Updated: September 6th, 2026. The season recap covers 2025; personnel sections look ahead to 2026. Predictions, Projections and Complete Standings are included.
Leadership and Coordinators
- Owner: Greg Penner — Owner and CEO Penner leads the Walton-Penner Family Ownership Group and has supported a patient, well-resourced rebuild. Denver’s 2025 run to the AFC Championship Game raised the standard from progress to sustained contention.
- Decision Maker: George Paton — General Manager Paton manages the roster in close collaboration with Sean Payton. His 2026 plan retained most of a 14-win core while adding a dynamic receiver and replenishing the defensive line through the draft.
- Head Coach: Sean Payton Payton has restored Denver’s identity, structure and winning expectations. He now must help the Broncos handle the different pressure that follows a division title and a conference-championship appearance.
- Offensive Coordinator: Davis Webb Webb was promoted and will call plays in 2026. The former quarterbacks coach has a strong relationship with Bo Nix, but assuming the game-day controls from Payton is a significant transition for a contender.
- Defensive Coordinator: Vance Joseph Joseph coordinates the league’s most productive pass rush and a defense that carried Denver through stretches of uneven offense. Replacing John Franklin-Myers while managing Jonathon Cooper’s uncertain availability tests the front’s depth.
- Special Teams Coordinator: Darren Rizzi Assistant Head Coach/Special Teams Coordinator Rizzi oversees a unit featuring Wil Lutz and Jeremy Crawshaw. Marvin Mims Jr.’s explosive return ability remains a field-position advantage.
2025 Season Recap
Denver’s 2025 season completed its return to the AFC’s top tier. The Broncos went 14–3, tied the franchise record for regular-season wins, captured their first AFC West title in 10 years and earned the conference’s No. 1 seed. They advanced to the AFC Championship Game before a 10–7 loss to New England in a snowstorm ended their first genuine Super Bowl run since the Peyton Manning era.
The defense provided the foundation. Denver allowed 311 points and only 4,730 yards, while producing an extraordinary 68 sacks. Nik Bonitto led the team with 14, Jonathon Cooper added eight, John Franklin-Myers had 7.5 and Zach Allen had seven. Vance Joseph could generate pressure from multiple alignments without compromising a secondary led by Pat Surtain II. Opponents averaged only 4.3 yards per play and rushed for 1,548 yards, giving Denver control of the line of scrimmage in nearly every matchup.
Surtain’s value extended beyond his interception total. Offenses routinely altered route distributions and avoided isolated throws in his direction, allowing Joseph to direct help elsewhere. Talanoa Hufanga added 106 tackles, while Riley Moss and Ja’Quan McMillian handled aggressive assignments opposite and inside of Surtain. The defense’s rare ability to pressure and cover made it sustainable rather than dependent on takeaways; Denver actually finished minus-three in turnover margin and still won 14 games.
Bo Nix continued to grow in his second season. He threw for 3,931 yards, 25 touchdowns and 11 interceptions and added 356 rushing yards with five scores. He also took only 22 sacks on 612 attempts, evidence of both the line’s quality and his ability to avoid drive-killing pressure. The passing attack did not dominate vertically, but Nix’s command, movement and late-game resilience kept the offense functional against difficult defenses.
Courtland Sutton again supplied the reliable outside target, catching 74 passes for 1,017 yards and seven touchdowns. Troy Franklin took a substantial step with 709 yards and six scores, while Evan Engram added 461 yards from tight end. Rookie RJ Harvey produced 896 yards from scrimmage and 12 total touchdowns. J.K. Dobbins led the team with 772 rushing yards despite missing time. The Broncos accumulated 5,825 yards and 401 points—not elite numbers, but enough when paired with the league’s deepest pressure unit.
The offense still had limitations. Denver averaged 4.4 yards per rush and relied heavily on Nix to extend plays and manage long third downs. The receiving group lacked a second player who consistently forced coverage rotation away from Sutton. That weakness became more visible when the field shortened and explosive plays disappeared. The offseason addition of Jaylen Waddle directly addresses the need for speed that changes how safeties align.
Even though the Broncos in 2025 were considered worse than the 2024 Denver team, according to pro-football-reference.com’s SRS rating, Denver still earned a first-round bye and home-field advantage. In the divisional round, the Broncos survived Buffalo, but Nix suffered an ankle injury that ended his postseason. Jarrett Stidham started the AFC Championship Game against New England and connected with Sutton for an early touchdown after a 52-yard strike to Mims. Denver’s defense forced four consecutive punts to open the game, but the offense failed to turn field position and first-half opportunities into a larger lead.
As snow intensified, both teams struggled to move the ball. New England did just enough to win 10–7. The Broncos’ defense delivered a championship-level performance, but seven points, missed early opportunities, and a brutal fumble by Stidham ended their season. The result was painful precisely because Denver had created such a favorable path: the AFC’s top seed, a dominant defense and a conference title game at home.
