The Denver Broncos’ most recent major logo change happened in 1997, when they switched from the classic orange “D” with the rearing horse to the modern, stylized white horse head with an orange mane and dark blue outline. Earlier tweaks to the “D” logo were made in 1993, but the full brand-defining change is recognized as the 1997 redesign.

Key logo change dates

  • 1960–1961: Original cartoon-style bronco logo used in the team’s earliest seasons.
  • 1962–1967: Updated, more aggressive bronco illustration introduced as the team reworked its identity and colors.
  • 1968–1992: Debut of the iconic orange D with a white rearing horse breathing steam, the logo many fans still love today.
  • 1993–1996: Refined “D” logo with smoother horse details and cleaner lines, but same basic concept.
  • 1997–present: Full redesign to the current stylized horse-head logo, unveiled in early 1997 as part of a broader uniform and branding overhaul.

Quick Scoop (SEO-style overview)

The direct answer to “when did the Broncos change their logo” usually refers to 1997, because that is when the Denver Broncos replaced the long-running “D” logo with the sleek, modern horse-head mark fans see today. That redesign coincided with a major uniform update and the team’s rise into a championship era, which helped cement the new look in NFL branding history.

Over the decades, the Broncos have adjusted their logo multiple times, but only a few moments truly stand out in fan memory: the arrival of the orange “D” in 1968 and the radical move to the current horse head in 1997. In recent years, there has been ongoing forum and fan discussion about whether the team should bring back the classic “D” look full time, especially as throwback uniforms and retro branding trend across the league.

In short: if you’re asking about the big, modern change, the answer is 1997. If you care about every historical tweak, the Broncos have been evolving that logo since the early 1960s.

TL;DR: The Broncos technically adjusted their logo several times, but the major, widely recognized change was in 1997, when the classic “D” was replaced by the current horse-head logo.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.