When Mike Shanahan took over as Denver’s head coach in 1995, one of his first orders of business was luring free-agent wideout Ed McCaffrey to Mile High. The two had previously won Super Bowl XXIX together in San Francisco, and Shanahan knew "Eddie Mac" was the missing puzzle piece for John Elway’s offense. Standing 6-foot-5 and wearing shoulder pads that looked like they belonged to a high schooler, McCaffrey looked unassuming, but he quickly forged a reputation as one of the most fearless over-the-middle pass catchers and ferocious perimeter blockers in the NFL.

McCaffrey’s ability to withstand heavy contact while holding onto the football made him a fan favorite and a reliable third-down option. In Denver’s consecutive Super Bowl victories (XXXII and XXXIII), his strong downfield blocking aided Terrell Davis, and his precise route-running kept defenses alert.

As the offense expanded, McCaffrey became an elite threat alongside Rod Smith. Between 1998 and 2000, he achieved three straight 1,000-yard receiving seasons. His breakout year in 1998—64 catches for 1,053 yards and 10 touchdowns—earned him a Pro Bowl and Second-Team All-Pro honors. In 2000, he improved further with 101 receptions for 1,317 yards, and along with Smith, became only the second NFL duo to each record 100 catches in a single season. His 101 receptions set a then-franchise record for most catches in a season.

Tragedy struck in the 2001 season opener when McCaffrey suffered a devastating compound leg fracture on Monday Night Football—holding onto the ball for a spectacular catch even as his leg broke. Showing the sheer grit that defined his career, he returned in 2002 to post a 903-yard campaign. He played one final season in 2003 before hanging up his cleats, leaving a lasting legacy in Mile High that his son Christian would later carry on in the family football lineage.

In his nine years in Denver, he compiled 462 receptions, 6,200 receiving yards, and 46 touchdown catches in orange and blue.