Three great Broncos to be enshrined Monday night

The Denver Broncos have a tradition for only the most elite players to ever don the Orange & Blue. It’s simply known as the “Ring of Fame.”

The ring was introduced in 1984 by owner Pat Bowlen to honor past players and staff for their contributions and dedication to a franchise so rich and thick with tradition. The ring, circling the 500 level of the stadium has a total of 28 names, each as important as the last. Such names include John Elway, Dan Reeves, Tom Nalen, Rod Smith, Steve Atwater, Karl Mecklenburg, Randy Gradishar, Craig Morton, and of course, Bowlen himself after being the only inductee in 2015.

Come Monday night, during halftime against the Houston Texans, the ring will expand to 31 as these three well-deserving men will have their names enshrined in Denver Broncos history.

John Lynch, S, (2004-2007)

Denver is not the only team that will enshrine the former safety this season; Tampa Bay will also honor the perennial pro-bowler.

Lynch spent four short seasons with the Mile High Crew and was dominant each time he saw the field, reaching the Pro Bowl every year. No. 47  was selected to play in Hawaii nine times in his 15-year tenure, only trailing Hall-of-Famer Ken Houston (10) for most all-time at the safety position.

Today, you can hear him doing play-by-play for FOX Sports.

Jason Elam, K, (1994-2007)

Jason Elam, the team’s all-time leader in points (1,786) and field goals made (395) is more than deserving of this honor.

It is not only the records he holds for the Broncos’ that puts him in such high regard, the former third round pick is also accountable for the league’s highest extra point conversion (.995), most consecutive seasons with 100-plus points (15), fastest to make 300 field goals, and fastest to 1,700 total points. It should also come as no surprise that Elam has scored at least 200 points against three teams (Chargers, Raiders, and Chiefs), also an NFL record.

For the first 15 seasons of his career while wearing Orange & Blue, you knew that Elam was clutch; helping Denver win their first two Super Bowls in 1997 and 1998.

Simon Fletcher, LB, (1985-1995)

Most players cannot say they spent the entirety of their career in one city—Simon Fletcher can.

Fletcher was drafted in the second round of the 1984 draft by Denver and quickly rose up the ranks of all-time great players to ever wear the “D” on the helmet. No. 73 played in 172 straight games and started 140 of them consecutively, a team record.

It was not only that Fletcher could start every game, but it’s also that he was productive when on the gridiron as well; Fletcher is Denver’s all-time leader in sacks with 97.5 total takedowns in his 11-year career.

“It is long overdue that he be elected into the Ring of Fame, in his 11-year career, he never missed a game,” President Joe Ellis stated in May of this year. “The all-time leader in sacks, 22 ahead of the second-place guy who is in the Denver Broncos’ Ring of Fame, and that’s Karl Mecklenburg. That is well deserved.”

Not only is Fletcher elated to finally be a part of Broncos’ history, but he also showed he’s still able to have a bit of fun with himself.

“I could run fast, but I’ve truly been slower at every other aspect of life, so [the timing] is not surprising to me.”

Below is the entire list of Broncos Ring of Fame inductees: