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Broncos set to honor Demaryius Thomas, Super Bowl 50 team

Demaryius Thomas is one of the greatest wide receivers in Denver Broncos history.

DT is one of the greatest Broncos.

Today, the receiver with the infectious smile and positive attitude, not to mention a work ethic and skillset that made him so great, will get his rightful place in the Broncos Ring of Fame. On top of that, the franchise will also celebrate the Super Bowl 50 winning team. According to Broncos head coach Sean Payton on Friday, it will be the biggest alumni weekend in the history of the franchise.

This goes without saying, but it’s going to be an emotional celebration today at Mile High.

As Broncos receiver Courtland Sutton said this week to the local media when asked about DT:

“We don’t have enough time to talk about all that. All I can say is … actually, ‘Coop’ (OLB Jonathon Cooper) started asking me about it, and like I told you, I didn’t have enough time. He asked me about it, and I started to tell him, and I’m in the middle of the beginning part of my speech about it, and the next period started, so I didn’t get to finish.

“You guys know that ‘DT’ (former Broncos WR Demaryius Thomas) means the world to me. I have been waiting for this day of him getting his recognition from this organization because of all the things he has done for the Broncos organization. I know this guy loved Denver, he loved Broncos Country, and he loved being able to call this place home for the eight seasons he was able to be here. The small amount of time I was able to spend with him was some of the most impactful time that I have had being a Denver Bronco.

“I know if I didn’t have the guidance of him and (former Broncos receiver) Emmanuel (Sanders) in the room for me as a young rookie, I don’t think I’m able to build the character and build the player that I became without the guidance. I think so highly of ‘DT’. I can talk all day about him. I didn’t get to spend a whole bunch of time with him, but the time I did, he was so impactful that I can sit here all day and talk about the man that he was. Beyond the football player, just the man that he was. He carried himself in such a way that you can only aspire to be able to be talked about in the likes that he is talked about as a person.”

The focal point is, rightfully, on Thomas. It’s a celebration of what he meant to the organization, but also his life. DT tragically lost his life in December 2021 at the age of 33. His family will take part in the celebration, but it’ll no doubt feel like something is missing.

That smile. That attitude. His spirit.

In early August in 2018 Demaryius Thomas and I sat on the grass on the Broncos practice field for almost two hours. We talked about life, what we were reading, the new diet he was trying in an effort to keep his body, which was breaking down, on the football field. Toward the end…

— James Palmer (@JamesPalmerTV) October 17, 2025

“I think it was the consistency of how he came to work every day,” Sutton said to the media. “I have this little thing that I do for some of the guys in the building. It started off as a rookie duty that he gave me. He was like, ‘Hey, I’ve been doing this, but I’m going to pass it to you.’ As a rookie, he passed the donut tradition down to me. It was one of those things that it felt like it was a rookie thing. He said, ‘Hey, you’re going to go to this place, call this place, and tell them that you want to get (this order). They are going to know exactly what it is. Go pick them up, bring them up here, and everyone will love it.’ I said, ‘All right, cool.’

“When he left, I said that I would keep it going. It was something that I saw brought a lot of joy to people in the building. It was like a small tribute to him. Then, when he passed, it felt like it was one of those things that — every Saturday I get the chance to call in and order donuts, it’s a small wink. (It’s like) He’s always still around. I want him to be able to — I don’t think the guys even know where that came from. Everyone thinks, ‘the donuts are here,’ and they get so excited. They don’t really know where that originated from.

“It’s one of those things that, for myself, and for the people who got to spend time with him and got to know where the donuts came from, it’s a reminder that he gets to still be here. He may not be here physically, but he had such a lasting impact that he is not going anywhere from this organization any time soon. I’m happy he’s going to get his recognition from this organization (by) getting inducted into the Ring of (Fame).”

