Phillip Lindsay to Be Honored as Broncos’ Legend of the Game: A Mile High Moment for a Hometown Hero
Phillip Lindsay is coming home - not as a player this time, but as a celebrated figure in Broncos Country. This Sunday, the Denver native and former Pro Bowl running back will be honored as the Legend of the Game when the Broncos host the Green Bay Packers at Empower Field at Mile High.
For Lindsay, who now co-hosts The Drive on Denver Sports 104.3 The Fan, the moment is more than ceremonial. It’s personal.
It’s full circle. It’s a chance to reconnect with the fans who watched him rise from Denver South High School to the University of Colorado, and eventually, to becoming one of the most beloved undrafted success stories in NFL history.
“I’m going to pump that damn crowd up,” Lindsay said on his radio show, announcing the news with the same fire he used to bring to the field. “Me and the little man, Phil Phil, are going to be out there before kickoff.”
He joked about taking his shirt off to really get the crowd going - a plan quickly vetoed by his wife. But don’t be surprised if his son steals the show instead. The Lindsay family will be watching from a suite provided by the Broncos, soaking in a moment that’s as much about legacy as it is about football.
A Lightning Start to an Unlikely Career
Lindsay’s NFL journey is one of the league’s great underdog stories. Undrafted in 2018, he chose to sign with his hometown Broncos - a move that proved to be a perfect fit. He exploded onto the scene that rookie year, rushing for 1,037 yards and nine touchdowns, earning a Pro Bowl nod and becoming the first undrafted offensive rookie in NFL history to do so.
And he wasn’t done. In 2019, Lindsay followed it up with another 1,000-yard campaign and seven more scores, proving that his rookie season was no fluke. His combination of vision, burst, and relentless energy made him a fan favorite and a spark plug for the offense.
But like many NFL stories, the ride wasn’t without bumps. Injuries in 2020 slowed him down, and the Broncos made a controversial pivot.
They handed a $16 million deal to Melvin Gordon and later signed Mike Boone, moves that effectively ended Lindsay’s time in Denver. The team rescinded his restricted free-agent tender in 2021, and just like that, the hometown kid was on the move.
“Bittersweet for me,” Lindsay said of his departure. “I would’ve loved to be here as a Denver Bronco for the rest of my life.
I didn’t want to leave. Business took over and that’s just how it goes.”
He added, “Anytime you get fired, you’re being replaced, you’re going to feel some type of way. In my case, you feel like you’ve done so much - and yet not enough to stay there a little bit longer. There’s reasons for everything.”
Life After the NFL - and Back to Mile High
After stints with the Texans, Dolphins, and Colts, Lindsay returned to Denver - not as a player, but as a voice. His transition to radio has been seamless, bringing the same passion and insight to the airwaves that he once brought to the gridiron.
But Sunday will be different. Sunday is about stepping back onto the field, if only for a moment, and feeling the roar of Broncos Country again.
He’ll be honored during the game with a tribute video and a ceremonial football toss into the crowd - a nod to the fans who cheered him on from day one. It’s a fitting tribute for a player who never stopped representing Denver, even when he wasn’t wearing orange and blue.
“Being in Denver, playing for the Broncos, was an all-time dream,” Lindsay said. “Come on guys - playing here, high school, college, and then I got an opportunity to put on the orange and blue. I’ll never take that opportunity for granted.”
A Hometown Hero, Forever
Pro football is a business, and sometimes it’s a brutal one. But moments like these remind us that legacy isn’t just about stats or contracts - it’s about connection.
Phillip Lindsay’s connection to Denver is deep, authentic, and enduring. He didn’t just play for the Broncos - he was one of us.
And on Sunday, he’ll be honored as such.
So if you’re at Mile High this weekend, get loud. Because Phillip Lindsay is back where he belongs - in front of the fans who never stopped believing in him.