The 2014 season was the Denver Broncos' 45th in the National Football League (NFL) and their 55th overall. It also marked the third season with Peyton Manning as the team's starting quarterback.

The Broncos entered the 2014 season as the defending AFC champions, hoping to compete for another Super Bowl run, following a 43–8 loss to the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl XLVIII. The offseason was dominated by numerous roster changes, including the retirement of longtime cornerback Champ Bailey. One day before the start of the team's training camp, the Broncos announced that owner Pat Bowlen relinquished control of the team due to his battle with Alzheimer's disease.

Like the previous two seasons, the Broncos set numerous individual, league and franchise records, including wide receiver Demaryius Thomas setting a new franchise record for receiving yards in a single season, despite the team's offensive philosophy changing toward a run-oriented offense in the second half of the season. Manning threw a total of 39 touchdown passes, but only four came in the last four games of the regular season and the playoffs. In addition, Manning achieved only one 300-yard passing game within the team's last seven games (including the playoffs), courtesy of the emergence of running back C. J. Anderson, who achieved 1,282 all-purpose yards, the majority of which came in the second half of the regular season and the playoffs. One day after the Broncos' 24–13 playoff loss to the Indianapolis Colts in the Divisional round of the playoffs, media reports indicated that Manning had been playing with a strained quadriceps since a Week 15 game against the San Diego Chargers.

The Broncos swept their division, went undefeated at home, clinched their fourth consecutive AFC West division title, secured a first-round bye and the AFC's No. 2 seed, but lost in the Divisional round of the playoffs for the third time in four seasons.

This was also John Fox's final year as the Broncos' head coach after four seasons, as he mutually agreed to part ways with the team on January 12, 2015, due to poor playoff performances during his tenure, including no playoff wins in 2012 and 2014, as well as suffering a blowout loss in Super Bowl XLVIII, as general manager John Elway felt the Broncos hadn't shown enough fight at critical times in the postseason.Legwold, Jeff. Lackluster finishes rankled Elway. ESPN, January 14, 2015.

Coaching and front office changes March 11: James Cregg was hired as the team's offensive line assistant coach, while Bo Hardegree was hired as the offensive quality control coach. The team also announced that offensive line consultant Alex Gibbs will not return to the team. July 21: The Broncos announced that Adam Peters would replace Lenny McGill as the team's assistant director of college scouting. John Spytek, the team's director of college scouting, became a national scout.

Owner Pat Bowlen steps down On July 23, one day before the start of the Broncos' training camp, owner Pat Bowlen relinquished control of the team due to his battle with Alzheimer's disease. Bowlen, who has served as the team's owner since 1984, had been privately battling the disease since 2009 after experiencing short-term memory loss, and had since taken a reduced role with the team, resulting in team president Joe Ellis and executive vice president/general manager John Elway making team decisions. Ellis and Elway assumed full control of the team, though Bowlen's long-term plan is for one of his seven children to run the team in the future, preventing a sale of the team.

Roster changes

Free agents Position Player Tag 2014 Team Notes S Mike Adams Indianapolis Colts signed with the Colts on June 14 DE Robert Ayers UFA New York Giants signed with the Giants on April 2 G Zane Beadles UFA Jacksonville Jaguars signed with the Jaguars on March 11 LB Stewart Bradley UFA None WR Andre Caldwell UFA Denver Broncos re-signed March 11 CB Tony Carter Denver Broncos assigned tender on March 7, re-signed April 21 CB Marquice Cole UFA None WR Eric Decker UFA New York Jets signed with the Jets on March 12 CB Chris Harris, Jr. Denver Broncos assigned tender on March 7, re-signed April 1 RS Trindon Holliday UFA New York Giants signed with the Giants on March 7 S Michael Huff UFA None S Duke Ihenacho ERFA Washington Redskins assigned tender on March 7, re-signed April 21,waived August 30, claimed by the Redskins on August 31 CB Quentin Jammer UFA None OT Winston Justice UFA None re-signed March 28, released August 24 C Dan Koppen UFA None LB Paris Lenon UFA None LB Brandon Marshall ERFA Denver Broncos assigned tender on March 7, re-signed April 21 DE Jeremy Mincey UFA Dallas Cowboys signed with the Cowboys on March 12 RB Knowshon Moreno UFA Miami Dolphins signed with the Dolphins on March 27 DE Shaun Phillips UFA Tennessee Titans signed with the Titans on March 27 CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie UFA New York Giants signed with the Giants on March 17 DT Mitch Unrein RFA Denver Broncos assigned tender on March 7, re-signed April 21 C Steve Vallos UFA None LB Wesley Woodyard UFA Tennessee Titans signed with the Titans on March 14

Signings Position Player 2013 Team(s) Notes DT Marvin Austin Dallas Cowboys signed May 5, on final roster K Connor Barth None signed November 25, on final roster S Josh Bush New York Jets promoted from the Broncos' practice squad on December 18, on final roster LB Todd Davis New Orleans Saints signed November 13, on final roster TE Dominique Jones Practice squad promoted from the practice squad on December 13, waived December 16, re-signed December 18, on final roster S Charles Mitchell None signed May 19, waived August 24 DT Cody Larsen Baltimore Ravens signed July 30, waived August 25 C Will Montgomery Washington Redskins signed April 1, on final roster WR Nathan Palmer Practice squad signed September 3, waived September 9,assigned to the practice squad on September 11 DE Will Pericak Jacksonville Jaguars signed July 30, waived August 24 WR Emmanuel Sanders Pittsburgh Steelers signed March 16, on final roster DE Brian Sanford Oakland RaidersCleveland Browns signed August 5, released August 30 RB Jeremy Stewart Oakland Raiders promoted from the Broncos' practice squad on November 22, on final roster CB Aqib Talib New England Patriots signed March 11, on final roster S T. J. Ward Cleveland Browns signed March 11, on final roster LB Chase Vaughn Spokane Shock (AFL) signed May 19, waived August 24 DE DeMarcus Ware Dallas Cowboys signed March 12, on final roster Indicates that the player was a free agent at the end of his respective team's season.

