How Many Super Bowls Have the Broncos Been To?

By Sarah Miller · January 4, 2048

The Denver Broncos have appeared in eight Super Bowls throughout their history, winning three championships and losing five. Their victories came in Super Bowl XXXII, XXXIII, and 50, with their most recent appearance in Super Bowl 50 during the 2015 season.

Denver Broncos' Super Bowl Appearances: A Historical Overview

The Denver Broncos are one of the most storied franchises in NFL history, known for their dominant defenses and high-powered offenses over multiple decades. While they've enjoyed consistent regular-season success, their Super Bowl appearances reflect a mix of triumph and heartbreak.

Key Facts About the Broncos' Super Bowl History

The Broncos have played in 8 Super Bowls, ranking among the top teams in total appearances.
They won 3 championships: Super Bowl XXXII, XXXIII, and 50.
Their first Super Bowl appearance was in Super Bowl XII (1978).
Their most recent appearance was in Super Bowl 50 (2016), where they defeated the Carolina Panthers.
The team endured four consecutive Super Bowl losses from 1987 to 1990 (XXI, XXII, XXIV, XXV).

Year-by-Year Breakdown of Broncos Super Bowl Games

Below is a detailed table listing each of the Broncos' Super Bowl appearances, including the date, opponent, final score, MVP, and outcome.

Super Bowl	Date	Opponent	Final Score	MVP	Result
XII	Jan 15, 1978	Dallas Cowboys	27–10	Tony Dorsett (Cowboys)	Loss
XXI	Jan 25, 1987	New York Giants	39–20	Phil Simms (Giants)	Loss
XXII	Jan 31, 1988	Washington Redskins	42–10	Doug Williams (Redskins)	Loss
XXIV	Jan 28, 1990	San Francisco 49ers	55–10	Joe Montana (49ers)	Loss
XXXII	Jan 25, 1998	Green Bay Packers	31–24	Terrell Davis (Broncos)	Win
XXXIII	Jan 31, 1999	Atlanta Falcons	34–19	John Elway (Broncos)	Win
XLVIII	Feb 2, 2014	Seattle Seahawks	43–8	Malcolm Smith (Seahawks)	Loss
50	Feb 7, 2016	Carolina Panthers	24–10	Von Miller (Broncos)	Win

Table data source:1, 2

The data shows a clear evolution in the Broncos' Super Bowl performance. After four consecutive blowout losses in the late 1980s and early 1990s, the team broke through under John Elway and Mike Shanahan, winning back-to-back titles in 1998 and 1999. Their 2016 victory in Super Bowl 50 was driven by one of the greatest defensive performances in Super Bowl history, led by Von Miller.

Championship Wins vs. Losses

The Broncos' Super Bowl record stands at 3 wins and 5 losses. Despite the losing record in title games, their three victories are significant milestones in franchise history.

Notable Victories

Super Bowl XXXII: The Broncos ended a long championship drought by defeating the defending champion Green Bay Packers, led by Terrell Davis’s heroic performance despite a migraine.
Super Bowl XXXIII: John Elway claimed MVP honors in his final game, cementing his legacy as one of the all-time greats.
Super Bowl 50: The defense dominated Cam Newton and the Carolina Panthers, with Von Miller forcing two crucial turnovers.

Difficult Defeats

The four straight losses between 1987 and 1990 established a narrative of Broncos futility on the big stage.
The 55–10 loss in Super Bowl XXIV to the 49ers remains one of the most lopsided defeats in Super Bowl history.
The 43–8 loss in Super Bowl XLVIII to the Seattle Seahawks was the largest margin of defeat in Broncos Super Bowl history.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Broncos and the Super Bowl

How many Super Bowls have the Denver Broncos won?

The Denver Broncos have won three Super Bowls: XXXII, XXXIII, and 50. Their victories came in the 1997, 1998, and 2015 seasons, respectively.

Which Super Bowls did the Broncos lose?

The Broncos lost Super Bowl XII, XXI, XXII, XXIV, and XLVIII. These defeats include some of the most one-sided results in Super Bowl history, particularly against the 49ers and Seahawks.

Who was the MVP in the Broncos' Super Bowl wins?

Terrell Davis was named MVP in Super Bowl XXXII, John Elway in Super Bowl XXXIII, and Von Miller in Super Bowl 50. All three players delivered iconic performances in their respective games.

When was the last time the Broncos went to the Super Bowl?

The last time the Denver Broncos appeared in the Super Bowl was Super Bowl 50 on February 7, 2016, where they defeated the Carolina Panthers 24–10 at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California.

Have the Broncos ever won back-to-back Super Bowls?

Yes, the Denver Broncos won back-to-back Super Bowls in 1998 (XXXII) and 1999 (XXXIII), becoming the first AFC team to win consecutive Super Bowls since the 1970s Pittsburgh Steelers.