The 2021 season was the Denver Broncos' 52nd season in the National Football League (NFL) and the 62nd overall. It was also the final season under the ownership of Pat Bowlen's estate who owned the team since the 1984 season.
2021 marked the first season since 2011 in which John Elway did not serve as general manager, as he relinquished those duties shortly after the end of the 2020 season. Elway remained part of the Broncos' personnel, as the president of football operations, and led the hiring of new general manager George Paton.
The Broncos started 3–0, albeit against teams who would combine for a 11–40 record (New York Giants, Jacksonville Jaguars and New York Jets), but after that, the Broncos' performance was memorably bad, going 4–10 the rest of the way, including losing their last four games. The Broncos' slightly improved on their 5–11 record from 2020, but missed the playoffs for a sixth consecutive season and suffered their fifth consecutive losing season (both the second-longest streaks in franchise history) following a loss to the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 17. Linebacker Von Miller, the Broncos' franchise record-holder for the most career sacks, was traded to the Los Angeles Rams at mid-season.
Statistically, the Broncos' ranked third in scoring defense, and their defense also ranked within the top 10 in total yards and passing yards. However, their offense ranked in the bottom 10 in points scored, scoring 30+ points only twice and failing to reach 20 points in 9 of their 17 games, resulting in the firing of head coach Vic Fangio after three seasons.
Coaching changes
February 4: Chris Cook was hired as an offensive quality control coach. February 8: Christian Parker was hired as a defensive backs coach. He spent the previous two seasons with the Green Bay Packers as a defensive quality control coach. Parker replaces Renaldo Hill, who departed on January 25 to become the Los Angeles Chargers' defensive coordinator.
Front office changes January 3: During halftime of the Broncos' 2020 regular season finale, director of player personnel Matt Russell announced his retirement, after eight seasons in that role. January 4: John Elway announced that he will remain president of football operations, but will relinquish his general manager duties, and led the hiring of a new general manager. January 13: George Paton was hired as the new Broncos' general manager. Paton spent the previous 14 seasons in the Minnesota Vikings' front office, including the previous nine seasons as the Vikings' assistant general manager and the last three as vice president of player personnel. May 21: Darren Mougey was promoted to be Paton's right-hand man, director of player personnel.
Roster changes
Future contracts All players listed below were signed to reserve/future contracts on January 4, unless noted otherwise. The signings include all ten players who were on the practice squad of the final roster at the end of the 2020 season. Each player was officially added to the active roster on March 17—the first day of the 2021 league year. Position Player Notes OT Quinn Bailey waived August 31, assigned to the practice squad on September 1,promoted to the active roster on January 7 WR Trinity Benson traded to the Detroit Lions on August 31 WR Fred Brown waived February 2 S Chris Cooper waived June 7 RB Jeremy Cox waived May 3 RB Damarea Crockett waived August 31, assigned to the practice squad on September 1,promoted to the active roster on September 22, waived October 26,assigned to the practice squad on October 27,promoted to the active roster on December 4, waived December 21,assigned to the practice squad on December 23 WR Kendall Hinton waived August 31, assigned to the practice squad on September 1,promoted to the active roster on September 14 TE Jordan Leggett waived February 2 C Patrick Morris signed January 5, waived July 27 OT Darrin Paulo waived February 2 DT Deyon Sizer designated as waived/injured on August 17,assigned to the practice squad on December 28,released from the practice squad on January 3
Free agents
Unrestricted Position Player 2021 team Notes LB Jeremiah Attaochu Chicago Bears signed with the Bears on March 21 CB De'Vante Bausby Las Vegas Raiders signed with the Raiders on June 17 TE Jake Butt Chicago Bears signed with the Bears on June 18 LB Austin Calitro Chicago Bears originally an RFA, signed with the Bears on May 17 LB Anthony Chickillo None retired on July 11 OT Demar Dotson None DT Shelby Harris Denver Broncos re-signed March 15 S Kareem Jackson Denver Broncos contract option for 2021 declined on March 15, re-signed March 24 LB Joseph Jones Tampa Bay Buccaneers signed with the Buccaneers on May 5 RB Phillip Lindsay Houston Texans originally an RFA, assigned right-of-first-refusal tender on March 16,tender rescinded on March 18, signed with the Texans on March 19 LB Von Miller Denver Broncos contract option for 2021 picked up on March 16 S Will Parks Kansas City Chiefs signed with the Chiefs on May 6 S Justin Simmons Denver Broncos assigned franchise tag on March 5, re-signed March 19 CB Kevin Toliver None originally an RFA DE DeMarcus Walker Houston Texans signed with the Texans on April 16 G Elijah Wilkinson Chicago Bears signed with the Bears on March 23 DT Sylvester Williams None Note: Unrestricted free agents who were originally Restricted free agents (RFA) had three accrued seasons whose contracts expired at the end of the previous season, and did not receive a qualifying offer before the start of the 2021 league year on March 17.
