The 2011 season was the Denver Broncos' 42nd in the National Football League (NFL) and their 52nd overall. It also marked their first season under head coach John Fox, as well as the first with John Elway as the team's Executive Vice President of Football Operations.
On July 25, the NFLPA and NFL owners agreed on a new collective bargaining agreement, which was ratified on August 4. The Broncos training camp began on July 28 at the team headquarters in Dove Valley, Colorado, and the preseason and regular season started on time.
This season would be the final time that the Broncos would lose in Week 1 and start 0–1 until eight years later in 2019, both times being a loss to their division rival Oakland Raiders.
This was the first of five consecutive AFC West titles for the Broncos. The first five weeks of the season were dominated by a quarterback controversy involving Kyle Orton and Tim Tebow, with fans voicing their displeasure with the play of Orton, which resulted in a 1–4 start, and the public outcry for Tebow to be moved to starter. On October 11, Tebow was named the starting quarterback beginning with the team's Week 7 game at the Miami Dolphins on October 23. Tebow compiled an 8–5 record (including the playoffs, with a six-game win streak from Weeks 9–14) after replacing Orton, including game-winning drives in the fourth quarter and/or overtime in six of those games, despite constant criticism of his unorthodox mechanics and abilities as a passer. Orton was later waived on November 22. Another notable roster change was the trade that sent wide receiver Brandon Lloyd to the St. Louis Rams in exchange for a conditional 2012 draft selection.
The Broncos doubled their win total from 2010, finishing in a three-way tie with the Oakland Raiders and San Diego Chargers for the AFC West division title, with an 8–8 record. The Broncos, however, won the AFC West based on tiebreakers, thus clinching their first playoff berth and division title since 2005.
The Broncos opened the playoffs with a 29–23 overtime win over the Pittsburgh Steelers in the wild-card round, but were blown out by the New England Patriots in the divisional round by a score of 45–10.
Coaching and front office changes January 5: Hall of Fame quarterback John Elway was hired as the team's Executive Vice President of Football Operations. Brian Xanders remained as general manager, but Elway had the final word in all football matters. Joe Ellis, who served as the team's chief operating officer for the past three years, was promoted to team president. January 13: The Broncos named former Carolina Panthers' head coach John Fox as the team's new head coach. January 17: The following changes were made to the Broncos' coaching staff: Clancy Barone was moved from offensive line coach to tight ends coach, replacing Bob Ligashesky. Dave Magazu was named the new offensive line coach. Tyke Tolbert was named the new wide receivers coach. Magazu and Tolbert both previously served on John Fox's staff with the Panthers. Brian Callahan was moved to the offensive quality control position, while Jay Rodgers was moved to the defensive quality control position. Eric Studesville, who served as the team's interim head coach for the final four games of the 2010 season, retained his position as the running backs coach. January 20: Adam Gase, who served as the Broncos' wide receivers coach during the previous two seasons, was named the team's new quarterbacks coach, replacing Ben McDaniels. That same day, Jeff Rodgers, who served on John Fox's staff with the Panthers during the previous two seasons, was named the team's new special teams coach. January 24: The Broncos hired former New Orleans Saints' secondary coach Dennis Allen as the team's new defensive coordinator, replacing Don Martindale. January 25: Ron Milus was hired as the new secondary coach, replacing Dennis Allen, while Richard Smith was hired as the new linebackers coach. Milus previously served as the Broncos' secondary coach in 2000, while Smith previously served as the Broncos' special teams coach and linebackers coach in the mid-1990s, and both previously served on John Fox's staff with the Panthers during the past two seasons. January 27: The coaching staff was finalized, when Keith Burns was brought back as the assistant special teams coach and Sam Garnes was hired as the teams' new assistant secondary coach. Garnes served on John Fox's staff with the Panthers last season. July 22: The Broncos hired Jerry Butler as the team's director of player development. Butler previously served in the same capacity with the Cleveland Browns from 2001 to 2010, and was a wide receiver with the Buffalo Bills from 1979 to 1986.
Pre-lockout roster changes The Broncos made the following roster moves prior to the decertification of the NFLPA on March 11 and subsequent 2011 NFL Lockout:
On January 7, five days after the end of the 2010 season, the team signed fullback Mike McLaughlin, guards Shawn Murphy and Manny Ramirez and offensive tackle Herb Taylor to future contracts. McLaughlin was waived on July 29, Murphy was waived on August 29 and Taylor was waived on September 6. On February 22, unrestricted free agent cornerback Champ Bailey was re-signed. On March 2, tight end Daniel Graham was released. On March 3, unrestricted free agent defensive tackle Kevin Vickerson was re-signed, while defensive tackles Justin Bannan and Jamal Williams were released.
Draft
Despite the 2011 NFL Lockout, the 2011 NFL draft was held from April 28–30. However, no undrafted free agents were signed until after the lockout ended on July 25.
