- 1983
- 1985
-
Gold Team Formation
The team’s original owner, Denver real estate mogul Ron Blanding, held fast to USFL founder David Dixon’s original blueprint for the league. He kept tight controls on expenses (including player salaries) while heavily marketing the team in the Rockies. The Gold’s original coach was Red Miller, who led the National Football League’s Denver Broncos to their first-ever Super Bowl. However, ... -
Competing with the Broncos
Unfortunately, just after Davis took over, the USFL announced that it would switch to a fall schedule for the 1986 season. Knowing that the Gold could not even begin to compete directly with the Broncos, Spedding was one of two owners (the other being Tampa Bay Bandits owner John F. Bassett) to vote to stay on a spring schedule. His ...
The Denver Gold was a franchise in the United States Football League, an attempt to establish a second major professional football league in the United States, playing a springtime season, from 1983 to 1985.
Established
1983
City
Denver
League History
1983 – 1985 / United States Football League
Team History
1983 – 1985 / Denver Gold
Nickname
Gold – There’s gold in those Rockies. Refers to the “Gold Rush” in early years of our country. The Denver franchise using the nickname "Gold" is perfect with their close proximity to the Rocky Mountains.
Original USFL Team
Yes
Final USFL Team
No
Team’s Final Outlook
Doug Spedding knew that the Gold could not hope to compete with the Broncos; shortly after the 1985 season, he cut a deal to merge the Gold with the Jacksonville Bulls.
Championship
USFL Championship 0
Stadium
1983 – 1985 / Mile High Stadium
Owner
1984 – 1985 / Doug Spedding
1983 / Ron Blanding
Coaches
1985 / Mouse Davis (11 wins – 8 losses)
1983 – 1984 / Craig Morton (12 wins – 12 losses)
1983 / Red Miller (4 wins – 7 losses)
Accomplishments
1985 / Division Championship Game (vs Memphis Showboats 7 – 48)
Averaged 41,736 in 1983, 33,953 in 1984 and 14,446 in 1985 (51,706 seat stadium)
*Blue is this team’s history