1971 Denver Broncos season

American football team season December 2013 February 2026 Denver Broncos 1971 4–9–1 4th AFC West Lou Saban (first 9 games, 2–6–1)Jerry Smith (last 5 games, 2–3) Lou Saban Gerald Phipps Mile High Stadium Did not qualify Broncos seasons thumb | right | Uniforms of the Denver Broncos from 1968 to 1996 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;Sports Illustrated, July 26, 2010, The Unexpected Hero by Gary Smith, p.63, Published by Time Inc. the future Hall of Famer ran for 1,133 yards, averaging four yards per carry. 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.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=zKpeAAAAIBAJ&pg=857%2C537449 Youngstown Vindicator Ohio UPI Saban quits Denver job November 17, 1971 42https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=6NlVAAAAIBAJ&pg=6815%2C4230204 Eugene Register-Guard Oregon Associated Press Smith takes Bronco reins from Saban November 18, 1971 4D Several days after the season finale, Saban was hired as head coach of the Buffalo Bills, who had just one victory in 1971.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=KNszAAAAIBAJ&pg=5232%2C6145450 Eugene Register-Guard Oregon Associated Press NFL clubs, Baylor hire new coaches December 24, 1971 3Bhttps://news.google.com/newspapers?id=GgJEAAAAIBAJ&pg=1869%2C6801719 Daily Sentinel Middleport-Pomeroy, Ohio UPI Saban promises shakeup in ranks December 24, 1971 4 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.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=2u9LAAAAIBAJ&pg=7134%2C2115244 Spokesman-Review Spokane, Washington Associated Press Five-year pro deal to Ralston January 6, 1972 23https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=jNZjAAAAIBAJ&pg=7217%2C1133298 Deseret News Salt Lake City, Utah UPI King Errol Ralston's talking Super Bowl January 6, 1972 C1 Offseason NFL draft 1971 NFL draft 1971 Denver Broncos 1 12 Marv Montgomery OT USC From Green Bay yes 2 35 Dwight Harrison WR Texas A&I yes 4 79 Lyle Alzado DE Yankton yes yes 4 87 Cleo Johnson DB Alcorn A&M 6 139 Harold Phillips DB Michigan State 7 165 Doug Adams LB Ohio State 8 187 Tom Beard C Michigan State 9 217 John Handy LB Purdue 10 243 Carlis Harris WR Idaho State 11 269 Roger Roitsch DT Rice 12 295 Floyd Franks WR Ole Miss 13 321 Craig Blackford QB Evansville 14 350 Tommy Lyons C Georgia yes 15 373 Larry James RB Norfork State 16 399 Steve Thompson DT Minnesota 17 425 Jack Simcsak K Virginia Tech Personnel Staff / Coaches 1971 Denver Broncos Team Owner / Chairman of the Board – Gerald Phipps Team President – Allan Phipps Director of Player Personnel – Fred Gehrke Director of Scouting – Carroll Hardy General manager/head coach – Lou Saban Offensive Backfield – Hunter Enis Offensive Line – Jerry Smith (interim Head Coach) Defensive Line – Stan Jones Defensive Secondary – Joe Collier Special Teams/Tight Ends – Whitey Dovell Roster 1971 Denver Broncos 41 7 7 10 Steve Ramsey American football 12 John Stofa 11 Bobby Anderson American football 33 Joe Dawkins 44 Floyd Little 22 Fran Lynch 35 Clem Turner 40 Jack Gehrke 82 Dwight Harrison y 80 Jerry Simmons wide receiver 42 Billy Van Heusen P 81 Billy Masters American football 85 John Mosier American football 56 Jay Bachman C 74 Mike Current T 67 George Goeddeke C/G 68 Larron Jackson y G 61 Tommy Lyons American football y G 78 Marv Montgomery y T 64 Mike Schnitker G 75 Roger Shoals T 77 Lyle Alzado y DE 79 Carter Campbell DE 63 Dave Costa DT/DE 76 Tom Domres DT 62 Jerry Inman DT 70 Paul Smith defensive end DT/DE 52 Fred Forsberg American football MLB 58 Bill McKoy OLB 54 Chip Myrtle OLB 50 Olen Underwood OLB 56 Dave Washington OLB 24 Butch Byrd FS/CB 28 Cornell Gordon SS 20 Charlie Greer SS 41 Leroy Mitchell CB 21 Randy Montgomery CB 26 George Saimes FS 36 Bill Thompson American football CB 15 Jim Turner placekicker K 72 Sam Brunelli G IR 53 Ken Criter LB IR 55 Pete Duranko DE IR -- Mckinney Evans no CB IR 13 Don Horn QB IR 87 Rich Jackson DE IR 59 Larry Kaminski C IR 73 Walt Barnes defensive lineman DT 60 Tom Beard y C 89 Gordon Bowdell y WR 88 Tom Buckman TE 57 Bob Geddes LB  8 Jack Simcsak y no K/P 14 Bobby Stewart no QB Source: Regular season 1971 NFL season Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance 1 September 19 Miami Dolphins T 10–10 0–0–1 Mile High Stadium 51,228 2 September 26 at Green Bay Packers L 13–34 0–1–1 Milwaukee County Stadium 47,957 3 October 3 Kansas City Chiefs L 3–16 0–2–1 Mile High Stadium 51,200 4 October 10 Oakland Raiders L 16–27 0–3–1 Mile High Stadium 51,200 5 October 17 San Diego Chargers W 20–16 1–3–1 Mile High Stadium 51,200 6 October 24 at Cleveland Browns W 27–0 2–3–1 Cleveland Stadium 75,674 7 October 31 at Philadelphia Eagles L 16–17 2–4–1 Veterans Stadium 65,358 8 November 7 Detroit Lions L 20–24 2–5–1 Mile High Stadium 51,200 9 November 14 Cincinnati Bengals L 10–24 2–6–1 Mile High Stadium 51,200 10 November 21 at Kansas City Chiefs L 10–28 2–7–1 Municipal Stadium 49,945 11 November 28 at Pittsburgh Steelers W 22–10 3–7–1 Three Rivers Stadium 39,710 12 December 5 Chicago Bears W 6–3 4–7–1 Mile High Stadium 51,200 13 December 12 at San Diego Chargers L 17–45 4–8–1 San Diego Stadium 44,347 14 December 19 at Oakland Raiders L 13–21 4–9–1 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.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=b5BfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=yzAMAAAAIBAJ&pg=2150%2C2520439 Lewiston Morning Tribune Idaho Associated Press Raiders may have to move games if A's gain Series August 13, 1971 22 Standings References 2 External links Denver Broncos – 1971 media guide 1971 Denver Broncos season at jt-sw.com 1971 Denver Broncos at Pro-Football-Reference.com Category:Denver Broncos seasons Denver Broncos Category:1971 in sports in Colorado Category:Long stubs with short prose