Floyd Little

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Floyd Little earned his nickname "the Franchise" because his decision to sign with the AFL's Broncos was credited with generating sufficient fan interest to keep the team from relocating in the 1960s, and with helping to convince Denver voters to approve funding for the purchase and expansion of Mile High Stadium. In his rookie year, he was elected a team captain; he would be the last Broncos rookie to do so until Bo Nix in 2024. Little was Denver Broncos' team captain in all of his nine seasons with the team, including his rookie campaign. He was the first Bronco to win a rushing title, leading the AFC in rushing in 1970 with 901 yards and the following year he became the first Bronco to eclipse 1,000 yards, gaining 1,133 to lead the NFL. Little was the first player to lead his conference in rushing for a last-place team and the 13th player ever in professional football to rush for at least 1,000 yards in one season. At 5′10″ and 195 pounds, Little was the smallest back to lead the league in rushing since World War II.

In Their Own Story

In a week 12 win over Buffalo, Little caught four passes out of the backfield for 165 yards, including a 66-yard touchdown, setting a franchise record of 41.25 yards per reception, which still stands. During his rookie year, Little led the AFL in punt returns with a 16.9-yard average. He led the AFL in combined yards in 1967 and 1968 and was the only player to return punts for touchdowns in both seasons. During a six-year period (1968–1973), Little rushed for more yards and more yards from scrimmage (rushing and receiving) than any running back in the NFL. In 1975, Little retired as the NFL's seventh all-time leading rusher with 6,323 yards rushing and 54 total touchdowns (rushing, receiving and returns). He also threw a touchdown pass to receiver Jerry Simmons in a 1972 upset over the Oakland Raiders. Little is one of five players in the Super Bowl era to make the Hall of Fame without ever playing a postseason game.

Reader's Guide

Floyd Little played for the Denver Broncos from 1967 through 1975. He was an American Football League All-Star in 1968. He was named first-team "All-AFL" in 1969, and made the AFC-NFC Pro Bowl in 1970, 1971, and 1973. Little's jersey number, 44, was retired by the Broncos in 1975 in his honor. He was a charter member of the Broncos' Ring of Fame in 1984, which also included Rich Jackson, Lionel Taylor, and Goose Gonsoulin. Little was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on August 7, 2010, alongside Jerry Rice, Emmitt Smith, Russ Grimm, Rickey Jackson, John Randle, and Dick LeBeau. From July 2011 to June 2016, Little served as the special assistant to the athletic director at Syracuse University. Little owned automobile dealerships in Denver, the Seattle area and Santa Barbara. He lived with his wife DeBorah in Las Vegas.

Did You Know?

• Floyd Little was the first first-round draft pick to sign with the AFL's Broncos.
• He was the smallest back to lead the league in rushing since World War II, at 5′10″ and 195 pounds.
• Little is one of five players in the Super Bowl era to make the Hall of Fame without ever playing a postseason game.
• He set a franchise record of 41.25 yards per reception in a week 12 win over Buffalo in 1972, which still stands.
• Little's nephew, J. Michael Sturdivant, plays wide receiver for the Green Bay Packers.