Happy birthday, Champ Bailey!

The former Broncos cornerback turned 44-years-old on Wednesday, and only has eight years to go before matching his career NFL interception total with 52.

Bailey is without a doubt the best cornerback in Broncos history, and a Pro Football Hall of Fame selection in 2019 confirmed as much. Bailed played 10 seasons with Denver from 2004-2013 after being acquired in a blockbuster trade from Washington in the spring of 2004. Former Broncos GM Mike Shanahan gave up running back Clinton Portis in the deal, a decision many questioned at the time, but it obviously worked out.

Bailey had a lot of special seasons in Denver, making eight Pro Bowls and being named First Team All-Pro three times. But none were better than his year in 2006, when Bailey recorded a ridiculous 10 interceptions. It was the most in NFL history since 1981 and held that distinction until last year, when Trevon Diggs of the Dallas Cowboys recorded 11 picks.

In honor of his birthday, the Broncos tweeted out a video of all 10 INTs in 2006, and there’s some really special ones.

🔟 interceptions in a single season.@champbailey's 2006 season was ridiculous 🤯 pic.twitter.com/unZRd9mikC

— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) June 22, 2022

Wow! It’s hard to pick a favorite out of those 10, but they’re all great in their own right. The last one against the 49ers, which went for a pick-six, is spectacular.

The Broncos haven’t had another cornerback like Bailey since he retired, but were also lucky to employ Chris Harris Jr. and Aqib Talib for several years. That duo helped lead an all-time Denver defense to a Super Bowl 50 title.

All in, Bailey had 34 interceptions with the Broncos, including the 10 in 2006 and eight before that in 2005. Happy birthday to a Broncos legend and a guy who was very good at making life nearly impossible for opposing quarterbacks.
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