1975 Denver Broncos season
OwnerGerald Phipps
General managerJohn Ralston
Head coachJohn Ralston
Home fieldMile High Stadium
Results
Record6–8
Division place2nd AFC West
Playoff finishDid not qualify

The 1975 Denver Broncos season was the team's 16th year in professional football and its sixth with the National Football League (NFL). Led by fourth-year head coach and general manager John Ralston, the Broncos were 6–8, second in the AFC West,[1] but five games behind the Oakland Raiders, who clinched in late November.

Denver opened the season with two wins at home, against the Chiefs and Packers,[2] but won only four of their last twelve games. In their sixteen years of existence, the Broncos had yet to reach the postseason.

Offseason

NFL Draft

Main article: 1975 NFL Draft
1975 Denver Broncos draft
Round Pick Player Position College Notes
1 17 Louis Wright *  CB San Jose State
2 43 Charles Smith  DE North Carolina Central
3 54 Mike Franckowiak  FB Central Michigan
3 69 Drew Mahalic  LB Notre Dame
4 84 Steve Taylor  DB Georgia
4 95 Rick Upchurch *  WR Minnesota
5 107 Stan Rogers  T Maryland
5 121 Rubin Carter  DT Miami (FL)
8 199 Steve Foley  DB Tulane
9 225 Rousell Williams  DB Arizona
10 240 Hank Englehardt  C Pacific
10 251 Steve Haggerty  WR UNLV
12 303 Harry Walters  LB Maryland
13 329 Eric Penick  RB Notre Dame
14 355 Jerry Arnold  G Oklahoma
15 381 Ken Shelton  TE Virginia
16 409 Bubba Bridges  DT Colorado
17 433 Lester Sherman  RB Albany State
      Made roster    †   Pro Football Hall of Fame    *   Made at least one Pro Bowl during career

Personnel

Staff

1975 Denver Broncos staff

Front office

Head coaches

Offensive coaches

Defensive coaches

Special teams coaches

  • Special Teams/Linebackers – Myrel Moore


Roster

1975 Denver Broncos roster
Quarterbacks

Running backs

Wide receivers

Tight ends

Offensive linemen

Defensive linemen

Linebackers

Defensive backs

Special teams

Reserve lists


Practice squad



Rookies in italics

Source:

Regular season

Main article: 1975 NFL season

Schedule

Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance
1 September 21 Kansas City Chiefs W 37–33 1–0 Mile High Stadium 51,858
2 September 29 Green Bay Packers W 23–13 2–0 Mile High Stadium 52,621
3 October 5 at Buffalo Bills L 14–38 2–1 Rich Stadium 79,864
4 October 12 at Pittsburgh Steelers L 9–20 2–2 Three Rivers Stadium 49,169
5 October 19 Cleveland Browns W 16–15 3–2 Mile High Stadium 52,590
6 October 26 at Kansas City Chiefs L 13–26 3–3 Arrowhead Stadium 70,043
7 November 2 Oakland Raiders L 17–42 3–4 Mile High Stadium 52,505
8 November 9 Cincinnati Bengals L 16–17 3–5 Mile High Stadium 49,919
9 November 16 at San Diego Chargers W 27–17 4–5 San Diego Stadium 26,048
10 November 23 at Atlanta Falcons L 21–35 4–6 Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium 28,686
11 November 30 San Diego Chargers W 13–10 OT 5–6 Mile High Stadium 44,982
12 December 8 at Oakland Raiders L 10–17 5–7 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum 51,075
13 December 14 Philadelphia Eagles W 25–10 6–7 Mile High Stadium 36,860
14 December 20 at Miami Dolphins L 13–14 6–8 Orange Bowl 43,064
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

[2][3][1]

Game summaries

Week 2

1 234Total
Packers 0 0013 13
• Broncos 0 6710 23
Scoring summary
2DENJim Turner 35 yard field goalDEN 3–0
2DENJim Turner 39 yard field goalDEN 6–0
3DENJack Dolbin 10 yard pass from Steve Ramsey (Jim Turner kick)DEN 13–0
4GBWillard Harrell 4 yard pass from John Hadl (kick failed)DEN 13–6
4DENJim Turner 32 yard field goalDEN 16–6
4GBJohn Brockington 1 yard run (Dave Pureifory kick)DEN 16–13
4DENRandy Gradishar 44 yard interception return (Jim Turner kick)DEN 23–13

[4]

Standings

AFC West
W L T PCT DIV CONF PF PA STK
Oakland Raiders(2) 11 3 0 .786 5–1 8–3 375 255 W1
Denver Broncos 6 8 0 .429 3–3 4–7 254 307 L1
Kansas City Chiefs 5 9 0 .357 3–3 3–8 282 341 L4
San Diego Chargers 2 12 0 .143 1–5 2–9 189 345 L1

References

  1. ^ a b "Dolphins retain slim playoff hopes". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. December 21, 1975. p. 3B.
  2. ^ a b "Broncos' Ramsey steals show". Deseret News. (Salt Lake City, Utah). UPI. September 30, 1975. p. 2C.
  3. ^ "Raiders spend all night in Bronco backfield". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. December 9, 1975. p. 3C.
  4. ^ Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2013-Dec-10.

External links

Denver Broncos
Denver Broncos seasons
1975 NFL season
Categories