1971 Denver Broncos season

The 1971 Denver Broncos season was the team's 12th 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;[1] the future hall of famer ran for 1,133 yards, averaging four yards per carry.

1971 Denver Broncos season
OwnerGerald Phipps
Head coachLou Saban (9 games)
Jerry Smith (5 games)
General managerLou Saban
Home fieldMile High Stadium
Results
Record4–9–1
Division place4th AFC West
Playoff finishDid not qualify

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.[2][3] Several days after the season finale, Saban was rehired as head coach of the Buffalo Bills, who had just one victory in 1971.[4][5] they 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.[6][7]

Offseason

NFL draft
Main article: 1971 NFL Draft
1971 Denver Broncos draft
Round Pick Player Position College Notes
1 12 Marv Montgomery  OT USC From Green Bay
2 35 Dwight Harrison  WR Texas A&I
4 79 Lyle Alzado *  DE Yankton
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
15 373 Larry James  RB Norfork State
16 399 Steve Thompson  DT Minnesota
17 425 Jack Simcsak  K Virginia Tech
      Made roster    †   Pro Football Hall of Fame    *   Made at least one Pro Bowl during career

Personnel

Staff
1971 Denver Broncos staff
Front office

Head coaches

Offensive coaches

 Defensive coaches

Special teams coaches

  • Special Teams/Tight Ends – Whitey Dovell

Roster
1971 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: 1971 NFL season

Schedule
Week Date Opponent Result Record Game site 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

Standings
AFC West
W L T PCT DIV CONF PF PA STK
Kansas City Chiefs 10 3 1 .769 4–1–1 8–2–1 302 208 W3
Oakland Raiders 8 4 2 .667 4–1–1 7–3–1 344 278 W1
San Diego Chargers 6 8 0 .429 2–4 4–7 311 341 L1
Denver Broncos 4 9 1 .308 1–5 3–6–1 203 275 L2

Note: Tie games were not officially counted in the standings until 1972.

References
  1. Sports Illustrated, July 26, 2010, The Unexpected Hero by Gary Smith, p.63, Published by Time Inc.
  2. "Saban quits Denver job". Youngstown Vindicator. (Ohio). UPI. November 17, 1971. p. 42.
  3. "Smith takes Bronco reins from Saban". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. November 18, 1971. p. 4D.
  4. "NFL clubs, Baylor hire new coaches". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. December 24, 1971. p. 3B.
  5. "Saban promises shakeup in ranks". Daily Sentinel. (Middleport-Pomeroy, Ohio). UPI. December 24, 1971. p. 4.
  6. "Five-year pro deal to Ralston". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. January 6, 1972. p. 23.
  7. King, Errol (January 6, 1972). "Ralston's talking Super Bowl". Deseret News. (Salt Lake City, Utah). UPI. p. C1.
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