2026 Denver Broncos season

2026 Denver Broncos season
OwnerRob Walton
General managerGeorge Paton
Head coachSean Payton
Offensive coordinatorDavis Webb
Defensive coordinatorVance Joseph
Home stadiumEmpower Field at Mile High
Uniform

The 2026 season will be the Denver Broncos' upcoming 57th in the National Football League (NFL) and their 67th overall. It will also be the team's sixth under the leadership of general manager George Paton, the fifth under the ownership of the Walton-Penner family group and the fourth under head coach Sean Payton. They will attempt to match or improve on their 14–3 record from 2025, make the playoffs for the third consecutive season, and win the AFC West for the second consecutive season.

Coaching changes

2025 Denver Broncos coaching staff changes
Position Previous coach Reason Replacement(s) Source(s)
Assistant strength and conditioning coach Korey Jones,
2020–2025 		Not retained Zaviar Gooden [1]
Cornerbacks coach Addison Lynch,
2025 		Fired Doug Belk (as defensive backs coach) [2][3]
Defensive pass game coordinator Jim Leonhard,
2024–2025 		Hired by the Buffalo Bills Robert Livingston [4][5]
Offensive consultant John Morton,
2025 		Promoted to pass game coordinator None [6]
Offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi,
2023–2025 		Fired Davis Webb [2][7]
Offensive pass game coordinator & quarterbacks coach Davis Webb,
2023–2025 		Promoted to offensive coordinator John Morton (as offensive pass game coordinator) [7][8]
Logan Kilgore (as quarterbacks coach)
Offensive quality control coach Logan Kilgore,
2023–2025 		Promoted to quarterbacks coach JD Johnson
Kyle Kempt
Willie Snead IV 		[7][9][10]
Favian Upshaw,
2023–2025 		Hired by the Miami Hurricanes
Passing game specialist Zack Grossi,
2024–2025 		Hired by the Baltimore Ravens None [11]
Senior offensive assistant Pete Carmichael Jr.,
2024–2025 		Hired by the Buffalo Bills None [12][13]
Wide receivers coach Keary Colbert,
2023–2025 		Fired Ronald Curry [2][14]

Roster changes

Future contracts

All players listed below were signed to reserve/future contracts. Each player was officially added to the active roster on March 11—the first day of the 2026 league year.

Position Player Date signed Source(s)
LB Levelle Bailey January 26 [15]
TE Caleb Lohner
NT Jordan Miller
RB Cody Schrader
G Calvin Throckmorton
RB Deuce Vaughn
LB Garrett Nelson January 27 [16]
T Marques Cox January 29 [17]
C Michael Deiter
G Nash Jones
DT Kristian Williams
CB Jaden Robinson January 30 [18]

Free agents

Position Player Tag Team signed with Date signed Notes Source(s)
TE Nate Adkins RFA Denver Broncos March 10 1 year, $1.555 million [19]
RB Tyler Badie ERFA Denver Broncos March 6 1 year, $1.075 million [20]
FB Michael Burton UFA
RB J. K. Dobbins UFA Denver Broncos March 10 2 years, $16 million [21]
QB Sam Ehlinger UFA Denver Broncos March 11 1 year, $2 million [22]
DE John Franklin-Myers UFA Tennessee Titans March 12 3 years, $63 million [23]
DE Matt Henningsen UFA Denver Broncos March 11 originally an RFA[24]
1 year, $1.145 million 		[25]
WR Lil'Jordan Humphrey UFA Denver Broncos March 12 1 year, $1.215 million [26]
DE Jordan Jackson ERFA Denver Broncos March 6 1 year, $1.075 million [20]
S Devon Key ERFA Denver Broncos March 6 1 year, $1.075 million [20]
TE Lucas Krull UFA Denver Broncos March 11 originally an RFA[24]
1 year, $1.33 million 		[27]
S P. J. Locke UFA Dallas Cowboys March 10 1 year, $5 million [28]
RB Jaleel McLaughlin UFA Denver Broncos March 13 originally an RFA[24]
1 year, $1.145 million 		[29]
CB Ja'Quan McMillian RFA Denver Broncos February 27 1 year, $5.8 million [30]
C Sam Mustipher UFA
G Alex Palczewski RFA Denver Broncos March 5 2 years, $9.5 million [31]
FB Adam Prentice UFA Denver Broncos March 12 1 year, $1.215 million [32]
LB Alex Singleton UFA Denver Broncos March 10 2 years, $15.5 million [33]
LB Justin Strnad UFA Denver Broncos March 10 3 years, $18 million [34]
LB Dondrea Tillman ERFA Denver Broncos March 6 1 year, $1.075 million [20]
TE Adam Trautman UFA Denver Broncos March 9 3 years, $17 million [35]
Unrestricted Free Agent (UFA): Players with four or more accrued seasons whose contracts expired at the end of the previous season
Restricted Free Agent (RFA): Players with three accrued seasons whose contracts expired at the end of the previous season
Exclusive-Rights Free Agent (ERFA): Players with two or fewer accrued seasons whose contracts expired at the end of the previous season

