When Sean Payton was looking for someone to fire up the Broncos on the eve of last January’s AFC Championship Game, he turned to Rod Smith.

The Broncos coach invited the former star receiver to address the team in a hotel ballroom before the game against the New England Patriots. Smith, who played for Denver from 1994-2006 and earned two Super Bowl rings, then offered some motivational words.

“Coach Payton called me,’’ Smith said. “He said he was looking for a speech before the game. It was great that he even asked.”

Unfortunately for the Broncos, with starting quarterback Bo Nix out with a broken right ankle suffered the week before against Buffalo, they lost 10-7 to the Patriots. But Smith remains willing to address the team again whenever Payton might want.

The Broncos are talking openly about winning a Super Bowl, and Smith knows all about what it takes. He was on teams that won Super Bowl XXXII in the 1997 season and Super Bowl XXXIII the following season.

“They’ve got the talent absolutely (to win it all),’’ said Smith, who holds Broncos receiving records for catches (849), yards (11,389) and touchdowns (68). “The quarterback is hungry. They’ve got hungry guys in the running back room. They’ve got three receivers who are considered backups (behind starters Courtland Sutton and Jaylen Waddle) that would be starters (for another team) in (Marvin) Mims (Jr.), Pat Bryant and (Troy) Franklin. The defensive front (five) to me is amazing. I think that’s the catalyst for the team. And the back end (on defense) is going to be lights out.”

But while Smith proudly wears his Super Bowl rings, he also knows about big-time playoff disappointments. In the 1996 season, the Broncos went 13-3, had the top seed in the AFC and were heavily favored before losing 30-27 at home to Jacksonville 30-27 in a divisional playoff. In the 2005 season, the Broncos were favored at home before falling 34-17 to Pittsburgh in the AFC Championship Game.

Smith said the loss to the Jaguars spurred Denver on to win the Super Bowl in each of the next two seasons. He said the Broncos could use the defeat to the Patriots in the same manner.

“We signed back (17) free agents to keep on the team, and I like that,’’ Smith said. “I want guys on the team to feel the pain that we did when we lost to Jacksonville. A lot of guys from (the 1996 team) were still ticked off because they realized how great of a team we were. We just lost focus for a moment. So I like the fact we brought back guys who can feel the pain (of the loss to the Patriots) and those guys can tell the new guys about the pain.”

The Broncos surprised plenty of onlookers by going 14-3 last season and winning the AFC West. But Smith said the task could be more difficult in 2026.

“We can’t sneak up on anyone like we did last year,’’ Smith said. “Last year, we hit them in the mouth and (opponents) realized we had a pretty good team. Now, we’ve got to hit them in the stomach and then the mouth.”

When Smith spoke to Broncos players last January, he talked about how winning a Super Bowl can change one’s life.

“When you win a championship in Denver, you’ll never be alone in the city,’’ Smith said. “They can never take winning a Super Bowl away from you. When people come up to me and congratulate me on my career, they’re always bringing up the championships. When you win a championship, it’s for all of us in the city. And when the Broncos win, it’s for me, too. I need bragging rights for the whole year.”

The only time the Broncos have hoisted the Vince Lombardi Trophy since Smith retired was winning Super Bowl 50 in the 2015 season. Smith felt then as if he had won another championship.

Now, the legendary receiver wants more bragging rights.