Sean Payton returns for his fourth season as head coach after the Broncos posted a 14-3 campaign in 2025. Davis Webb takes over as offensive coordinator, with Bo Nix back under center and running backs J.K. Dobbins and RJ Harvey returning. The Broncos also bring back their top ten pass catchers from last year. Courtland Sutton and Pat Bryant return at receiver, along with tight ends Evan Engram and Adam Trautman, and the Broncos welcome Jaylen Waddle from Miami. Bryant suffered an ankle injury in Week 4 and was placed on injured reserve. Payton has also taken over offensive play-calling duties from Webb. The offensive line returns Garett Bolles, Ben Powers, Luke Wattenberg, Quinn Meinerz, and Mike McGlinchey. Alex Palczewski adds depth.

Vance Joseph returns for his fourth season as defensive coordinator. The Broncos bring back ten of their top eleven tacklers from last year, including the top five. D.J. Jones, Zach Allen, Jonah Elliss, Justin Strnad, Alex Singleton, Nik Bonitto, and Jonathon Cooper return to the front seven, and Malcolm Roach also returns. The Broncos’ secondary brings back Riley Moss, Pat Surtain II, Talanoa Hufanga, Brandon Jones, and Ja’Quan McMillian. Surtain suffered an ankle injury in Week 4, while Moss suffered a rib injury. Both missed Week 5 against the Chargers.

Special teams coach Darren Rizzi returns for his second season. Wil Lutz returns as placekicker after hitting 28 of 32 attempts last year. Jeremy Crawshaw returns at punter, and Marvin Mims again serves as the primary returner. The Broncos are stacked with talent, and only a freak injury to Bo Nix and sloppy weather in the AFC Championship loss to the Patriots kept them from a possible Super Bowl run. Denver has opened the 2026 season at 3-2 after a 23-17 road victory over the Chargers in Week 5. The Broncos remain talented enough to compete for the AFC title, but secondary injuries and offensive inconsistency remain concerns moving forward.