Added Broncos quarterback Bo Nix:

“I remember with (Tim) Tebow and ‘D.T.’ with that game-winner. That’s one of the things I remember. My dad was just leaving Georgia Tech when ‘D.T.’ got there, so I’m pretty sure my dad was part of the regime that helped recruit him. Always thought he was a really good football player. Even playing in the triple option at Georgia Tech, he had found a way to be a good receiver. That’s impressive itself. Great receiver for this organization, a great guy, and I will never forget his walk-off touchdown. It was pretty cool in overtime.”

But this is also a celebration of that Super Bowl 50 team. One of the best defenses and teams in franchise history. One of the best defenses in NFL history. And the fact that it’s been 10 years is crazy.

But Peyton Freakin’ Manning. DeMarcus Ware. Aqib Talib, Chris Harris Jr., Darian Stewart, and T.J. Ward, the No Fly Zone. Emmanuel Sanders. Gary Kubiak. Hopefully, Wade Phillips.

“I’m looking forward to it,” Broncos cornerback Pat Surtain II said this week. “I think when you have those great teams with that great lineage come and still support, it means a lot. I know the stadium will be electric, especially celebrating them, and also celebrating us. They will bring a lot of good juju for the game. It will be awesome.”

Added Payton, on that team:

“It’s unusual to finish minus in the point differential and win a Super Bowl. Yet when you go back, there were a lot of things I think … I wasn’t here, but ‘Kubs’ (former head coach Gary Kubiak) did a great job and probably was the right guy for a difficult job, obviously. And yet I was there working for CBS as an in-game (analyst) … Obviously, the last thing you want is to see your division win a Super Bowl, so I had a chance to see Atlanta and Carolina both lose them. I was really pulling hard for Denver. It was an amazing defensive performance against a good Carolina team.”

Now the fans, the organization, and the current team get to pay tribute and honor one of the greatest players in franchise history, as well as celebrate a special team.

“My understanding is there’ll be more alumni back for this game than in any other game in the history (of the organization),” Payton said to the media on Friday. “Not only (do) you have the Super Bowl (50) champion team, but a player as significant as Demaryius. I’m anxious to meet his family and just see those former players. I think it’s good for our players to see them and be around them.

“It’s one thing I know (Owner) Carrie (Walton Penner) and (Owner and CEO) Greg (Penner), it’s so important to them. Today I previewed his career, then I previewed in the meeting the team. When you really go through that team, game-by-game, it’s fascinating the season they had. Sutton spoke on him a little bit yesterday after practice was up because Courtland spent a year with him. That’s where we’re at.”

Added Sutton:

“It will be cool. I think we had a tribute to them — they were here recently. Aqib came into practice one of the days. It may have been the defense — the ‘No Fly Zone.’ It will be really cool. I got to share the locker room with a few of those guys, and (defensive quality control coach) Todd (Davis) being one of those guys, I get to see him every day. Being able to be one of those guys — myself and (Garett) Bolles being two of the only guys that actually got to share the locker room with a lot of those guys that were still on the team. I have so much respect for them.

“Being somebody that this is my eighth year in the league and understanding how hard it is to win in this league, understand how hard it is to make it to a Super Bowl, and not just make it to the Super Bowl, but to win a Super Bowl. Coach (senior defensive assistant Joe) Vitt always says that if you win a Super Bowl, you will walk forever with those guys in the locker room. I think it’s really cool to see the brotherhood those guys have. I think a lot of them still keep in touch to this day, from what I understand. It’s one of those things that I aspire to be able to have, and we are working towards it every day to be able to do that.

“It will be fun to be able to play in front of them. I’m excited to watch the defense do their thing because I know that defense was highly talked about. (They were) very talented and highly accoladed. They had a lot of success. It will be cool to watch our defense go out there and perform in front of them, and then ultimately as a team, go out there and go chase a win. I’m looking forward to it at Empower Field at Mile High.”

Source: https://www.milehighreport.com/denv...-to-honor-demaryius-thomas-super-bowl-50-team