ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — When the Broncos kick off against the Giants on Sunday, there will be greatness in the building.
Denver will host a 10-year reunion for its Super Bowl 50 championship team during Alumni Weekend, and many of that team's players will be back to honor the anniversary of the franchise's third Lombardi Trophy.
Game day will be an opportunity for Broncos Country to celebrate the 2015 Broncos — and for the 2025 Broncos to make an impression of their own.
"[I'm] really excited to see those guys," Defensive Coordinator Vance Joseph said Thursday. "I told our defense, I said, 'Man, let's play well for these guys. They were the standard for a long time. That team was a special, special, special group of guys, on defense, especially. Let's put our best foot forward for these guys.'"
Joseph coached a number of those players during his stint as the Broncos' head coach, including a number of the "No Fly Zone" defenders.
Reigning Defensive Player of the Year Pat Surtain II said he's looking forward to playing in front of that talented group. A year ago on Alumni Weekend, Surtain recorded a 100-yard pick-six to turn the tide against the rival Raiders.
"I think when you have those great teams with that great lineage come and still support, it means a lot," Surtain said. "I know the stadium will be electric, especially celebrating them, and also celebrating us. They will bring a lot of good juju for the game. It will be awesome."
Wide receiver Courtland Sutton said he has "so much respect" for what the Super Bowl 50 team accomplished — and for how hard it is to try to reach that level of success.
"Coach [Joe] Vitt always says that if you win a Super Bowl, you will walk forever with those guys in the locker room," Sutton said. "I think it's really cool to see the brotherhood those guys have. I think a lot of them still keep in touch to this day, from what I understand.
"It's one of those things that I aspire to be able to have, and we are working towards it every day to be able to do that. It will be fun to be able to play in front of them. I'm excited to watch the defense and do their thing because I know that defense was highly talked about. [They were] very talented and highly [accomplished]. They had a lot of success. It will be cool to watch our defense go out there and perform in front of them and then, ultimately, as a team, go out there and go chase a win. I'm looking forward to it."
BRONCOS ADD SPECIAL TEAMS CONTRIBUTOR
As the Broncos look to improve their special teams coverage performance, Special Teams Coordinator/Assistant Head Coach Darren Rizzi pointed to a recent key acquisition. Denver signed defensive back J.T. Gray of the Ravens' practice squad, and Rizzi said Gray stands alone in his coaching journey.
"Coverage is something we need to improve," Rizzi said. "It's the number one thing we need to improve on right now, I would say, [is] kick coverage, punt coverage. J.T. Gray, in the 30-plus years I've been coaching, is the best coverage player that I've coached. Last year, he was a second-team All-Pro. He's been three times All-Pro in the last five years [and a] Pro Bowler. He brings an added dimension to the coverage aspect of it. He's a really good, well-rounded player, but coverage is what he does best. Listen, we had the ability to go out and get him. Obviously, he has some familiarity with our scheme, our system [and], obviously, with [Head Coach] Sean [Payton] and myself. It just seemed like a natural fit."
Payton said Wednesday the Broncos have "kept our eye on" Gray and acquired him when he recovered from an injury.
"He's terrific in the kicking game," Payton said. "Now, we'll have a chance to evaluate him during the next week and see when and if we're able to get him up. He's a difference-maker in a lot of areas."