Hall of Fame QB Peyton Manning signs with Broncos | March 20, 2012 | Colorado’s Top 150 Sports Moments

By Chris Schmaedeke May 14, 2026 | updated 3 weeks ago

FILE - In this March 20, 2012, file photo, Denver Broncos executive vice president of football operations John Elway, right, and new quarterback Peyton Manning smile during an NFL football news conference at the team's headquarters in Englewood, Colo. Elway is turning the Broncos into winners again. As recently as two years ago, they were dissolving into irrelevance. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski, File) Photo by

Happy birthday, Colorado — and Colorado sports.

Leading into the state’s 150th birthday Aug. 1, The Denver Gazette has partnered with the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame to publicize the definitive list of Colorado’s top 150 sports moments.

Colorado Sports Hall of Fame historian Dave Plati and a committee of 10 compiled and will release the list every week until the No. 1 moment on July 31. Plati and Broncos icon Jim Saccomano will unveil the list weekly on a Colorado Sports Hall of Fame podcast at coloradosports.org/podcast/.

Colorado Sports Hall of FaMme Top 150 Sports Moments

No. 58 — March 20, 2012

The Broncos dipped into the free agent market and landed four-time NFL MVP Peyton Manning. He missed the entire 2011 season with a neck injury after he started 208 straight games with Indianapolis to begin his career. Manning in the 2012 season would lead Denver to a 13-3 record, passing for 4,659 yards and 37 touchdowns in completing a career-best 68.6 percent of his passes. Across four years, he helped the Broncos to a 45-12 regular-season record, a pair of Super Bowl appearances and a Super Bowl 50 win.

—Dave Plati, Colorado Sports Hall of Fame histori

Chris Schmaedeke

Reporter