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The Mile High Salute
The Mile High Salute was a touchdown celebration popularized by Denver Broncos running back Terrell Davis in the late 1990s. The celebration became a phenomenon as the Broncos won two straight Super Bowls.
Broncos players who followed Davis in Denver carried on the tradition. For some, like running back Mike Anderson who served in the Marine Corps for four years, the celebration carried extra meaning.
A few years later, the NFL banned the salute as they believed it might be offensive for people in the service if it was treated as a touchdown celebration instead of showing respect for those who gave their lives.
Of course, the entire point of paying tribute was missed when the league penalized Broncos receiver Eric Decker on Veteran’s Day when he went to one knee and did the salute after scoring a touchdown.
To this day, the Mile High Salute remains a part of Broncos lore. During the pre-season this year, current Broncos running back Willis McGahee gave the salute after scoring a touchdown. Afterwards, he acknowledged the importance of it: “We’ve got to bring back the ‘Salute’. We have to represent for the running backs, Terrell Davis and those boys. When those guys were there we knew Denver was coming in and running the ball. That’s got to be our mindset – running the ball against whoever, whenever, whatever they put up. We’re ready.”
Davis himself approved of the celebration’s comeback. And why not? When you think of the Salute, it is synonymous with a standard of excellence and the high point of the Broncos franchise.
It’s also a cool and classy celebration that’s rare in football these days.

The Mile High Salute

The Mile High Salute was a touchdown celebration popularized by Denver Broncos running back Terrell Davis in the late 1990s. The celebration became a phenomenon as the Broncos won two straight Super Bowls.

Broncos players who followed Davis in Denver carried on the tradition. For some, like running back Mike Anderson who served in the Marine Corps for four years, the celebration carried extra meaning.

A few years later, the NFL banned the salute as they believed it might be offensive for people in the service if it was treated as a touchdown celebration instead of showing respect for those who gave their lives.

Of course, the entire point of paying tribute was missed when the league penalized Broncos receiver Eric Decker on Veteran’s Day when he went to one knee and did the salute after scoring a touchdown.

To this day, the Mile High Salute remains a part of Broncos lore. During the pre-season this year, current Broncos running back Willis McGahee gave the salute after scoring a touchdown. Afterwards, he acknowledged the importance of it: “We’ve got to bring back the ‘Salute’. We have to represent for the running backs, Terrell Davis and those boys. When those guys were there we knew Denver was coming in and running the ball. That’s got to be our mindset – running the ball against whoever, whenever, whatever they put up. We’re ready.”

Davis himself approved of the celebration’s comeback. And why not? When you think of the Salute, it is synonymous with a standard of excellence and the high point of the Broncos franchise.

It’s also a cool and classy celebration that’s rare in football these days.