​We’re wrapping up the Top 5 run with a final, definitive list of the league’s standout special team players. This lineup includes kickers, punters, returners, and gunners, and while it makes the selection process a bit more challenging, that’s all part of the fun of ranking such a multifaceted unit. For me, the clear standout is Jason Elam. He had an exceptionally long, productive tenure and left a lasting mark with a slew of kicking records in Broncos history. Following Elam, Rick Upchurch earns a well-deserved Ring of Fame nod for his explosive return ability and his surprising, effective contributions on offense. Keith Burns stands out as a remarkable special teams captain whose impact is still remembered by fans today, particularly given his responsibilities on kickoff and punt coverage. Tom Rouen is the unquestioned choice for punter, while Marvin Mims Jr. makes the cut despite a relatively short career so far, thanks to his big-play threat and return prowess that fans have come to rely on.
Here’s how the Mile High Report staff broke down the top five for special teams:
Scotty Payne highlights the combination of leg strength from kickers and the game-changing potential of returners who can go the distance. His selections include Jason Elam, Matt Prater, Marvin Mims Jr., Keith Burns, and Chris Hart’s pick. Elam’s longevity and consistency set the standard, Prater’s clutch kicking left a lasting imprint, and Mims Jr. has quickly become a dynamic return threat. Burns is celebrated for his leadership on special teams, rounding out the group alongside Elam and Upchurch.
Chris Hart’s take places Jason Elam at the top of the list due to his exceptional career, Royce-like consistency, and honors such as two Super Bowl titles, Pro Bowls, All-Pro selections, and a spot in the Broncos’ Ring of Fame. He also notes Rick Upchurch as a premier return specialist who contributed on offense, Tom Rouen’s standout punting, Keith Burns’s enduring role during the Broncos’ dominant era in the 1990s, and Marvin Mims Jr.’s early impact as a big-play machine on returns even as his Broncos tenure is still unfolding.
Sadarine adds depth by citing Elam as a kicking trendsetter, Rick Upchurch as a model for what Marvin Mims Jr. aspires to become, and Tom Rouen as a punter whose punting technique and field-position impact were exceptional. He includes Matt Prater and Brandon McManus as fellow clutch kickers who left their own distinctive marks on the record books, underscoring the variety within the position group.
Ian St. Clair notes Elam’s reliability and consistency whenever he took the field, Rouen’s critical role in field-position battles during the Broncos’ Super Bowl years, Burns’s aggressive, dominant style on special teams, Upchurch’s electric return ability—even drawing a comparison to Devin Hester—and a nod to Mingo, the do-everything back in the 1960s who contributed as a runner, returner, and kicker. He highlights Jason Elam, Rich Upchurch, Keith Burns, Tom Rouen, and Gene Mingo as the defining figures of that era.
Putting it all together, Jason Elam consistently rises to the top in these discussions, with Rick Upchurch, Tom Rouen, Keith Burns, and Marvin Mims Jr. forming the rest of the core five in various ballots. Gene Mingo’s standout dual-threat versatility from the 1960s earns him a place in the conversation as a historically significant all-around contributor, while the modern era features Mims Jr. as a current game-changer in return specialization.
In all, compiling this top-five list was tougher than it might appear. The Broncos’ special-teams history is rich with extraordinary players who excelled not only in their primary duties but also in contributing to field position, scoring, and game-changing plays. Selecting five names from such a deep pool is never easy, but the result is a tribute to the franchise’s remarkable legacy in kicking, punting, returning, and covering.
What about you? How would you rank the Broncos’ top five special-teamers? Share your picks and tell us why you’d place certain players ahead of others. If you have thoughts on the best kickers, punters, or return specialists in Broncos history, or if you want to highlight someone who often goes overlooked, join the discussion and help boost the conversation for better SEO presence.