Sadly,former Bills head coach and architect of Broncos’ ‘Orange Crush’ defense, dies at 91
FILE – Retired Denver Broncos defensive coordinator Joe Collier watches drills at the NFL football team’s training facility June 5, 2019, in Englewood, Colo. Collier, the former Buffalo Bills coach and architect of the Broncos’ famed “Orange Crush” defense, has died at age 91. The Broncos said Collier died at his Littleton, Colo., home Monday night, May 6. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski, File)
The Broncos said that Collier’s family verified his death on Monday night at his Littleton, Colorado, home.
The Denver Broncos released a statement saying, “Joe Collier is one of the most influential coaches in the history of the Denver Broncos and regarded among the best defensive coordinators of all time.” “He was a trailblazer in the NFL, leading the Broncos to three Super Bowl appearances with his 3-4 defense. His tenure with our team was legendary, spanning over two decades.
“Intelligent, modest and soft-spoken, Collier provided steady leadership to five different head coaches as the Broncos emerged as perennial contenders in the 1970s and 1980s. His profound influence on countless players and coaches in Denver included 12 Broncos Ring of Famers, 11 Pro Bowl selections and 2024 Pro Football Hall of Fame linebacker Randy Gradishar.”
In a recent interview with The Associated Press regarding Gradishar’s induction into Canton this summer, Collier said, “It’s long overdue. I couldn’t be prouder of him. Randy was a great leader of our defense.”
Collier said he hoped Gradishar’s enshrinement would do two things: show today’s fans what a coolly efficient tackler Gradishar was and made it possible for further Orange Crush defense players to be inducted into the Hall of Fame.
Mike Shanahan has the longest tenure of any coach with the Broncos, with 21 seasons, when Collier served as their head coach from 1969 to 1988. After the 1977, 1986, and 1987 seasons, Collier led Denver to a 168-132-7 record, five division titles, and participation in the Super Bowl.
The Broncos, led by Collier’s defense, won the AFC in 1977 and went on to make their first of eight Super Bowl appearances after defeating the Pittsburgh Steelers and Oakland Raiders in the playoffs. Dallas defeated the Broncos in the Super Bowl..
Collier began his coaching career in 1957–1959 at Western Illinois University. In 1960–1961 he made his professional football debut as the Boston Patriots’ assistant. Before becoming the head coach of the Bills in 1966–1968, he coached the team’s defensive backs and linebackers from 1962–1965. From 1991 to 1992, he took a job as defensive coordinator again in New England.
Under Collier’s leadership, the Bills finished 13-16-1 and won the AFL Eastern Division title in 1966 with a 9-4-1 record.
Before being selected by the New York Giants in the 1954 NFL Draft, he was a two-time All-America defensive end at Northwestern.
Three children, four grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren survive Collier.
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