The Fan Turns 30!
For three decades, The Fan has been the go-to station for Denver sports, covering the biggest moments and milestones throughout the years. From championships to MVP performances, from legendary seasons to stunning upsets, The Fan has been there for it all.
To celebrate, Denver Sports is looking back at the most unforgettable moments in a special countdown series, “Mile High Milestones.” Over the next six weeks, they’ll rank the top 30 moments in Denver sports history.
The Broncos’ Search for a Quarterback
Following their Super Bowl 50 victory, the Denver Broncos found themselves in quarterback limbo. With Peyton Manning retiring after hoisting the Lombardi Trophy, the team struggled to find his successor.
Initially, they thought Brock Osweiler was the answer. He had played a key role during their championship run, but he left for a lucrative deal with the Houston Texans before the 2016 season. From there, Denver cycled through numerous quarterbacks—Trevor Siemian (a late-round draft pick), Paxton Lynch (a first-rounder), Case Keenum (a one-year wonder), and Joe Flacco (a former Super Bowl MVP). None of them provided a long-term solution.
By the 2022 offseason, general manager George Paton was determined to put an end to the carousel. He had attempted to trade for Aaron Rodgers the previous year, and in hopes of landing him this time, he even hired Rodgers’ former offensive coordinator, Nathaniel Hackett, as head coach. But Rodgers stayed put, forcing Paton to pivot—and he did so in dramatic fashion.
On March 8, 2022, The Fan’s Zach Bye interrupted regular programming with an electrifying announcement: Denver had pulled off a blockbuster trade with Seattle to acquire Russell Wilson, a future Hall of Fame quarterback. The Broncos sent three players (Noah Fant, Shelby Harris, and Drew Lock), two first-round picks, two second-round picks, and a fifth-rounder to the Seahawks in exchange for Wilson and a fourth-round selection.
The news sent shockwaves through Denver. Fans were thrilled, the media was buzzing, and Hackett was overjoyed. At Wilson’s introductory press conference, the coach could barely contain his excitement, exclaiming, “Wow! Come on, y’all—Russell Wilson!”
The Broncos finally had their franchise quarterback. The long search was over—or so they thought.
A Rapid Downfall
Wilson’s Denver debut showed promise—he threw for 340 yards against his former team, the Seahawks, and had the Broncos in position for a game-winning drive. But Hackett opted for a 64-yard field goal attempt instead, and Brandon McManus narrowly missed, leading to a 17-16 loss.
The following week, Denver won its home opener, but fans were forced to count down the play clock after repeated delay-of-game penalties. A 2-1 start was overshadowed by an ugly 11-10 victory over the 49ers on national television.
Things quickly unraveled. The Broncos lost nine of their final 10 games, including three overtime heartbreakers. Their offense struggled mightily, failing to score more than 11 points in six of their first 11 games. The low point came on Christmas Day, when they suffered a humiliating 51-14 loss to the Rams. Hackett was fired shortly after, and the team finished 4-11.
Denver showed signs of improvement in 2023 under new head coach Sean Payton, staying in playoff contention until a crushing 26-23 loss to the Patriots on Christmas Eve. That defeat marked the end of Wilson’s time in Denver.
In 30 starts, Wilson threw for 6,594 yards, 42 touchdowns, and just 19 interceptions, but his 11-19 record told the real story. Before he ever played a snap on the five-year, $246 million extension the Broncos had given him, the team released him, absorbing a staggering $85 million in dead cap. Wilson moved on, spending 2024 with the Steelers before recently signing with the Giants.
The trade was an outright disaster. But for a brief moment on that unforgettable day in March 2022, Broncos fans had hope. That’s why Wilson’s arrival remains one of the biggest news stories in Denver sports history.
Be the first to comment