<P> Like 2012, the Broncos finished with a 13--3 record and the AFC's No. 1 seed in 2013 . In the 2013 playoffs, the Broncos defeated the San Diego Chargers in the Divisional round and the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship . However, the Broncos were soundly defeated by the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl XLVIII by a score of 43--8, the Broncos' first Super Bowl berth since winning back - to - back Super Bowls in 1997 and 1998 . </P> <P> Prior to the start of the 2014 season, the Broncos announced that Pat Bowlen, the team's owner since 1984, relinquished control of the team due to his battle with Alzheimer's disease, resulting in team president Joe Ellis and general manager John Elway assuming control of the team . The Broncos finished the 2014 season with a 12--4 record and the AFC's No. 2 seed . However, the Broncos were defeated by the Indianapolis Colts in the Divisional round of the 2014 playoffs, marking the third time in four seasons that the Broncos lost in the Divisional round of the playoffs . Quarterback Peyton Manning had been playing with strained quadriceps for the final month of the 2014 season . </P> <P> On January 12, 2015, one day after the aforementioned Divisional playoff loss to the Colts, the Broncos and head coach John Fox mutually agreed to part ways . Fox left the Broncos with a . 719 winning percentage in his four seasons as the Broncos' head coach--the highest in franchise history . One week later, the Broncos hired Gary Kubiak as the team's 15th head coach . Kubiak served as a backup quarterback to executive vice president / general manager John Elway from 1983--1991, as well as the Broncos' offensive coordinator from 1995--2005 . Shortly after Kubiak became head coach, the Broncos underwent numerous changes to their coaching staff, including the hiring of defensive coordinator Wade Phillips, under whom the Broncos' defense ranked No. 1 in the NFL during the 2015 season . The Broncos finished with a 12--4 record and the AFC's No. 1 seed, despite Peyton Manning having his worst statistical season since his rookie year with the Indianapolis Colts in 1998 and backup quarterback Brock Osweiler filling in for Manning during the second half of the regular season due to Manning suffering from a foot injury . In the playoffs, the Broncos defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers 23--16 in the Divisional Round, the New England Patriots 20--18 in the AFC Championship, and defeated the Carolina Panthers 24--10 in Super Bowl 50--the Broncos' third Super Bowl title . </P> <P> On March 7, 2016, quarterback Peyton Manning retired after 18 NFL seasons during a press conference at the team's Dove Valley headquarters . Following Manning's retirement, the Broncos have undergone changes at the quarterback position, including the free agent departure of backup quarterback Brock Osweiler (who is now back with team after stints with the Texans and Browns) to the Houston Texans, the trade acquisition of Mark Sanchez from the Philadelphia Eagles and the selection of Paxton Lynch during the 2016 draft . Sanchez, Lynch and second - year quarterback Trevor Siemian competed for the starting quarterback spot during the off - season and preseason; however, Sanchez was released and Siemian was named the starter prior to the start of the season . The Broncos finished the season 9--7 and missed the playoffs for the first time since 2010 . On January 2, 2017, coach Gary Kubiak announced his retirement, citing health as the main reason for retiring . The Broncos would later hire Vance Joseph to be their new head coach on January 11, 2017 . The Broncos have since entered the era of their dominant defense consisting of the Ground Control, and the No Fly Zone . </P>

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