Signings

Position Player Previous team Date signed Notes Source(s)
WR Michael Bandy Denver Broncos February 19 1 year, $1.075 million [36]
S Tycen Anderson Cincinnati Bengals March 19 1 year, $1.5 million [37]

Departures

Position Player Date Notes Source(s)
LB Dre Greenlaw March 12 Released/post-June 1 [38]

Extensions and restructures

Position Player Date signed Notes Source(s)
G Quinn Meinerz March 8 Restructure [39]
LB Jonathon Cooper March 13 Restructure [40]
T Matt Peart March 18 Restructure [41]

Trades

Trade partner Broncos give Broncos receive Date Source
Miami Dolphins 2026 first-round selection
2026 third-round selection
2026 fourth-round selection 		WR Jaylen Waddle
2026 fourth-round selection 		March 18 [42]

Draft

Main article: 2026 NFL draft
2026 Denver Broncos draft selections
Round Selection Player Position College Notes
1 30 Traded to the Miami Dolphins[A]
2 62
3 94 Traded to the Miami Dolphins[A]
4 108 From Saints[B]
111 From Dolphins[A]
130 Traded to the Miami Dolphins[A]
5 170
6 211 Traded to the New York Jets[C]
7 246
256 Compensatory selection[45]
257 Compensatory selection[45]

Draft trades

  1. ^ a b c d The Broncos traded their first-, third- and original fourth-round selections to the Dolphins (Nos. 30, 94 and 130 overall, respectively) in exchange for wide receiver Jaylen Waddle and the Dolphins' 2026 fourth-round selection (No. 111 overall).[42]
  2. ^ The Broncos traded WR Devaughn Vele to the New Orleans Saints in exchange for a fourth-round selection (108th overall) and a 2027 seventh-round selection.[43]
  3. ^ The Broncos traded a sixth-round selection (211th overall) to the New York Jets in exchange for DE John Franklin-Myers.[44]

Staff

Denver Broncos staff
Front office
  • Owner – Rob Walton
  • Owner / CEO – Greg Penner
  • Owner – Carrie Walton Penner
  • Owner – Mellody Hobson
  • Owner – Condoleezza Rice
  • Owner – Lewis Hamilton
  • President – Damani Leech
  • General manager – George Paton
  • Assistant general manager – Reed Burckhardt
  • Vice president of player personnel – Cody Rager
  • Co-director of player personnel – Cam Williams
  • Co-director of player personnel – A. J. Durso
  • Director of pro personnel – Jordon Dizon
  • Vice president of football operations – Kelly Kleine Van Calligan
  • Vice president of football administration – Rich Hurtado
  • Vice president of player development – Ray Jackson
  • Vice president of football technology and research – Tony Lazzaro
  • Director of college scouting – Bryan Chesin
  • Assistant director of college scouting – Dave Bratten
  • Director of football analytics – Scott Flaska
  • Senior personnel executive – Roman Phifer
  • Senior personnel executive – Nick Schiralli
Head coach
  • Head coach – Sean Payton
  • Assistant to the head coach – Paul Kelly
Offensive coaches
  
Defensive coaches
Special teams coaches
Strength and conditioning
  • Vice president of player health and performance – Beau Lowery
  • Director of strength and conditioning – Shaun Snee
  • Head strength and conditioning – Dan Dalrymple
  • Assistant strength and conditioning - Zaviar Gooden
  • Assistant strength and conditioning – Taylor Porter

→ Coaching staff
→ Front office
→ More NFL staffs

Current roster

Denver Broncos roster
Quarterbacks (QB)

Running backs (RB)

Wide receivers (WR)

Tight ends (TE)

Offensive linemen (OL)

Defensive linemen (DL)

Linebackers (LB)

Defensive backs (DB)

Special teams (ST)

Impending free agents (FA)

Preseason

The Broncos' preseason opponents and schedule will be announced in the spring.

