The 2013 season was the Denver Broncos' 44th in the National Football League (NFL) and their 54th overall. It also marked their 30th season under the ownership of Pat Bowlen, the second with Peyton Manning as the team's starting quarterback and the third under head coach John Fox. The 2013 Broncos were well known for their extremely powerful offense, which set the record for both the most points scored in a season and most passing yards in a season, at 606 and 5,572, respectively, both the all-time NFL records.
Following a loss to the eventual Super Bowl champion Baltimore Ravens in the divisional round of the 2012 playoffs, the Broncos entered the 2013 season as favorites to win Super Bowl XLVIII. However, the team underwent a tumultuous offseason that was dominated by the suspension of All-Pro linebacker Von Miller as well as several injuries to the offensive line. Notable offseason additions include the free agent acquisitions of wide receiver Wes Welker, linebacker Shaun Phillips, safety Quentin Jammer and cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie. Roster departures include wide receiver Brandon Stokley, linebackers Elvis Dumervil and D. J. Williams, and running back Willis McGahee.
The Broncos' 606 points (37.9 points per game) scored in the regular season is the highest total for any team playing a 16-game season. Throughout the regular season, numerous individual, league and franchise records were set, including Peyton Manning setting new NFL records for passing touchdowns and passing yardage, as well as the team setting new NFL records for touchdowns and points scored in a single season. He was named MVP for the season. During the team's mid-season bye week, head coach John Fox received a health scare that resulted in Fox missing four games due to recuperation from heart surgery. Defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio served as the team's acting head coach during Fox's absence.
The Broncos won their third consecutive AFC West division title, as well as earning a first-round bye and homefield advantage throughout the playoffs for a second consecutive season. The Broncos defeated the San Diego Chargers 24–17 in the Divisional round and then the New England Patriots 26–16 in the AFC championship game. The team faced the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl XLVIII – the Broncos' first Super Bowl berth since winning back-to-back Super Bowls in 1997 and 1998. However, the Broncos were unable to recover from a 22–0 halftime deficit, and the Seahawks' No. 1 ranked defense held the Broncos' No. 1 ranked offense to their lowest scoring output of the season, routing the Broncos by a score of 43–8. They also scored fewer than 27 points in all three of their playoff games despite only doing so once during the regular season. Despite leading the league in points scored, the Broncos were 22nd in points allowed, with 399 and 19th in total defense.
Coaching and front-office changes January 15: Offensive coordinator Mike McCoy was hired as the new head coach of the San Diego Chargers. That same day, the Broncos hired Cory Undlin as the team's new secondary coach. Undlin served as the defensive quality control coach last season, and he replaces Ron Milus, whose contract was not renewed. The team cited that Milus' coaching style clashed with several players during the past two seasons. January 17: Adam Gase, who spent the past two seasons as the Broncos' quarterbacks coach, was promoted to offensive coordinator, replacing Mike McCoy. January 18: Greg Knapp was hired as the team's new quarterbacks coach, replacing Adam Gase. Knapp served as the Oakland Raiders' offensive coordinator in . February 11: Assistant special teams coach Keith Burns was hired to the same position with the Washington Redskins. His position was filled two days later (February 13), with the hiring of Derius Swinton, who spent the 2012 season as the Kansas City Chiefs' special teams quality control coach. May 1: The Broncos parted ways with Keith Kidd, who served as the team's director of player personnel for the past four seasons. The team hired Tom Heckert, Jr. as Kidd's replacement six days later (May 7). Heckert previously served as a general manager with the Philadelphia Eagles from 2006 to 2009 and most recently with the Cleveland Browns from 2010 to 2012. May 13: Alex Gibbs, who served as the Broncos' offensive line coach from 1995 to 2003, was hired as an offensive consultant. May 31: John Spytek was hired as the team's director of college scouting. Spytek previously worked in the same capacity during the past two seasons with the Cleveland Browns, alongside former Browns' general manager Tom Heckert, Jr.
Absence of John Fox On November 2, 2013, during the Broncos' bye week, head coach John Fox was hospitalized after experiencing light-headedness while playing golf in Charlotte, North Carolina. Fox was held in a Charlotte-area hospital for further testing, and doctors indicated that he needed aortic valve replacement surgery and would be out for up to two months. Fox knew about his heart condition, and had initially hoped to postpone his surgery until after the season, however, two days later (November 4), Fox underwent the successful surgery. Defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio was named the interim head coach during Fox's absence. Del Rio had previously served as head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars from 2003 to 2011, as well as a defensive coordinator on Fox's staff with the Carolina Panthers in . On December 2, Fox returned to the Broncos' training camp facility at Dove Valley, in preparation for the team's Week 14 game against the Tennessee Titans.
