1980 Denver Broncos

1980 Denver Broncos season
Owner	Gerald Phipps
Head Coach	Red Miller
General Manager	Fred Gehrke
Home Field	Mile High Stadium
Results
Record	8–8
Place	4th AFC West
Playoff Finish	did not qualify
Timeline
Previous Season	Next Season
1979	1981

The 1980 Denver Broncos season was the team's 21st year in professional football and its 11th with the National Football League. Led by fourth-year head coach Red Miller the Broncos were 8–8, tied for third in the AFC West (fourth via tiebreaker), and missed the playoffs for the first time in four seasons. It was Red Miller's final season as the team's head coach; ownership changed in February 1981 and front office changes were made in March.

Personnel

Staff

1980 Denver Broncos final staff
	Front Office Chairman of the Board – Gerald Phipps President – Allan Phipps Vice President/General Manager – Fred Gehrke Director of player personnel – Carroll Hardy Director of Pro Personnel – John Beake Head Coaches Head coach – Red Miller Offensive Coaches Offensive Coordinator – Rod Dowhower Offensive Backfield – Paul Roach Wide Receivers – Fran Polsfoot Offensive Line – Whitey Dovell			Defensive Coaches Defensive Coordinator – Joe Collier Defensive Line – Stan Jones Linebackers – Bob Zeman Defensive Backs – Richie McCabe Special Teams Coaches Special Teams – Marv Braden

Roster

1980 Denver Broncos roster
	Quarterbacks 16 Jeff Knapple 7 Craig Morton 17 Matt Robinson Running backs 24 Otis Armstrong HB 30 Jim Jensen 32 Jon Keyworth FB 41 Rob Lytle HB 34 Ben Norman 46 Dave Preston FB Wide receivers 82 Larry Brunson 25 Haven Moses 80 Rick Upchurch KR/PR 81 Steve Watson Tight ends 85 Ron Egloff 86 Emery Moorehead 88 Riley Odoms		Offensive linemen 54 Keith Bishop G 64 Billy Bryan C 73 Kelvin Clark T 62 Tom Glassic G 65 Glenn Hyde G 60 Paul Howard G 71 Claudie Minor T 70 Dave Studdard T Defensive linemen 77 Greg Boyd DE 79 Barney Chavous DE 68 Rubin Carter DT 75 Rulon Jones DE 72 Don Latimer DT 66 Brison Manor DE		Linebackers 52 Greg Bracelin 56 Larry Evans 53 Randy Gradishar ILB 57 Tom Jackson OLB 58 Rob Nairne 59 Joe Rizzo 50 Jim Ryan Defensive backs Special teams 11 Luke Prestridge P 19 Fred Steinfort K		Reserve lists 35 Larry Canada RB (IR) -- John Havekost G (IR) 24 Rick Parros RB (IR) -- Golden Richards WR (IR) 51 Bob Swenson LB (IR) Practice/Taxi Squad Rookies in italics

Schedule

Week	Date	Opponent	Result	Game site	Attendance	Record
1	Sep 7	at Philadelphia Eagles	L 6–27	Veterans Stadium	70,307	0–1
2	Sep 14	Dallas Cowboys	W 41–20	Mile High Stadium	74,919	1–1
3	Sep 21	San Diego Chargers	L 13–30	Mile High Stadium	74,970	1–2
4	Sep 29	at New England Patriots	L 14–23	Schaefer Stadium	60,153	1–3
5	Oct 5	at Cleveland Browns	W 19–16	Cleveland Stadium	81,065	2–3
6	Oct 13	Washington Redskins	W 20–17	Mile High Stadium	74,657	3–3
7	Oct 19	Kansas City Chiefs	L 17–23	Mile High Stadium	74,459	3–4
8	Oct 26	at New York Giants	W 14–9	Giants Stadium	67,598	4–4
9	Nov 2	Houston Oilers	L 16–20	Mile High Stadium	74,717	4–5
10	Nov 9	at San Diego Chargers	W 20–13	San Diego Stadium	51,435	5–5
11	Nov 16	New York Jets	W 31–24	Mile High Stadium	72,114	6–5
12	Nov 23	Seattle Seahawks	W 36–20	Mile High Stadium	73,274	7–5
13	Dec 1	at Oakland Raiders	L 3–9	Oakland Coliseum	51,593	7–6
14	Dec 7	at Kansas City Chiefs	L 14–31	Arrowhead Stadium	40,237	7–7
15	Dec 14	Oakland Raiders	L 21–24	Mile High Stadium	73,974	7–8
16	Dec 21	at Seattle Seahawks	W 25–17	Kingdome	51,853	8–8

Standings

1980 AFC West Standings
Team	W	L	T	PCT	PF	PA	STK
San Diego Chargers	11	5	0	.688	418	327	W2
Oakland Raiders	11	5	0	.688	364	306	W2
Kansas City Chiefs	8	8	0	.500	319	336	W1
Denver Broncos	8	8	0	.500	310	323	W1
Seattle Seahawks	4	12	0	.250	291	408	L9

External links

• Broncos on Pro Football Reference
• Broncos Schedule on jt-sw.com