Regular season

2026 opponents

Listed below are the Broncos' opponents for 2026. Exact dates and times will be announced in the spring.[46]

Category Home Away
Division opponents
(AFC West)		 Kansas City Chiefs
Las Vegas Raiders
Los Angeles Chargers
Conference opponents
(AFC East)		 Buffalo Bills
Miami Dolphins		 New England Patriots
New York Jets
Conference opponents
(based on 2025 division placement)		 Jacksonville Jaguars Pittsburgh Steelers
Interconference opponents
(NFC West)		 Los Angeles Rams
Seattle Seahawks		 Arizona Cardinals
San Francisco 49ers
Interconference opponent
(based on 2025 division placement)		 No game Carolina Panthers

Awards and honors

Yearly

Award(s) Recipient Source
NFLPA Alan Page Community Award T Garett Bolles [47]

References

  1. ^ Heath, Jon (March 8, 2026). "Sean Payton adds former NFL linebacker to Broncos' coaching staff". Broncos Wire. Retrieved March 12, 2026.
  2. ^ a b c DiLalla, Aric (January 27, 2026). "Broncos part ways with three assistant coaches". Denver Broncos. Retrieved January 28, 2026.
  3. ^ Jensen, Chad (February 15, 2026). "Report: Broncos Hire 'Rising Star' to Coach the Secondary". Denver Broncos On SI. Retrieved February 15, 2026.
  4. ^ Getzenberg, Alaina (January 31, 2026). "Bills hire former player Leonhard as defensive coordinator". ESPN.com. Retrieved February 1, 2026.
  5. ^ Kalland, Robby (February 25, 2026). "Robert Livingston leaving Colorado: Deion Sanders' defensive coordinator departs for Broncos". CBS Sports. Retrieved February 25, 2026.
  6. ^ Jensen, Chad (January 17, 2026). "Broncos Bring in Former Lions OC as Playoff Consultant". Denver Broncos On SI. Retrieved February 15, 2026.
  7. ^ a b c DiLalla, Aric (February 2, 2026). "Head Coach Sean Payton names Davis Webb as Offensive Coordinator and Logan Kilgore as Quarterbacks Coach". Denver Broncos. Retrieved February 2, 2026.
  8. ^ Evans, Luca (February 22, 2026). "Broncos bringing back John Morton as offensive passing-game coordinator, source confirms". The Denver Post. Retrieved February 22, 2026.
  9. ^ Kelberman, Zack (February 26, 2026). "Report: Broncos Lose 'Well Regarded' Coach to College Team". Denver Broncos On SI. Retrieved February 26, 2026.
  10. ^ "Broncos announce updates to 2026 coaching staff". Denver Broncos. March 12, 2026. Retrieved March 12, 2026.
  11. ^ Mink, Ryan (February 6, 2026). "Reports: Ravens to Hire Zach Grossi as Tight Ends Coach". Baltimore Ravens. Retrieved February 7, 2026.
  12. ^ Simmons, Myles (January 30, 2026). "Bills hiring Pete Carmichael Jr. as offensive coordinator". NBC Sports. Retrieved January 30, 2026.
  13. ^ Heath, Jon (February 23, 2026). "Broncos add another former quarterback to coaching staff". Broncos Wire. Retrieved February 23, 2026.
  14. ^ Gabriel, Parker (February 18, 2026). "Sean Payton expected to hire Ronald Curry as Broncos' WR coach, sources say". The Denver Post. Retrieved February 19, 2026.
  15. ^ DiLalla, Aric (January 26, 2026). "Broncos sign 6 players to future contracts". Denver Broncos. Retrieved January 26, 2026.
  16. ^ Tomasson, Chris (January 27, 2026). "Broncos sign OLB Garrett Nelson to futures contract". Denver Gazette. Retrieved January 28, 2026.
  17. ^ DiLalla, Aric (January 29, 2026). "Broncos sign 4 players to future contracts". Denver Broncos. Retrieved January 30, 2026.
  18. ^ Tomasson, Chris (January 29, 2026). "Davis Webb withdraws as Raiders candidate for head coach as Broncos interview Ronald Curry for offensive coordinator". Denver Gazette. Retrieved January 30, 2026.
  19. ^ DiLalla, Aric (March 10, 2026). "Broncos re-sign TE Nate Adkins to 1-year contract". Denver Broncos. Retrieved March 11, 2026.
  20. ^ a b c d Tomasson, Chris (March 6, 2026). "Broncos plan to bring back Devon Key, Dondrea Tillman, Jordan Jackson, Tyler Badie, won't tender Lucas Krull". Denver Gazette. Retrieved March 9, 2026.
