Denver Broncos mascot, Miles, is now Hall of Famer

Move over, Elway. Move over, Peyton. There’s a new Broncos Hall of Famer, and he has an orange mane, wears Crocs and climbs a scoreboard for a living.

Miles the Mascot has been elected to the Mascot Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2026, the organization announced Friday on ABC’s “Good Morning America.” The honor came after a global fan vote that drew ballots from 109 countries across six continents.  Miles was the only NFL mascot inducted this year, joining Cocky (South Carolina), Cosmo (BYU), Goldy Gopher (Minnesota) and Mrs. Met (New York Mets) in the five-member class.

Since debuting on Sept. 10, 2001 — the night Denver christened what was then Invesco Field at Mile High with a Monday Night Football win over the Giants — Miles has become one of the most active mascots in professional sports, averaging more than 325 community appearances a year, including monthly visits to Children’s Hospital Colorado. His signature fourth-quarter scoreboard climb, known as “Mt. Miles,” has become one of the NFL’s most recognizable in-game traditions. He’s also performed in 10 countries, marched in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and — according to ESPN — wears Crocs as a nod to the brand’s Colorado roots.

Miles is now the second Denver mascot enshrined in the Hall, joining the Nuggets’ Rocky, who was inducted back in 2008 after a legendary run as one of the NBA’s most famous mascots. Fun fact: Rocky was actually asked to become the Broncos’ mascot as well before the team pivoted and created Miles instead. As for Colorado’s third major mascot, the Rockies’ beloved purple triceratops Dinger? He’s listed as “MHOF-eligible” on the Hall’s website — but hasn’t gotten the call yet. Hatched from an egg at Mile High Stadium in 1994, Dinger has been waiting 32 years. Somebody start a petition.