2011 Denver Broncos DraftRound Selection Player Position College Notes Trades 1 2 Von Miller LB Texas A&M signed July 28 2 45 Rahim Moore S UCLA signed July 28 46 Orlando Franklin OT Miami signed July 29 3 67 Nate Irving LB NC State signed July 29 4 108 Quinton Carter S Oklahoma signed July 29 129 Julius Thomas TE Portland State signed July 27 5 None 6 189 Mike Mohamed LB California signed July 27, waived September 22,promoted to the active roster on November 28 7 204 Virgil Green TE Nevada signed July 27 247 * Jeremy Beal DE Oklahoma signed July 27, waived September 3 * Compensatory selection Draft trades
Post-lockout roster changes
Free agents The following free agents were left unsigned after the beginning of the 2011 NFL Lockout in March (cornerback Champ Bailey and defensive tackle Kevin Vickerson were re-signed before the lockout):
Position Player Tag 2011 Team Notes FB Kyle Eckel None NT Ronald Fields UFA Carolina Panthers signed with the Panthers on September 13 OT Ryan Harris UFA Philadelphia Eagles signed with the Eagles on August 2,re-signed by the Broncos on January 2, 2012 RB Laurence Maroney UFA None DE Ryan McBean Denver Broncos signed tender July 29 PK Matt Prater Denver Broncos signed tender July 29 DT/NT Marcus Thomas UFA Denver Broncos re-signed July 31 LB Wesley Woodyard RFA Denver Broncos signed tender July 29
Undrafted free agents All undrafted free agents were signed on July 27, two days after the end of the 2011 NFL Lockout.
2011 Denver Broncos undrafted free agents Player Position College Notes CB Brandon Bing Rutgers waived September 3 DT Ronnell Brown James Madison waived September 3 WR Mark Dell Michigan State designated as waived/injured on August 13 LB Derek Domino South Dakota State designated as waived/injured on August 15,released from the waived/injured list on December 13 RB Mario Fannin Auburn designated as waived/injured on August 6 WR D'Andre Goodwin Washington waived September 3,assigned to practice squad September 4,promoted to the active roster on January 10, 2012,on final roster OT Adam Grant Arizona waived September 3,assigned to practice squad on September 4 CB Chris Harris, Jr. Kansas on final roster WR Jamel Hamler Fresno State placed on injured reserve September 3,waived September 12 LB A. J. Jones Florida waived August 16 LB Deron Mayo Old Dominion waived August 29 OT Curt Porter Jacksonville State waived August 29 CB James Rogers Michigan released August 1 FB Austin Sylvester Washington waived September 3,assigned to practice squad September 4,promoted to the active roster on December 27,waived January 13, 2012 QB Adam Weber Minnesota waived September 3,assigned to practice squad on September 4 DT Colby Whitlock Texas Tech released August 2 WR Marshall Williams Wake Forest released August 1
Signings Position Player 2010 Team Notes WR David Anderson Houston Texans signed July 30, waived September 3 LS David Binn San Diego Chargers signed January 13, 2012, on final roster LB Alvin Bowen Jacksonville Jaguars signed August 15, waived September 3 S Rafael Bush Atlanta Falcons signed October 17, on final roster CB Tony Carter Practice squad player promoted to the active roster on December 13,on final roster WR/RS Quan Cosby Cincinnati Bengals signed September 20, waived December 27 TE Daniel Fells St. Louis Rams signed August 1, on final roster RB C. J. Gable New Orleans Saints signed August 6, waived August 29 DE Derrick Harvey Jacksonville Jaguars signed August 1, on final roster OT Tony Hills Pittsburgh Steelers signed September 6, on final roster LB Brian Iwuh Chicago Bears signed January 3, 2012, on final roster RB Jeremiah Johnson Practice squad player promoted to the active roster on September 16,waived September 20,promoted to the active roster on November 14,on final roster FB Quinn Johnson Tennessee Titans signed October 10, waived December 17 S Kyle McCarthy Practice squad player promoted to the active roster on November 28,waived December 13,promoted to the active roster on December 17,waived January 3, 2012 RB Willis McGahee Baltimore Ravens signed July 31, on final roster WR Greg Orton Spokane Shock (AFL) signed August 13, waived September 3 DT DeMario Pressley Houston Texans signed August 17, waived September 3 TE Dante Rosario Carolina Panthers signed August 1, released September 3,re-signed September 22, on final roster DT Ty Warren New England Patriots signed August 2,placed on injured reserve September 17 CB Jonathan Wilhite New England Patriots signed September 4, on final roster Indicates that the player was a free agent at the end of his respective team's season.
Departures Position Player Notes RB Correll Buckhalter released July 29 G Stanley Daniels waived September 3 TE Daniel Coats released July 29 CB Perrish Cox waived September 3 WR Britt Davis waived September 3 LB Dominic Douglas waived July 31 TE Dan Gronkowski waived September 3 PK Steven Hauschka waived September 3 S Renaldo Hill released July 30 CB Chevis Jackson waived August 4 CB Nate Jones released August 29 LB Braxton Kelley waived August 29 DT Louis Leonard released August 15 S Darcel McBath released September 4 G Eric Olsen waived September 3 QB Kyle Orton waived November 22 S Nick Polk released August 1 TE Richard Quinn designated as waived/injured on August 22,released from injured reserve on August 26 LB Lee Robinson waived September 3 DE David Veikune waived August 29 RB LenDale White released August 16
Trades July 27: Wide receiver Jabar Gaffney was traded to the Washington Redskins in exchange for defensive end Jeremy Jarmon. Jarmon was later waived on September 4. August 1: The Broncos acquired defensive tackle Brodrick Bunkley from the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for an undisclosed 2013 draft selection. October 17: Wide receiver Brandon Lloyd was traded to the St. Louis Rams in exchange for a sixth-round selection in the 2012 NFL draft; the selection was later upgraded to a fifth-rounder after a condition was met in which Lloyd made a minimum of 30 receptions with the Rams.
Injuries