Quick Answer: The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver. The Broncos compete in the National Football League as a member of the American Football Conference West division. The team is headquartered in Englewood, Colorado. The team began play in 1960 as a charter member of the American Football League and joined the NFL as part of the merger in 1970. The Broncos are currently owned by the Walton-Penner group. Since 2001, the Broncos have played their regular season home games at Empower Field at Mile High; Denver previously played its home games at Mile High Stadium from its inception in 1960 through the 2000 season. The Broncos were barely competitive during their 10-year run in the AFL and their first three years in the NFL. They did not have a winning season until 1973 and qualified for their first playoffs in 1977, eventually advancing to Super Bowl XII that season.