even a guy named Vince Young who was drafted before Mr. Cutler if you remember correctly. The guy should be at practice proving to McDaniels he is the best quarterback for Denver instead of pouting. I am a chick Cutlerizer and I like men. Cutler should try acting like one and maybe I would like him too. I liked boys in Junior High School. That was 20 years ago.
I’ve always known we would do a throwback to these things eventually…. It’s kinda good that we’re jumping the gun a year early to get it over with lol…. It’ll be nice to be able to purchase a throwback of the orange crush jerseys with some current players, but I wouldn’t even be too stoked about purchasing, let alone wearing a mustard brown and yellow jersey – but memorabilia-wise I can totally see it (just not a current player), it would have to be a player who was around from back then….
Matter of opinion obviously, but I would love an orange crush jersey (or the drunken Bronco style) of any player I could get (because I would enjoy wearing it)… I would just find it hard to don anything Broncos that has absolutely no orange or blue…. Then again, if I was around back then and able to be a Bronco fan since that time, I imagine I would love wearing a throwback since I was there…. Thanks for the post Mr. Soccomano!
Where can I get some socks? Are the broncos store or any other store going to carry them? If so I’m sooooo buying them! To me the socks and jerseys will be a nice addition to my collection. Plus I want to wear the socks! Never worried about fitting in with the Jones, I like the Adams.
This will be entertaining.. lets just get on with the season already!!
Hey Broncos Faithful,
Wouldn’t that jersey that coach McDaniels is holding look good on Jay Cutler on Thanksgiving evening when the Broncos beat up the Giants. That would be the best desert ever!
Go Broncos!
A great desert for sure! Pass the turkey!
BREAKING NEWS:
Bowlen says Broncos will try to trade Cutler
Posted: News | NFL.com Staff | Tags: Denver Broncos, Jay Cutler, Josh McDaniels, Pat Bowlen
It’s official: QB Jay Cutler and the Denver Broncos are getting a divorce.
After a contentious and over a month-long falling-out between Cutler and new coach Josh McDaniels couldn’t be resolved, Broncos owner Pat Bowlen issued the following statement today:
“Numerous attempts to contact Jay Cutler in the last 10 days, both by Head Coach Josh McDaniels and myself, have been unsuccessful. A conversation with his agent earlier today clearly communicated and confirmed to us that Jay no longer has any desire to play for the Denver Broncos. We will begin discussions with other teams in an effort to accommodate his request to be traded.”
The bad blood between the QB and McDaniels started in late February when word leaked that the new coach reportedly had discussed a deal that would have brought Matt Cassel to Denver and shipped out Cutler. McDaniels tutored Cassel in New England.
i wonder what they are going to do with the #6 Cutler jersey. how about an auction?
To: Cutlerizer
Yes it does refer to the great Randy Gradishar. Hall of fame player but, like all Broncos, passed up for no-names and no Superbowl wins from the Bills, Chargers, Cardinals, etc. The hall is a joke! Sorry, the Hall passing up Gradishar gets me rilied up. We need to email Pat Bowlen and petition him to GIVE US BACK OUR ORANGE! I’m tired of looking like the Chicago Bears.
I told you cutler is a crybaby+will be traded. If he doesn’t want to play for Denver then get him the 1st ticket outie here. Time for a new era. I’m Amped!!!! We don’t need a cancer in the locker room+I’m sure the players are sick of hearing ’bout this. Bowlen stepped up+made the right decision. Bowlen+McDaniel tried to open the lines of communication. Failed. Not their fault. am I right or am I right? Punches n bunches
yea broncomaniac your right about that. If he dosnt want to make his own decisions for once and show some free will then whatev. We may be better off without Jay in the long run
Mr. Saccomano… do you know why mustard & brown turned into orange & blue? I mean, what does orange & blue mean? Is there a meaning behind or was it just another better colored uniform shopping opportunity?
I just have to say I’m very disappointed with Jay Cutler. I expected more from him in all this mess, after all the support the fans gave to his cause vs. McD. So at the end it was all about selfishness and at least for me he never really cared about the Team.
I don’t like some of the things McD has done, but I have to admit he and the organization did things in order to clear the mess and have Jay back. Now, Jay not even answering a call from Mr. Bowlen is beyond hurt feelings or even professionalism… it’s simple education, and Cutler failed in that the worst.
It’s shocking how this person can forget so quickly that he owes big part of his success to what he had in Denver with these OL and receivers. For all the respect that I still have for “the player”, I hope he can end in a team with at least half of the talent he had here supporting his playing, so he can justify the “Pro Bowl price” that team will have to pay for his services.
Go Broncos!
Hey Broncos Faithful,
So much for that desert. You are right on Broncomaniac4life, if Cutler doesn’t want to be here, let him go. It was going to be a struggle for him anyway, having to win back the team. Hopefully coach McDaniels can find a quarterback that will fit in his system and flourish with all the young talent on that side of the ball. I’m sure he will. Hopefully this all works out for the team, and Cutler ends up on a team that doesn’t have nearly as much talent as the Broncos. It’s what he deserves for not manning up and contacting the organization. Hey Jay, stop hiding behind your agent and say something already.
Go Broncos!
MikeyD, Cutler speaks: ‘I didn’t want to get traded’
by Jay Glazer and Alex Marvez, FOXSports.com
http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/9403016/Cutler-speaks:-'I-didn't-want-to-get-traded‘
BLA BLA BLA WHAT EVER JAY, FIRE YOUR agent( lower case intended) AND GET BACK TO WORK!
TIME OF POSSESSION ! ! !
GO BRONCOS ! ! !
lets burn the jersey (cutler 6) with all the socks at the end of the year.
Great history lesson!
But I cant believe they would wear those uniforms again for any reason. I have come to dislike all the throw back uniforms because I feel like i just turned on a bad collage game.
Thanks for the good info, history is always interesting. The game was a lot different back then.
Texark-Fan: I wonder who ended up with the cutler 6 throwback jersey? I think it is a collectors item now. I am with you though, they should burn it at the end of the year, or better yet, at the begining of training camp. Mc D can douse it with gas and Orton can throw the match.
the jerseys are clean, but the pants and socks I dont know-it’ll be cool to re-live those days of the team’s history. hopefully they sell replicas for the public to buy.
Seeing as how my blog is named VerticallyStripedSocks.com, it goes without saying that I am excited about this.