The quarterback served as ringmaster for "The Greatest Show on Turf." The running backs were known simply by their initials: LT and TD.
All unstoppable in their own way, LaDainian Tomlinson, Terrell Davis and Kurt Warner earned their spots in the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday.
In giving the thumbs-up to Davis and Warner, the 48 Hall of Fame voters answered 'Yes' to the question of whether a few truly dominating years are enough for someone to be enshrined.
Davis was a sixth-round pick in 1995 who caught Broncos coach Mike Shanahan's eye with a big hit on special teams in a preseason game. Davis became the starting tailback, and from 1996-98 he helped the Broncos to 45 victories and finally pushed John Elway over the top with two Super Bowl titles. In 1998, Davis became the fourth runner to surpass 2,000 yards, with 2008.
He suffered a career-changing knee injury in 1999 while making a tackle after an interception, and played only 17 more games before retiring in 2001. His 78 career games spanned seven seasons, meaning Davis lasted the same number of years as Hall of Fame runner Gale Sayers, who is often held up as Exhibit A when voters are debating short bursts of greatness versus longevity.
"I really thought that there's no way they're going to put two backs in the same class, especially a guy that was a first ballot Hall of Famer versus a special circumstance guy like me," Davis said. "I thought that's what they saw me as. When I got the knock, obviously I was shocked."
Also making it were sackmaster Jason Taylor — in on his first ballot, the same as Tomlinson — and Morten Andersen, the NFL's all-time leading scorer, who joins Jan Stenerud as the second pure placekicker to make the hall.
Seahawks safety Kenny Easley made it as a senior nominee, while Cowboys owner Jerry Jones is in as a contributor. Former NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue did not get in, with his role in downplaying the severity of the league's concussion problem a factor in the vote.