Roster changes
Free agents Position Player Tag 2013 team Notes RB Lance Ball None assigned tender on March 8, re-signed April 8, released August 31 DT Justin Bannan Detroit Lions signed with the Lions on August 15 LB Keith Brooking UFA None S David Bruton UFA Denver Broncos re-signed March 11 CB Tony Carter Denver Broncos assigned tender on March 8, re-signed April 15 OT Ryan Clady Denver Broncos assigned franchise tag on March 1, re-signed July 14,placed on injured reserve September 18 OT Chris Clark RFA Denver Broncos assigned tender on March 8, re-signed April 10 P Britton Colquitt RFA Denver Broncos assigned tender on March 8, re-signed April 23 FB/TE Chris Gronkowski RFA None DE Jason Hunter UFA Oakland Raiders signed with the Raiders on March 13 C Dan Koppen UFA None re-signed June 20, placed on injured reserve July 30 S Jim Leonhard UFA Buffalo Bills signed with the Bills on September 5 CB Tracy Porter UFA Oakland Raiders signed with the Raiders on April 2 WR Brandon Stokley UFA Baltimore Ravens signed with the Ravens on August 11 DT Mitch Unrein ERFA Denver Broncos assigned tender on March 8, re-signed April 11 DT Kevin Vickerson UFA Denver Broncos re-signed March 12 DT Ty Warren UFA None WR Matthew Willis UFA None
Signings Position Player 2012 team Notes LB Stewart Bradley Arizona Cardinals signed March 13, placed on injured reserve August 31 CB Marquice Cole New England Patriots signed January 14, 2014, on final roster DT Sione Fua Carolina Panthers signed November 27, on final roster S Michael Huff Baltimore Ravens signed November 19, on final roster CB/S Quentin Jammer San Diego Chargers signed May 29, on final roster OT Winston Justice Indianapolis Colts signed September 18, on final roster DT Terrance Knighton Jacksonville Jaguars signed March 13, on final roster LB Paris Lenon Arizona Cardinals signed August 20, on final roster C Ryan Lilja Kansas City Chiefs signed July 31, released August 31 CB Nigel Malone Pittsburgh Steelers signed August 1, waived August 25 LB Brandon Marshall Jacksonville Jaguars promoted from the Broncos' practice squad on December 24, on final roster DE Jeremy Mincey Jacksonville Jaguars signed December 17, on final roster TE Jake O'Connell Kansas City Chiefs signed July 27, released August 31TE DeAngelo Peterson Washington Redskins signed August 6, waived August 25 LB Shaun Phillips San Diego Chargers signed April 27, on final roster LB Adrian Robinson Pittsburgh Steelers signed September 1, waived October 15 CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie Philadelphia Eagles signed March 13, on final roster C Steve Vallos Jacksonville Jaguars signed July 28, on final roster G Louis Vasquez San Diego Chargers signed March 12, on final roster WR Wes Welker New England Patriots signed March 13, on final roster Indicates that the player was a free agent at the end of his respective team's season.
Departures Position Player Notes C Philip Blake waived August 31 G Justin Boren waived August 7 G C. J. Davis released August 31 DE Elvis Dumervil released March 15 RB Mario Fannin waived May 22 S Blake Gideon designated as reserve/retired on May 22 QB Caleb Hanie released March 11 FB Jacob Hester released September 1 RB Willis McGahee released June 13 LB Joe Mays released July 23 C J. D. Walton waived December 17 LB D. J. Williams released March 11
Trades On August 20, defensive tackle Sealver Siliga was traded to the Seattle Seahawks in exchange for guard John Moffitt. On November 5, Moffitt was placed on the reserve/left squad list.
Draft
2013 Denver Broncos Draft Round Selection Player Position College Notes 1 28 Sylvester Williams DT North Carolina signed July 25 2 58 Montee Ball RB Wisconsin signed June 13 3 90 Kayvon Webster CB South Florida signed June 13 4 None – see draft trades below 5 146 Quanterus Smith DE Western Kentucky signed May 10,placed on injured reserve August 31 161 Tavarres King WR Georgia signed May 10, waived August 31,promoted to the active roster on October 15 6 173 Vinston Painter OT Virginia Tech signed May 9, waived August 31,promoted to the active roster on January 14, 2014. 7 234 Zac Dysert QB Miami (Ohio) signed May 13 Draft trades
Trade partner Broncos give Broncos receive Source Green Bay Packers fourth-round selection (No. 125) fifth- and sixth-round selections (Nos. 146 and 173) Philadelphia Eagles original sixth-round selection (No. 196) defensive tackle Brodrick Bunkley
Undrafted free agents All undrafted free agents were signed just after the 2013 NFL draft concluded on April 27, unless noted otherwise.
2013 Denver Broncos undrafted free agents Player Position College Notes RB C. J. Anderson California on final roster WR Kemonte' Bateman New Mexico State waived August 25 P Ryan Doerr Kansas State designated as waived/injured on August 14 OT Manase Foketi West Texas A&M waived August 25 DT Romney Fuga BYU signed April 30, waived August 31 CB Aaron Hester UCLA waived August 31 LB Damien Holmes UCLA signed May 13, waived August 31 QB Ryan Katz San Diego State waived August 25 LB Uona Kaveinga BYU waived August 25 DE Gary Mason Jr. Baylor released May 12, following a failed physical exam LB Lerentee McCray Florida placed on injured reserve August 31 WR Quincy McDuffie Central Florida designated as waived/injured on August 25 S Ross Rasner Arkansas waived August 31 TE Lucas Reed New Mexico designated as waived/injured on July 28 LB Douglas Rippy Colorado released May 12 DE Langston Tanyi Colorado State signed May 13, waived August 25 WR Lamar Thomas New Mexico waived August 31 DE John Youboty Temple waived August 31, assigned to the practice squad September 1
Von Miller suspension