Aqib Talib and Demaryius Thomas earn nomination for Pro Football Hall of Fame

In their first year of eligibility, Denver Broncos legends Aqib Talib and Demaryius Thomas have been nominated for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

They were selected alongside 16 other first-year candidates for the class of 2025. Overall, there are 167 modern-era players looking to add their busts to the hallowed halls of Canton, Ohio. Other former Broncos players who are on the list include Jason Elam, Tom Nalen and Rod Smith—who are all a part of the franchise's Ring of Fame—and certainly have strong resumes to earn enshrinement.

But I'd like to take time to reflect on both Talib and Thomas. They both had incredible careers and forged some of the most memorable moments in franchise history. Truth be told, the Broncos' Super Bowl 50 victory couldn't have happened without them. With that in mind, let's take a stroll down memory lane and reminisce on better days.

Back in 2014, the Broncos already had Thomas and Peyton Manning. They just needed a little help to put them over the top. John Elway put on a master class free agency period and signed Emmanuel Sanders to strengthen their aerial attack. But the best part? He secured deals with T.J. Ward, DeMarcus Ware, and Talib to revamp their defense and also bring it some much needed swager and attitude.

Shutdown corners are rare, but defensive backs that can take the ball the distance for touchdowns are even rarer. Talib was one of those players. In his four years in Denver, he had 11 interceptions and six of those were returned for scores. Over the course of his career, he had 10 pick-sixes, ranking only behind Rod Woodson, Charles Woodson, and Darren Sharper.

In four seasons with the Broncos, Talib played 58 games and recorded 374 tackles, 11 interceptions, and 48 passes defended. He was a Pro-Bowler every year he was here and an All-Pro for one of them. For his career he played in 148 games with 134 starts, 752 tackles, 125 passes defended, 10 touchdowns, 5 forced fumbles, 35 interceptions.

There might be some bias here, but those look like Hall of Fame numbers to me. He was a game-changer on the defensive side of the ball and one of the best signings the franchise ever made in free agency.

As for Demaryius, what else can I say? He was one of my favorite Broncos ever. A true all-timer. An unforgettable player and even a better person.

From 2012 to 2016, he embarked on one of the greatest stretches of play in league history at the position. At his peak of dominance, he was one of the most dynamic and feared offensive weapons in the entire league. His penchant for big plays in clutch moments earned him five straight Pro Bowl honors and two All-Pro accolades in that span.

Fans couldn't have asked for more. In eight-and-a-half years with the Broncos, Thomas caught 665 catches for 9,055 yards and 60 touchdowns. He was a special player who helped the Broncos breakthrough their past issues to cement themselves once again as a respectable and formidable franchise. It's a shame that he was traded away. I always wanted him to be a Bronco for his entire career.

Nevertheless, both Talib and Thomas will be remembered as franchise greats. Only time will tell if they get the call to head to Canton, but I believe they should. When they were at their best—very few players in the league could best them. That's what greatness is.