Denver Broncos Logo History: Every Change by Year
Posted by JerseyZenith on Oct 26th 2026
- First logo: First logo not confirmed in our sources.
- 7 logo changes are listed by year.
- Photos show uniforms and equipment; standalone logo artwork is not reproduced.
- Sources are Wikipedia and team pages; secondary sources are marked.
This guide covers the Denver Broncos logo history, year by year, in words and tables. It does not cover the colors, which have their own guide.
Denver Broncos logo history by year
The table traces the main logo changes from the first mark to the current one. Dates come from the sources below; where sources disagree we say so.
| Year | Change | Context |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | First logo not confirmed in our sources | |
| 1962 | New bucking horse logo; colors change to orange, royal blue and white | |
| 1968 | Logo redesigned so the horse emerges from a "D" (Orange Crush design) | Used until the 1996 season |
| 1997 | Current horse-head logo unveiled on February 4 | Inspired by the Broncos mascot Thunder |
| 2002 | Orange darkened and navy adjusted slightly | Shade update only |
| 2016 | Throwback D-horse logo used on the helmet for a Color Rush game | Because of the NFL's one-helmet rule |
| 2024 | Mile High Collection keeps the horse head as primary logo | 5280 marks added; no new primary logo |
The current Broncos logo
The current Broncos logo is the horse-head in profile with an orange mane and navy outline, first used in 1997.
We describe the logo in words and use photographs of uniforms and equipment; standalone logo artwork is not reproduced.
Why the Broncos logo changed
The Broncos moved from the D-horse to the horse head in 1997 with the first Nike-heavy redesign. The D-horse returns on throwback and alternate helmets, but the team has said no new primary logo is planned.
Broncos logo, helmet and jersey today
In the Nike era the horse head is on the navy helmet, while the Orange Crush throwback brings back the D-horse. Shop Broncos throwback jerseys, the legends jerseys and the Broncos uniform history.
A logo is only part of the uniform. For colors see the Broncos colors guide and for the year-by-year schedule see the Broncos 2026 uniforms guide.
Primary, alternate and commemorative Broncos logos
The D-horse is back on throwback and alternate helmets, so Broncos fans see both logos in the same season. A 2016 Color Rush helmet and a 2023 white alternate helmet used the D-horse, while the horse head stays the primary logo on the main navy helmet.
| Era | Look | Where you see it |
|---|---|---|
| 1962–1967 | Bucking horse logo in orange, royal blue and white | Archive photos |
| 1968–1996 | D-horse, a horse emerging from a D | Orange Crush throwback |
| 1997–present | Horse head with an orange mane and navy outline | Navy helmet and current jerseys |
How we built this Broncos logo timeline
We collected the dates from the sources listed at the bottom, using the team's own pages where they exist and Wikipedia where they do not. Wikipedia is a secondary source, so we flag the entries where it is the only source and where two sources disagree. We left out anything we could not confirm, such as the Broncos' 1960 logo. Standalone logo artwork is not reproduced.
If you spot a date that looks wrong, check the team's own history page first. A logo can change on the helmet in one season and on the jersey in another, so the year here is the first public use, not always the first game.
What a Broncos logo change means when you buy a jersey
Jerseys follow the logo of their era. A current Nike jersey carries the current mark, a throwback carries an older one, and the product page shows which. If you want an older logo on your jersey, look at the throwback jerseys and compare them with the standard home and away styles in the Denver Broncos jerseys range.
Shop the Broncos look
Nike jerseys carry the logo on the helmet and the chest in different ways, and a throwback or retro style often shows an older mark. Compare Game and Limited in our tier guide, or browse all throwback jerseys for retro and vintage options.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Denver Broncos logo?
A horse head in profile with an orange mane and navy outline.
What is the Denver Broncos old logo?
The D-horse, where a horse emerges from a D, used from 1968 to 1996.
Did the Broncos change their logo?
Yes. The horse head replaced the D-horse in 1997.
When did the Denver Broncos change their logo?
In 1997, with a shade update in 2002.
How to draw the Broncos logo?
We do not provide logo artwork, because it is a team trademark.
Sources
- Wikipedia, Logos and uniforms of the Denver Broncos (secondary source; characters 100,000–200,000 read)
- DenverSports.com, Broncos logo (D logo 1968–1996 and 2024; search summary only)
- JerseyZenith catalog (seo/catalog/products.json), counted October 26, 2026