Denver Gold – Striking Championship Ore
Vital Info
Founded: 1983
Coach: Mouse Davis
Stadium: Mile High Stadium
Division: Pacific
1986 Season
Current Record: 1-1
Next Game: at Pittsburgh Maulers
Previous Game MVP: Bob Gagliano, QB, 33 – 54, 354 yards, 2 TD, 1 Int
Trend: After a blowout loss to the Michigan Panthers, the Gold look to turn things around and march back into the playoffs.
Key Highlights
An opening win over Las Vegas showcased the high powered offensive duo of Gagliano and Johnson.
Gagliano continued to shine in game 2. However, Johnson needs to find some consistency for the team to truly shine.
Denver Gold History – Rocky Road to Redemption
1983: Rocky Beginnings Under Red Miller (8-10)
The Denver Gold’s inaugural 1983 season under head coach Red Miller—best known for leading the Broncos to Super Bowl XII—was a turbulent start. The team showed flashes of potential, particularly on defense with Putt Choate (183 tackles, 4 sacks) and Greg Gerken (7 sacks, 6 forced fumbles) leading a hard-hitting unit. However, inconsistency at quarterback (a carousel of Ken Johnson, Fred Mortensen, and Craig Penrose) and a lack of offensive identity left them at 8-10, missing the playoffs. The lone bright spot was RB Harry Sydney (1,453 total yards, 10 TDs), who gave fans hope for the future.
1984: A Step Back with Craig Morton (6-12)
Former Cowboys star Craig Morton took over as coach in 1984, but the Gold regressed to 6-12. The defense remained physical (John Bungartz, 125 tackles; Calvin Turner, 3 sacks), but the offense sputtered. Fred Mortensen provided efficient passing (10.2 TD%, 117.2 rating in limited action), but Penrose and Hobart struggled with turnovers (26 INTs combined). RB Harry Sydney again carried the load (931 rushing yards, 12 TDs), but the lack of a true passing game doomed Denver to another losing season.
1985: Mouse Davis & the Run to Glory (9-8-1, Western Finalists)
The 1985 hiring of “Mouse” Davis—architect of the modern Run & Shoot offense—changed everything. QB Bob Gagliano (5,940 yards, 42 TDs) thrived in the system, feeding WRs Leonard Harris (1,364 yards, 15 TDs) and Marc Lewis (1,348 yards) while RB Bill Johns (1,988 total yards, 16 TDs) balanced the attack. The defense, led by John Nevens (131 tackles, 5 forced fumbles) and Calvin Turner (13 sacks), became opportunistic (27 INTs, 51 sacks).
After a 4-8-1 start, Denver caught fire, winning five straight to clinch a playoff berth. They stunned the league by routing Oakland (49-17) and upsetting Houston (35-32) before falling to the eventual champion Chicago Blitz (52-35) in the Western Final.
The Future: Golden Opportunity
With Gagliano in his prime, a dynamic offense, and an aggressive defense, the 1986 Gold aren’t just digging for success—they’re ready to strike gold.