1976 Denver Broncos season

Last updated

1976 Denver Broncos season
Owner Gerald Phipps
General managerJohn Ralston
Head coach John Ralston
Home field Mile 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]

Contents

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
RoundPickPlayerPositionCollegeNotes
115 Tom Glassic   G Virginia
243 Kurt Knoff   S Kansas
4107 Craig Penrose   QB San Diego State
5139 Lonnie Perrin   RB Illinois
8224James Betterson  RB North Carolina
9252Jim Czirr  C Michigan
9260Jim Lisko  LB Arkansas State
10278Art Gilliam  DE Grambling State
11306Greg Pittman  LB Iowa State
12334Randy Moore  DT Arizona State
13362Donnie McGraw  DB Houston
14390 Larry Evans   LB Mississippi College
15418Wilbur Summers  P Louisville
16446John Huddleston  LB Utah
17474Randy 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
  • 60 Paul Howard G (IR Tooltip Injured reserve) Injury icon 2.svg
  • 42 Billy Van Heusen P/WR (IR Tooltip Injured reserve) Injury icon 2.svg


Practice squad



Rookies in italics

Schedule

WeekDateOpponentResultRecordVenueAttendance
1September 12at Cincinnati Bengals L 7–170–1 Riverfront Stadium 53,464
2September 19 New York Jets W 46–31–1 Mile High Stadium 62,669
3September 26 Cleveland Browns W 44–132–1Mile High Stadium62,975
4October 3 San Diego Chargers W 26–03–1Mile High Stadium63,369
5October 10at Houston Oilers L 3–173–2 Astrodome 45,298
6October 17 Oakland Raiders L 10–173–3Mile High Stadium63,431
7October 24at Kansas City Chiefs W 35–264–3 Arrowhead Stadium 57,961
8October 31at Oakland Raiders L 6–194–4 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum 52,169
9November 7 Tampa Bay Buccaneers W 48–135–4Mile High Stadium62,703
10November 14at San Diego Chargers W 17–06–4 San Diego Stadium 32,017
11November 21 New York Giants W 14–137–4Mile High Stadium63,151
12November 28at New England Patriots L 14–387–5 Schaefer Stadium 61,128
13December 5 Kansas City Chiefs W 17–168–5Mile High Stadium58,170
14December 12at Chicago Bears W 28–149–5 Soldier Field 44,459
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Standings

AFC West
WLTPCTDIVCONFPFPASTK
Oakland Raiders (1)1310.9297–010–1350237W10
Denver Broncos 950.6435–27–5315206W2
San Diego Chargers 680.4292–54–8248285L1
Kansas City Chiefs 590.3572–54–8290376W1
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 0140.0000–40–13125412L14

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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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