Restricted and exclusive-rights Position Player Tag 2021 team Notes OT Calvin Anderson ERFA Denver Broncos assigned tender on March 16, re-signed May 17 LB A. J. Johnson RFA Denver Broncos assigned tender on March 16, re-signed May 20 S Trey Marshall RFA Denver Broncos assigned tender on March 16, re-signed May 18,waived August 31 WR Tim Patrick RFA Denver Broncos assigned tender on March 16, re-signed May 18 WR Diontae Spencer ERFA Denver Broncos assigned tender on March 16, re-signed April 16
Signings Position Player 2020 team(s) Notes RB Mike Boone Minnesota Vikings signed March 18, placed on injured reserve on September 1,activated October 16 OT Cody Conway None signed May 17, designated as waived/injured on August 4 QB Case Cookus New York Giants signed May 17, waived May 20 WR Amara Darboh None signed June 17, released August 6 CB Ronald Darby Washington Football Team signed March 17, placed on injured reserve on January 7 CB Rojesterman Farris None signed August 2, waived August 17,assigned to the practice squad on September 14released from the practice squad on October 5,re-signed to the practice squad on October 13,released from the practice squad on November 2 OT Cameron Fleming New York Giants signed May 20, released August 31,re-signed September 1 CB Mike Ford Detroit Lions claimed off waivers from the Lions on September 1,placed on injured reserve on October 16, activated November 6 CB Kyle Fuller Chicago Bears signed March 20 NT Justin Hamilton Dallas Cowboys signed December 28 C Brett Jones Minnesota Vikings signed July 27, placed on injured reserve August 23 LB Peter Kalambayi Houston Texans signed June 7, waived August 17 RB Adrian Killins Philadelphia Eagles signed August 17, designated as waived/injured on August 23 LB Micah Kiser Los Angeles Rams signed September 22 RB Nate McCrary Baltimore Ravens claimed off waivers from the Ravens on September 1,waived September 23 DT Isaiah Mack New England PatriotsTennessee Titans signed February 11, waived August 31 OT Bobby Massie Chicago Bears signed May 12 WR David Moore None signed September 28, released October 19,assigned to the practice squad on October 20,released from the practice squad on November 9 LB Aaron Patrick Jacksonville Jaguars signed September 23 LB Natrez Patrick Los Angeles Rams claimed off waivers from the Rams on January 10,waived June 17 WR De'Mornay Pierson-El None signed June 17, waived August 31 TE Eric Saubert Jacksonville Jaguars signed May 4 CB Saivion Smith Dallas Cowboys signed August 4, waived August 31,assigned to the practice squad on September 7,released from the practice squad on October 26 DE Shamar Stephen Minnesota Vikings signed April 6, released August 31, re-signed September 1 LB Pita Taumoepenu Atlanta Falcons signed May 17, released August 23,assigned to the practice squad on October 19 S Tedric Thompson Cleveland Browns signed July 27, waived August 8 WR Damion Willis None signed May 18, waived July 20
Departures Position Player Notes CB Essang Bassey waived December 18 RB LeVante Bellamy designated as waived/injured on August 17 CB A. J. Bouye released February 10 DE Jurrell Casey released February 25 WR Tyrie Cleveland waived August 31, assigned to the practice squad on September 1,promoted to the active roster on October 20,waived December 4,promoted to the active roster on January 7 CB Duke Dawson waived November 9, assigned to the practice squad on November 10 QB Jeff Driskel released May 4 TE Austin Fort waived August 31 RB Royce Freeman waived September 1 CB Nate Hairston released August 31, assigned to the practice squad on September 1 WR DaeSean Hamilton waived with a non-football injury designation on May 18 DE Jonathan Harris waived September 1, promoted to the active roster on January 3 DE Joel Heath waived February 2 S Alijah Holder waived February 2 OT Ja'Wuan James released May 14, eleven days after an Achilles tendon rupture CB Parnall Motley waived August 31 QB Brett Rypien waived August 31, assigned to the practice squad on September 1,promoted to the active roster on September 28 C Austin Schlottmann waived August 31, assigned to the practice squad on September 1,promoted to the active roster on November 9 LB Derrek Tuszka waived August 31 TE Nick Vannett released March 23 LB Josh Watson waived August 24
Draft
2021 Denver Broncos Draft Round Selection Player Position College Notes 1 9 Patrick Surtain II CB Alabama signed May 18, placed on injured reserve on January 7 2 35 Javonte Williams RB North Carolina signed July 24 3 98 Quinn Meinerz C Wisconsin–Whitewater signed July 24 105 Baron Browning LB Ohio State signed July 23 4 None—see table below 5 152 Caden Sterns S Texas signed May 13 164 Jamar Johnson S Indiana signed May 13 6 219 Seth Williams WR Auburn signed May 13, waived August 31,assigned to the practice squad on September 1,promoted to the active roster on January 3 7 237 Kary Vincent Jr. CB LSU signed May 13,traded to the Philadelphia Eagles on November 2 239 Jonathon Cooper LB Ohio State signed June 15 253 Marquiss Spencer DE Mississippi State signed May 13, waived August 31,assigned to the practice squad on September 1
Draft trades Trade partner Broncos give Broncos receive Source Atlanta Falcons original 2021 second-round selection—No. 402021 fourth-round selection—No. 114 2021 second-round selection—No. 352021 sixth-round selection—No. 219 Carolina Panthers original 2021 sixth-round selection—No. 191 QB Teddy Bridgewater Cleveland Browns FB Andy Janovich 2021 seventh-round selection—No. 253 New Orleans Saints 2021 third-round selection two 2021 third-round selections—Nos. 98 & 105 New York Giants original 2021 third-round selection—No. 71 2021 third-round selection 2021 fifth-round selection—No. 164 CB Isaac Yiadom 2021 seventh-round selection—No. 239
Undrafted free agents All undrafted free agents were signed on May 2—one day after the 2021 NFL draft concluded, unless noted otherwise.