The Denver Broncos have a very rich history dating back to the team’s first year in action back in 1960, and have three Super Bowls, eight AFC titles and 38 Ring of Fame members to show for it. One of those ROF members, Rod Smith, the team’s all-time leading receiver, made his way down to practice Thursday to see what the team was working on ahead of the final preseason game.
Smith, 55, spent 12 seasons in the NFL with the Broncos from 1995 to 2006. He finished his career with 11,389 yards and 68 touchdowns while averaging 13.4 yards per reception, and made two All-Pro Second-Teams and three Pro Bowls along the way. He has one of the most iconic touchdowns in franchise history, an 80-yarder in Super Bowl XXXIII, the final passing touchdown of John Elway’s illustrious career.
John Elway’s 80-yard rollout rainbow to Rod Smith for a #Broncos six in Super Bowl XXXIII — the final touchdown pass of Elway’s brilliant NFL career.#BroncosCountry
January 31, 1999 pic.twitter.com/dWVRQckIck
— Kevin Gallagher (@KevG163) January 31, 2025
He had six consecutive 1,000-yard seasons in Denver, part of a longer stretch that saw him eclipse the mark eight times in nine seasons. He hit the 100-reception mark twice, including a 2001 campaign in which his 113 receptions led the NFL.
After Thursday’s practice, Broncos head coach Sean Payton said that he spent some time catching up with the legendary receiver, and had plenty of good things to say about him.
“Fantastic, and his story, I told him, ‘I would have loved to have been able to coach you,’ because all the stories I’ve heard, his toughness, his unselfishness, his journey, that’s inspiring. I didn’t realize he was still playing in that first game here at the new stadium … we chatted about that for a little bit,” Payton said.
That’s high praise coming from one of football’s brightest coaches in Payton. Smith rarely gets brought up in the conversations related to the greatest receivers of all time, but for those who watched him tear up opposing defenses year after year in Denver, they know exactly what he brought to the table every single game.
Payton also described Smith’s emotions that he showed towards this year’s Broncos squad, the team that has the highest expectations of any squad in a decade.
“He’s got a big personality, and you can just feel being around him, his passion for this team and the fans here. I love when these guys come around,” Payton said.
This receiving room — fresh off the trade of Devaughn Vele — has a lot of youth and inexperience outside of Courtland Sutton. If there’s anyone who could teach the young guys a thing or two about being successful in this league, it’s none other than Smith, the greatest receiver in franchise history.