The 2015 season was the Denver Broncos' 46th season in the National Football League (NFL) and the 56th overall. It was also the fourth season with Peyton Manning as the team's starting quarterback, as well as the final season of Manning's 18-year NFL career.
After losing in the divisional round of the playoffs two of the last three seasons and getting blown out in Super Bowl XLVIII by the Seattle Seahawks, the Broncos underwent numerous coaching changes, including a mutual parting with head coach John Fox, and the hiring of Gary Kubiak as the new head coach. Under Kubiak and offensive coordinator Rick Dennison, the Broncos planned to install a run-oriented West coast offense with zone blocking to blend in with Manning's shotgun passing style, but struggled with numerous changes and injuries to the offensive line.
Manning missed six games due to a partial tear of the plantar fascia in his left foot and had his worst statistical season since his rookie year with the Indianapolis Colts in . Backup quarterback Brock Osweiler filled in for Manning during the second half of the regular season, before Manning re-claimed the starting quarterback position prior to the team's postseason run. Under defensive coordinator Wade Phillips, the Broncos' defense ranked No. 1 in total yards, passing yards, average yards per rush and sacks, and like the previous three seasons, the team continued to set numerous individual, league and franchise records. The team's defense is widely considered to be among the greatest of all time, particularly due to the fact that it was pressured to aid a lackluster offense for most of the season. The team's defensive backfield, arguably the most dominant part of the defense, gave itself the nickname "No Fly Zone."
The Broncos clinched their fifth-consecutive AFC West division title for the record-tying 15th time, fourth consecutive first-round bye, and home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs as the No. 1 playoff seed for the third time in four seasons. As was the case during the regular season, the Broncos' defense dominated their playoff opponents. During the Broncos' three playoff games, they recorded 14 sacks, forced seven turnovers, surrendered only one touchdown pass and gave up just 44 combined points (an average of just 14.7 points a game). The Broncos defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers 23–16 in the divisional round and the defending Super Bowl champion New England Patriots 20–18 in the AFC Championship Game. The Broncos then defeated the Carolina Panthers 24–10 in Super Bowl 50 to earn the franchise's third Super Bowl championship, and the first since winning back-to-back Super Bowls in 1997 and 1998.
This was the last season the Broncos made the playoffs and finished with a winning record until 2024. It was also the last AFC West title for the Broncos until 2025, and the last season a team other than the Kansas City Chiefs won the division until then.
Coaching changes
Departures On January 12, 2015, one day after the Broncos' 24–13 loss to the Indianapolis Colts in the divisional round of the 2014 playoffs, the Broncos and head coach John Fox decided to mutually part ways. Fox compiled a 49–22 record in four seasons (including the playoffs), led the Broncos to four consecutive AFC West division titles, a first-round bye in three consecutive seasons as well as a berth in Super Bowl XLVIII, but lost in the divisional round of the playoffs in three of his four seasons as head coach. Fox departed with a .719 winning percentage in his four seasons as head coach – the highest in franchise history. Four days later (January 16), Fox was hired as the new head coach of the Chicago Bears.
The following former Broncos' coaching assistants from 2014 were reunited with John Fox in Chicago: Defensive backs coach Sam Garnes, special teams coordinator Jeff Rodgers, defensive line coach Jay Rodgers, offensive coordinator Adam Gase, offensive line coach Dave Magazu, assistant special teams coordinator Derius Swinton II, assistant strength & conditioning coach Jason George and offensive quality control coach Bo Hardegree.
Defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio was hired as the new head coach of the Oakland Raiders, defensive backs coach Cory Undlin was hired to the same position with the Philadelphia Eagles and linebackers coach Richard Smith was hired to a senior defensive position with the Atlanta Falcons.
Additions
On January 18, 2015, the Broncos finalized a deal that made Kubiak the team's new head coach, and he was formally introduced at a press conference at the team's Dove Valley headquarters on January 20. Kubiak served as a backup quarterback to Broncos' executive vice president/general manager John Elway from 1983 to 1991, and also served as the Broncos' offensive coordinator from 1995 to 2005, before serving as the Houston Texans' head coach from 2006 to 2013. Kubiak served as the Baltimore Ravens' offensive coordinator in .
The following eight coaching assistants were reunited with Kubiak:
Name Position Previous association with Gary Kubiak Source Tony Coaxum Assistant special teams coordinator Ravens' special teams intern, 2014 Joe DeCamillis Special teams coordinator Broncos' special teams coordinator, 1988–92 Rick Dennison Offensive coordinator Broncos' linebacker, 1982–90Broncos' coaching assistant, 1995–2009Texans' offensive coordinator, 2010–13Ravens' quarterbacks coach, 2014 Reggie Herring Linebackers coach Texans' linebackers coach, 2011–13 Bill Kollar Defensive line coach Texans' defensive line coach, 2009–14 Marc Lubick Assistant wide receivers coach Texans' offensive coaching assistant, 2010–13 Brian Pariani Tight ends coach Broncos' tight ends coach, 1995–2004Texans' tight ends coach, 2006–13Ravens' tight ends coach, 2014 Wade Phillips Defensive coordinator Broncos' defensive coordinator, 1989–92Texans' defensive coordinator, 2011–13
Other additions
Clancy Barone, who had served as the Broncos' tight ends coach since 2011, was moved to the offensive line coach position that he held in 2010. Joe Woods was hired as the defensive backs coach. Woods served in the same capacity with the Oakland Raiders in 2014. Fred Pagac was hired as the team's outside linebackers coach. He served as the Buffalo Bills' linebackers coach in 2014. Samson Brown was hired as the team's assistant defensive backs coach. Like Pagac, Brown also served on the Bills' staff in 2014.