The 2026 Broncos are no longer measuring themselves against their recent playoff drought. They are measuring themselves against the Patriots and the final steps required to reach a Super Bowl. Waddle expands the offense, Webb takes over play-calling and the defense must replace front-line contributors without losing its pressure identity. If Nix turns last year’s command into more explosive efficiency, Denver has the roster to remain at the top of a radically changed division.
2025 AFC West Standing
- 1. Denver Broncos — 14–3 (5–1 division) — Lost CC PF: 401 · PA: 311
- 2. Los Angeles Chargers — 11–6 (5–1 division) — Lost WC PF: 368 · PA: 340
- 3. Kansas City Chiefs — 6–11 (1–5 division) — Missed Playoffs PF: 362 · PA: 328
- 4. Las Vegas Raiders — 3–14 (1–5 division) — Missed Playoffs PF: 241 · PA: 432
Denver and Los Angeles both went 5–1 in division play in the AFC West, but the Broncos’ three-game overall advantage delivered the title and No. 1 seed. A positive 90-point differential reflected a team built to win even when the offense was not at its best.
Notable 2026 Player Additions
- WR Jaylen Waddle (trade, Dolphins) Waddle gives Denver the explosive separator it lacked opposite Sutton. His speed can clear space for Engram and the backs while giving Nix a dangerous answer off play action.
- S Tycen Anderson Anderson earned a roster spot through his range and special-teams value. He adds depth behind Hufanga and Brandon Jones while helping Rizzi’s coverage units.
Notable 2026 Player Losses
- DL John Franklin-Myers Franklin-Myers’ 7.5 sacks and inside-outside versatility were major pieces of Denver’s 68-sack defense. Onyedim and a deep returning rotation must replace that disruption.
- LB Dre Greenlaw Greenlaw played only eight regular-season games but brought speed and physicality when healthy. Denver chose continuity with Alex Singleton and Justin Strnad in the middle.
- RB Jaleel McLaughlin McLaughlin averaged five yards per carry in limited 2025 work and contributed on passing downs. Coleman won the final backfield spot, changing the group’s style toward more power.
- TE Lucas Krull Krull’s departure at final cuts reduces experienced depth behind Engram and Adam Trautman. Seventh-round rookie Dallen Bentley earned the fourth tight-end role.
- FB Adam Prentice Prentice handled much of the offense’s traditional fullback work. His exit points toward different personnel groupings and more use of tight ends in blocking roles.
2026 Draft Class
- Round 3, Pick 66 — DT Tyler Onyedim, Texas A&M
A sturdy, explosive interior defender who can anchor against the run and push the pocket. He made the active roster and should join the rotation immediately. - Round 4, Pick 108 — RB Jonah Coleman, Washington
A low-center-of-gravity runner with contact balance and receiving ability. He earned a place in Denver’s four-back group. - Round 4, Pick 111 — OT Kage Casey, Boise State
A strong, athletic tackle who became the line’s only newcomer on the initial roster. He gives Denver developmental depth behind two established starters. - Round 5, Pick 152 — TE Justin Joly, NC State
An athletic receiving tight end whose offseason was interrupted. Denver waived him at final cuts, and another club claimed him, so his development will continue outside the organization. - Round 7, Pick 246 — S Miles Scott, Illinois
A versatile safety with coverage experience in the slot. He was waived and returned to Denver’s practice squad. - Round 7, Pick 256 — TE Dallen Bentley, Utah
A tough, dependable tight end whose blocking and special-teams work earned an active-roster place. - Round 7, Pick 257 — LB Red Murdock, Buffalo
A productive tackling linebacker with special-teams potential. He cleared waivers and returned on the practice squad after final cuts.
2026 Spotlight Watch
- Hot Seat — Davis Webb Webb is highly regarded inside the building, but taking over play-calling for a 14-win team creates immediate accountability. He must improve the offense’s explosive-play rate without losing the situational discipline Payton established.
- Breakout Watch — Troy Franklin Franklin jumped to 709 yards and six touchdowns in his second season. Waddle’s speed will attract attention, but it should also create cleaner intermediate space for Franklin to turn a promising year into sustained production.
- Bust Watch — Evan Engram Engram caught 50 passes in 2025 but produced only 461 yards and one touchdown. Denver needs more decisive third-down and red-zone impact from its receiving tight end; another low-impact season would leave the position short of what the offense requires.
- Team Superstar — Pat Surtain II Surtain’s ability to erase difficult matchups gives Joseph freedom everywhere else. His quiet box scores reflect how rarely opponents challenge him, and Denver’s entire pressure-and-coverage structure is stronger because of that respect.
Prediction
The Broncos become repeat winners of the AFC West by edging out the Chiefs by one game, but the Broncos have a much harder schedule in 2026, causing them to fall to the 3 seed in the loaded AFC.
Below are the complete 2026 regular season projections.
