The Denver Broncos announced three elected into the team’s ring of fame. Kicker Jason Elam, Linebacker Simon Fletcher and Safety John Lynch will be inducted in the 2016 season.

Jason Elam who played for the Broncos from 1993-2007 is second all-time in points scored with one team with 1,786 points in his 15 seasons in Denver and is second in franchise history in wins (152) only behind John Elway. “Probably the biggest honor I’ve ever received,” Elam said via conference call with the media. “There are 28 guys up there. I just feel incredibly honored to be mentioned with all of them. I’m excited to go in with Simon (Fletcher) and John (Lynch) and I can’t wait to have a front row seat to cheer them on again. I’m so thankful and blessed to be drafted in 1993 with the Denver Broncos and I can’t think of a better organization to be a part of.

Simon Fletcher, who has been a popular candidate for induction in years gone by, holds the Broncos franchise record for career sacks 97.5 and started every game in his 11-year career but never made a pro bowl. Fletcher said via conference call with the Denver media “I could always run fast but I’m generally slow at everything else in life so the wait wasn’t surprising.”

John Lynch will become the fifth safety in the Broncos ring of fame. Lynch only played four season’s for the Broncos but Joe Ellis said it was what he did in that time that made him deserving of this honor. “He only played for us for four season’s,” Ellis said. “But in those four years, he made four pro bowls and was a great ambassador for the team.”

There is a 5-year waiting period before a player/coach can be inducted into the Ring of Fame. There was some speculation that the Broncos may decide to waive that rule for recently retired QB Peyton Manning but Joe Ellis said they did not consider it. “It’s only been (waived) one time. For arguably the greatest player in franchise history John Elway who the owner obviously has a soft spot in his heart for. I’m not the owner of the team so I won’t make that call to waive it.”

DENVER BRONCOS RING OF FAME