Front office changes February 27: Jerry Butler, who served as the team's director of player development since 2011, was hired to the same position with the Chicago Bears. The Broncos declined to renew his contract following the 2014 season. May 14: Anthony Kelly was hired by the Chicago Bears to become their new director of pro personnel. Kelly was promoted to the Broncos' assistant director of pro personnel position in 2010. He would now head that department for the Bears, along with nine coaches who were with the Broncos in 2014.
Roster changes
Free agents Position Player Tag 2015 Team Notes LS Aaron Brewer Denver Broncos re-signed March 5 S Quinton Carter None CB Tony Carter RFA None assigned tender on March 9, re-signed April 27, released September 5 OT Paul Cornick None assigned tender on March 6, waived May 4 G Orlando Franklin UFA San Diego Chargers signed with the Chargers on March 10 G Ben Garland ERFA Atlanta Falcons assigned tender on March 6, re-signed April 10, waived September 5,promoted from the Falcons' practice squad on December 15 TE Virgil Green UFA Denver Broncos re-signed March 10 LB Nate Irving UFA Indianapolis Colts signed with the Colts on March 20 LB Steven Johnson UFA Tennessee Titans originally an RFA, re-signed March 10, waived September 5,claimed by the Titans on September 6 DT Terrance Knighton UFA Washington Redskins signed with the Redskins on March 12 LB Brandon Marshall ERFA Denver Broncos assigned tender on March 6, re-signed April 13 C Will Montgomery UFA Chicago Bears signed with the Bears on April 2 S Rahim Moore UFA Houston Texans signed with the Texans on March 12 TE Jacob Tamme UFA Atlanta Falcons signed with the Falcons on March 19 WR Demaryius Thomas Denver Broncos assigned franchise tag on March 2, re-signed July 15 DT Mitch Unrein UFA San Diego Chargers signed with the Chargers on March 18 WR/RS Wes Welker UFA St. Louis Rams signed with the Rams on November 9
Signings Position Player 2014 Team Notes RB Kapri Bibbs Practice squad promoted to the active roster on October 17, waived October 19,assigned to the practice squad on October 21 C Sam Brenner Miami Dolphins signed November 18 S Josh Bush New York Jets/Denver Broncos signed December 1 TE/FB James Casey Philadelphia Eagles signed April 11, released October 9 TE Owen Daniels Baltimore Ravens signed March 10 TE/FB Joe Don Duncan None signed March 10, waived August 31 C James Ferentz Houston Texans signed September 6 DE Sione Fua Cleveland Browns signed August 6, released September 5 TE Richard Gordon Tennessee TitansKansas City Chiefs signed October 14, released October 17,re-signed October 19, waived December 1 OT Matt Hall Indianapolis Colts signed August 10, retired August 11 OT Ryan Harris Kansas City Chiefs signed May 28 TE Mitchell Henry Green Bay Packers signed September 6, waived October 14 TE Marcel Jensen Jacksonville Jaguars signed May 12, waived September 5 S Shiloh Keo Houston Texans signed December 9 P Spencer Lanning Cleveland Browns signed August 14, waived August 31 WR Corbin Louks None signed August 3, waived September 5 G Evan Mathis Philadelphia Eagles signed August 25 TE Jake Murphy None signed August 20, waived August 31 G Robert Myers Baltimore Ravens signed off the Ravens' practice squad on December 30 WR Solomon Patton Tampa Bay BuccaneersArizona Cardinals signed May 12, waived August 28 OT Tyler Polumbus Washington Redskins signed October 1 QB Christian Ponder Minnesota Vikings signed November 25, waived December 8 S Shaun Prater Minnesota Vikings signed December 22, released December 29 P Karl Schmitz None signed March 12, waived August 6 DE Antonio Smith Oakland Raiders signed April 2 G Shelley Smith Miami Dolphins signed March 13, waived November 18 S Darian Stewart Baltimore Ravens signed March 13 LB Reggie Walker San Diego Chargers signed March 19, released August 31 DE Vance Walker Kansas City Chiefs signed March 12 Indicates that the player was a free agent at the end of his respective team's season.
Departures Position Player Notes RB Montee Ball released September 6 PK Connor Barth released August 26 RB Jeremy Stewart waived August 31 DE Quanterus Smith waived April 28
Trades April 1: The Broncos acquired center/guard Gino Gradkowski in a trade with the Baltimore Ravens that involved 2016 draft-pick considerations. Gradkowski was later released on September 6. August 31: Offensive tackle Chris Clark was traded to the Houston Texans in exchange for a 2016 seventh-round selection. November 2: The Broncos acquired tight end Vernon Davis in a trade with the San Francisco 49ers that involved 2016 and 2017 draft-pick considerations.
Draft
2015 Denver Broncos Draft Round Selection Player Position College Notes 1 23 Shane Ray LB Missouri signed June 1 2 59 Ty Sambrailo OT Colorado State signed May 15, placed on injured reserve November 2 3 92 Jeff Heuerman TE Ohio State injured during rookie minicamp, signed June 4,placed on injured reserve August 31 4 133 * Max Garcia C Florida signed May 13 5 164 Lorenzo Doss CB Tulane signed May 14 6 203 Darius Kilgo NT Maryland signed May 13 7 250 * Trevor Siemian QB Northwestern signed May 15 251 * Taurean Nixon CB Tulane signed May 15, waived September 5,assigned to the practice squad on September 6,promoted to the active roster on January 19, 2016 252 * Josh Furman S Oklahoma State signed May 15, waived September 5 * Compensatory selection
Draft trades