1971 Denver Broncos season

Last updated

1971 Denver Broncos season
Owner Gerald Phipps
General manager Lou Saban
Head coachLou Saban (first 9 games, 2–6–1)
Jerry Smith (last 5 games, 2–3)
Home field Mile High Stadium
Results
Record4–9–1
Division place4th AFC West
Playoff finishDid not qualify

The 1971 Denver Broncos season was the team's twelfth season in professional football and second in the National Football League (NFL). Led by fifth-year head coach and general manager Lou Saban, the Broncos finished the season with four wins, nine losses, and one tie, again fourth in the AFC West. Fifth-year running back Floyd Little became the thirteenth in professional football history to rush for over 1,000 yards in a season; [1] the future Hall of Famer ran for 1,133 yards, averaging four yards per carry.

Contents

On Wednesday, November 17, Saban stepped down as head coach but remained as general manager; offensive line coach Jerry Smith led the team for the final five games, with two wins. [2] [3] Several days after the season finale, Saban was hired as head coach of the Buffalo Bills, who had just one victory in 1971. [4] [5] The Bills improved to 9–5 in 1973 and made the playoffs in 1974.

In early January 1972, the Broncos hired John Ralston as head coach and general manager; he was previously the head coach for nine years at Stanford University, upset winners of the last two Rose Bowls. [6] [7]

Offseason

NFL draft

1971 Denver Broncos draft
RoundPickPlayerPositionCollegeNotes
112 Marv Montgomery   OT USC From Green Bay
235 Dwight Harrison   WR Texas A&I
479 Lyle Alzado  *  DE Yankton
487Cleo Johnson  DB Alcorn A&M
6139Harold Phillips  DB Michigan State
7165 Doug Adams   LB Ohio State
8187Tom Beard  C Michigan State
9217John Handy  LB Purdue
10243Carlis Harris  WR Idaho State
11269Roger Roitsch  DT Rice
12295Floyd Franks  WR Ole Miss
13321Craig Blackford  QB Evansville
14350 Tommy Lyons   C Georgia
15373Larry James  RB Norfork State
16399Steve Thompson  DT Minnesota
17425Jack Simcsak  K Virginia Tech
      Made roster    †    Pro Football Hall of Fame     *   Made at least one Pro Bowl during career

Personnel

Staff

1971 Denver Broncos staff

Front office

Head coaches

Offensive coaches

Defensive coaches

Special teams coaches



Roster

1971 Denver Broncos roster
Quarterbacks (QB)

Running backs (RB)

Wide receivers (WR)

Tight ends (TE)

 Offensive linemen (OL)

Defensive linemen (DL)

 Linebackers (LB)

Defensive backs (DB)

Special teams


Rookies in italics

Source:

Regular season

Schedule

WeekDateOpponentResultRecordVenueAttendance
1September 19 Miami Dolphins T 10–100–0–1 Mile High Stadium 51,228
2September 26at Green Bay Packers L 13–340–1–1 Milwaukee County Stadium 47,957
3October 3 Kansas City Chiefs L 3–160–2–1Mile High Stadium51,200
4October 10 Oakland Raiders L 16–270–3–1Mile High Stadium51,200
5October 17 San Diego Chargers W 20–161–3–1Mile High Stadium51,200
6October 24at Cleveland Browns W 27–02–3–1 Cleveland Stadium 75,674
7October 31at Philadelphia Eagles L 16–172–4–1 Veterans Stadium 65,358
8November 7 Detroit Lions L 20–242–5–1Mile High Stadium51,200
9November 14 Cincinnati Bengals L 10–242–6–1Mile High Stadium51,200
10November 21at Kansas City ChiefsL 10–282–7–1 Municipal Stadium 49,945
11November 28at Pittsburgh Steelers W 22–103–7–1 Three Rivers Stadium 39,710
12December 5 Chicago Bears W 6–34–7–1Mile High Stadium51,200
13December 12at San Diego ChargersL 17–454–8–1 San Diego Stadium 44,347
14December 19at Oakland RaidersL 13–214–9–1 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum 54,651
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
The sites of the two games with the Oakland Raiders were switched. [8]

Standings

AFC West
WLTPCTDIVCONFPFPASTK
Kansas City Chiefs 1031.7694–1–18–2–1302208W3
Oakland Raiders 842.6674–1–17–3–1344278W1
San Diego Chargers 680.4292–44–7311341L1
Denver Broncos 491.3081–53–6–1203275L2
Note: Tie games were not officially counted in the standings until 1972.

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References

  1. ↑ Sports Illustrated, July 26, 2010, The Unexpected Hero by Gary Smith, p.63, Published by Time Inc.
  2. ↑ "Saban quits Denver job". Youngstown Vindicator. (Ohio). UPI. November 17, 1971. p. 42.
  3. ↑ "Smith takes Bronco reins from Saban". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. November 18, 1971. p. 4D.
  4. ↑ "NFL clubs, Baylor hire new coaches". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. December 24, 1971. p. 3B.
  5. ↑ "Saban promises shakeup in ranks". Daily Sentinel. (Middleport-Pomeroy, Ohio). UPI. December 24, 1971. p. 4.
  6. ↑ "Five-year pro deal to Ralston". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. January 6, 1972. p. 23.
  7. ↑ King, Errol (January 6, 1972). "Ralston's talking Super Bowl". Deseret News. (Salt Lake City, Utah). UPI. p. C1.
  8. ↑ "Raiders may have to move games if A's gain Series". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). Associated Press. August 13, 1971. p. 22.
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