  21. ^ DiLalla, Aric (March 10, 2026). "Broncos re-sign RB J.K. Dobbins to 2-year contract". Denver Broncos. Retrieved March 11, 2026.
  22. ^ DiLalla, Aric (March 11, 2026). "Broncos re-sign QB Sam Ehlinger to 1-year contract". Denver Broncos. Retrieved March 12, 2026.
  23. ^ Wyatt, Jim (March 12, 2026). "Titans Sign Defensive Lineman John Franklin-Myers". Tennessee Titans. Retrieved March 12, 2026.
  24. ^ a b c Heath, Jon; Walker, Brandon (March 17, 2026). "Broncos free agency tracker: View all of the team's moves". USA Today. Retrieved March 17, 2026.
  25. ^ Heath, Jon (March 11, 2026). "Broncos bring back former 6th-round draft pick". USA Today. Retrieved March 11, 2026.
  26. ^ DiLalla, Aric (March 12, 2026). "Broncos re-sign WR Lil'Jordan Humphrey to 1-year contract". Denver Broncos. Retrieved March 12, 2026.
  27. ^ Heath, Jon (March 11, 2026). "Broncos signing tight end to 1-year contract". USA Today. Retrieved March 11, 2026.
  28. ^ Simmons, Myles (March 10, 2026). "P.J. Locke agrees to sign with Cowboys". Retrieved March 10, 2026.
  29. ^ Simmons, Myles (March 13, 2026). "Broncos agree to one-year deal with RB Jaleel McLaughlin". NBC Sports. Retrieved March 13, 2026.
  30. ^ Klis, Mike (February 27, 2026). "Broncos to place second-round, $5.8 million tender on McMillian". KUSA.com. Retrieved February 27, 2026.
  31. ^ DiLalla, Aric (March 5, 2026). "Broncos re-sign OL Alex Palczewski to 2-year contract". Denver Broncos. Retrieved March 6, 2026.
  32. ^ DiLalla, Aric (March 12, 2026). "Broncos re-sign FB Adam Prentice to 1-year contract". Denver Broncos. Retrieved March 12, 2026.
  33. ^ DiLalla, Aric (March 10, 2026). "Broncos re-sign ILB Alex Singleton to 2-year contract". Denver Broncos. Retrieved March 11, 2026.
  34. ^ DiLalla, Aric (March 10, 2026). "Broncos re-sign ILB Justin Strnad to 3-year contract". Denver Broncos. Retrieved March 11, 2026.
  35. ^ DiLalla, Aric (March 10, 2026). "Broncos re-sign TE Adam Trautman to 3-year contract". Denver Broncos. Retrieved March 11, 2026.
  36. ^ Swanson, Ben (February 19, 2026). "Broncos sign WR Michael Bandy". Denver Broncos. Retrieved March 11, 2026.
  37. ^ Heltman, Russell (March 19, 2026). "Bengals Ace Special Teamer Leaving in Free Agency, Opening Huge Hole in Forgotten Phase". Cincinnati Bengals On SI. Retrieved March 19, 2026.
  38. ^ DiLalla, Aric (March 12, 2026). "Broncos release LB Dre Greenlaw with a post-June 1 designation". Denver Broncos. Retrieved March 12, 2026.
  39. ^ Heath, Jon (March 8, 2025). "Broncos restructuring lineman's contract to create more salary cap space". Broncos Wire. Retrieved March 9, 2026.
  40. ^ Heath, Jon (March 13, 2026). "Broncos restructure Jonathon Cooper's contract to create cap space". Broncos Wire. Retrieved March 13, 2026.
  41. ^ Loschko, Jackson (March 18, 2026). "Denver Broncos: Revise contract of key backup for 2026". MSN.com. Retrieved March 19, 2026.
  42. ^ a b DiLalla, Aric (March 18, 2026). "Broncos acquire WR Jaylen Waddle in trade with Dolphins". DenverBroncos.com. Retrieved March 18, 2026.
  43. ^ DiLalla, Aric (August 20, 2025). "Broncos agree to terms on trade with Saints to acquire fourth-, seventh-round picks in exchange for WR Devaughn Vele". Denver Broncos. Retrieved August 20, 2025.
  44. ^ DiLalla, Aric (April 29, 2024). "Broncos acquire DE John Franklin-Myers in trade with Jets". Denver Broncos. Retrieved April 29, 2024.
  45. ^ a b DiLalla, Aric (March 9, 2026). "Broncos awarded 2 compensatory picks in 2026 NFL Draft". Denver Broncos. Retrieved March 9, 2026.
  46. ^ "2026 Opponents Determined". NFL. January 5, 2026. Retrieved January 5, 2026.
  47. ^ Alper, Josh (February 3, 2026). "Garett Bolles wins the NFLPA's Alan Page Community Award". NBC Sports. Retrieved February 4, 2026.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.