Several Broncos nominated for Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2025

DENVER (KDVR) – Several Denver Broncos players, including wide receiver Demaryius Thomas, have been nominated for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2025, including two in their first year of eligibility.

Thomas, who played for the Broncos from 2010 to 2018, and cornerback Aqib Talib, who played for the team from 2014 to 2017, both retired from the sport in 2019, meaning this is the first year they’ve been eligible for nomination.

There were 16 first-year candidates and 167 modern-era players nominated this year. There are several rounds that the Pro Football Hall of Fame selection committee will then go through before settling on the four to eight retired players who will be inducted.

Thomas, who died in 2021, was nominated posthumously.

Thomas and Aqib were part of bringing home the team’s third Super Bowl win against the North Carolina Panthers in 2015.

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Two other players on that Super Bowl 50 team have already been inducted into the Hall of Fame: Quarterback Peyton Manning and linebacker DeMarcus Ware, who were inducted in 2021 and 2023 respectively.

Broncos Ring of Fame members Rod Smith, Tom Nalen and Jason Elam were also nominated this year. All three were Broncos players in 1997 and 1998 when the team won back-to-back Super Bowls.

Thirteen other players with ties to the Broncos were nominated as well.

Broncos legend Randy Gradishar, who played for the team in the 70s and 80s, was part of the most recent Hall of Fame class inducted in February.

Overall, 16 former Broncos players have been inducted into the 378-member Hall of Fame.

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