Floyd Little - The Legend of 44

Floyd Little, aka ‘The Franchise’, helped save the Denver Broncos.  

During the AFL days, the team was the target for relocation on multiple occasions and would have left Denver had the fan base not rallied around the team, purchased season tickets, and showed that the Denver Broncos could succeed in Denver. The fans rallied in 1967 because Floyd came to Denver.

Drafted in 1967, Floyd was the first high profile Broncos draft pick that actually signed with the team. Prior to 1967 the Broncos had drafted well - three future Hall of Famers in Merlin Olsen, Paul Krause and the one and only Dick Butkus - however they couldn’t sign them due to draft picks being selected by both the AFL and NFL and therefore being able to pick which team they wanted to go to. In 1967, the AFL and NFL were in merger talks and as a result held a joint draft, meaning if you were picked by a team that was where you had to go. Good news for Broncos fans as it meant Floyd was coming to Denver!

Once he arrived, he didn’t disappoint. Helping lead the Broncos to respectability, Floyd also put together a career that would see him inducted into both the Denver Broncos Ring of Fame as well as the Pro Football Hall of Fame and have his iconic number - #44 - retired by the Broncos.

But what about before Floyd arrived in Denver? That part of his legacy is equally impressive.  Floyd helped write the story of the number 44 at Syracuse:  https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/telling-story-syracuse-legendary-44-160000491.html

We are honored to play a small part in forever honoring Floyd’s legacy by working with Syracuse Alum Rob Konrad to help ensure a piece of Floyd’s Denver journey was represented. Our contribution for permanent display in The Legend of 44 display at the JMA Wireless Dome is Floyd’s game worn helmet from early in his career.

Floyd holds a special place in the hearts of Broncos fans, and it’s nice to know that his Denver journey will be represented for years to come!