Departures Position Player Notes CB Champ Bailey released March 6 TE Joel Dreessen released July 22, following a failed physical exam QB Zac Dysert released August 30, assigned to the practice squad on August 31 G Chris Kuper retired on March 10 OT Vinston Painter waived August 30, assigned to the practice squad on August 31,signed by the Cleveland Browns on September 2 PK Matt Prater released October 3 DT Kevin Vickerson released August 30 DE John Youboty designated as waived/injured on May 19

Trades On August 26, the Broncos acquired placekicker Brandon McManus in a trade that sent a conditional 2015 seventh-round draft selection to the New York Giants; the trade became official on October 3 when original placekicker Matt Prater was released three days before his four-game suspension for violating the league's substance-abuse policy would have ended. However, McManus was waived on November 25 due to his inconsistency (9-of-13 on field goal attempts), and replaced by former Tampa Bay Buccaneers' placekicker Connor Barth. McManus was later re-signed to the Broncos' practice squad on December 4 due to concerns regarding Barth's kickoff lengths. Two days later (December 6), McManus was promoted to the active roster.

Draft

2014 Denver Broncos Draft Round Selection Player Position College Notes 1 31 Bradley Roby CB Ohio State signed June 10 2 56 Cody Latimer WR Indiana signed June 2 3 95 Michael Schofield OT Michigan signed June 3 4 None – see draft trades below 5 156 Lamin Barrow LB Louisiana State signed June 3 6 207 Matt Paradis C Boise State signed June 2, waived August 30,assigned to the practice squad on August 31 7 242 Corey Nelson LB Oklahoma signed June 2 Draft trades

Trade partner Broncos give Broncos receive Source Chicago Bears 2014 fourth-round selection (No. 131)original 2014 seventh-round selection (No. 246) 2014 fifth-round selection (No. 156)2015 fifth-round selection San Francisco 49ers original 2014 second-round selection (No. 63)original 2014 fifth-round selection (No. 171)2015 fourth-round selection 2014 second-round selection (No. 56)2014 seventh-round selection (No. 242)

Undrafted free agents

All undrafted free agents were signed after the 2014 NFL draft concluded on May 10, unless noted otherwise.

2014 Denver Broncos undrafted free agents Player Position College Notes DE Kenny Anunike Duke placed on injured reserve August 30 LB Shaquil Barrett Colorado State waived August 30, assigned to the practice squad on August 31,promoted to the active roster on October 15, waived October 20,assigned to the practice squad on October 22,promoted to the active roster on January 10, 2015, on final roster RB Kapri Bibbs Colorado State waived August 30, assigned to the practice squad on August 31,promoted to the active roster on October 20, waived November 22,assigned to the practice squad on November 25 WR Isaiah Burse Fresno State made the 53-man roster, waived December 6,assigned to the practice squad on December 8 P Steven Clark Auburn waived May 19 RB Brennan Clay Oklahoma waived August 24 DT Mister Cobble Kentucky waived May 19 PK Mitch Ewald Indiana signed July 23, waived August 26 WR Bennie Fowler Michigan State waived August 30, assigned to the practice squad on August 31 WR Greg Hardin North Dakota signed May 19, waived August 24 DE Greg Latta Purdue waived August 20 QB Bryn Renner North Carolina waived August 24 OT Aslam Sterling Kansas waived July 28 CB Jordan Sullen Tulane waived August 30 RB Juwan Thompson Duke on final roster LB Chase Vaughn CSU–Pueblo signed May 19,designated as waived/injured on August 24 CB Louis Young Georgia Tech waived August 30

Suspensions

Matt Prater

On August 23, placekicker Matt Prater was suspended for the first four games of the season for violating the league's substance-abuse policy. Prater had been charged with drunk driving on two previous occasions – January 2008 in Orlando, Florida, and August 2011 in Denver, Colorado. Following the latter transgression, Prater was placed in the league's alcohol program, and Prater acknowledged that he consumed three beers while on vacation during the off-season – a violation of the league's alcohol program. The NFL initially threatened a one-year suspension, but with the aid of Prater's attorney, Harvey Steinberg, his suspension was negotiated to four games. Undrafted rookie Mitch Ewald was expected to fill in placekicker duties while Prater served his suspension, however, on August 26, Ewald was waived and the Broncos acquired Brandon McManus in a trade that sent a 2015 seventh-round draft selection to the New York Giants. The trade was contingent upon McManus remaining on the Broncos' active roster after the end of Prater's suspension. On October 3, the Broncos decided to stick with McManus and released Prater three days before his suspension would have ended. On October 7, Prater signed with the Detroit Lions.

Wes Welker