The 2019 season was the Denver Broncos' 50th in the National Football League (NFL) and their 60th overall.
This marked the Broncos' first season under new ownership since 1984, as longtime owner Pat Bowlen died during the offseason. The team underwent numerous coaching changes following the end of the 2018 season, as Vic Fangio became the Broncos' third different head coach since 2014. After their first 0–4 start since 1999, the Broncos went 7–5 the rest of the way, finishing at 7–9 and improving on their 6–10 record from 2018; however, they missed the playoffs for a fourth consecutive season. The team struggled with poor offensive performances, ranking in the bottom five in several statistical categories. The team underwent a quarterback carousel, and for a fourth consecutive season, scored 30 or more points only once.
This season would be the first time since 2011 that the Broncos would lose in Week 1 and start 0–1, both times being a loss to their division rival Oakland Raiders.
Coaching changes
December 31, 2018: One day after the Broncos' 2018 regular-season finale, head coach Vance Joseph was fired, after posting an 11–21 record in his two seasons as the Broncos' head coach. January 10: Vic Fangio was named the 17th head coach in Broncos' franchise history, replacing Vance Joseph. This will be Fangio's first head coaching gig after 19 years as a defensive assistant. Fangio previously served as a defensive coordinator with the Carolina Panthers from 1995 to 1998, the Indianapolis Colts from 1999 to 2001, the Houston Texans from 2002 to 2005, the San Francisco 49ers from 2011 to 2014 and the Chicago Bears from 2015 to 2018. January 14: Mike Munchak was hired as the offensive line coach. Munchak served in the same capacity with the Pittsburgh Steelers from 2014 to 2018. January 15: Brandon Staley was hired as the outside linebackers coach. Staley served in the same capacity with the Chicago Bears during the previous two seasons (2017–2018), alongside current Broncos' head coach Vic Fangio. Ed Donatell was hired as the defensive coordinator. This will be Donatell's third stint with the Broncos, having coached the defensive backs from 1995 to 1999 and 2009–2010. Donatell also served as a defensive backs alongside Vic Fangio during the previous eight seasons—with the San Francisco 49ers from 2011 to 2014 and the Chicago Bears from 2015 to 2018. January 16: Rich Scangarello, who spent 2017 and 2018 as the San Francisco 49ers' quarterbacks coach, was hired as the offensive coordinator. January 17: Wade Harman was hired as the tight ends coach. Harman worked in the same capacity with the Atlanta Falcons from 2015 to 2018. Renaldo Hill was hired as the defensive backs coach. This will be Hill's second season as an assistant coach, having worked in the same capacity with the Miami Dolphins in 2018. As a player, Hill was also a Broncos' safety from 2009 to 2010. January 22: Chris Kuper, who was a Broncos' offensive lineman from 2006 to 2013, was hired as an assistant offensive line coach. Kuper spent the previous three season (2016–2018) as a Miami Dolphins' offensive assistant. January 31: T. C. McCartney was hired as the quarterbacks coach. McCartney served as an offensive assistant with the San Francisco 49ers in 2015, 2017 and 2018—the latter two seasons alongside current offensive coordinator Rich Scangarello. McCartney replaced Klint Kubiak, who accepted the same position with the Minnesota Vikings two weeks earlier.
Front office changes On January 14, Gary Kubiak, the team's senior personnel advisor during the previous two seasons, departed for an assistant head coach/offensive advisor position with the Minnesota Vikings.
Death of owner Pat Bowlen On June 13, owner Pat Bowlen died at the age of 75, following a long battle with Alzheimer's disease. Bowlen, who had served as the team's majority owner since 1984, relinquished control of the team prior to the 2014 season after privately battling the disease five years prior. This resulted in Bowlen transferring control to a three-person group known as "The Pat Bowlen Trust," consisting of team president/CEO Joe Ellis, team counsel Rich Slivka and Denver attorney Mary Kelly. Bowlen was the fastest owner to reach 300 wins, and during Bowlen's 35 seasons as majority owner, the team posted the league's second-best winning percentage (354–240–1, .596), behind only the New England Patriots. The team also reached seven Super Bowls, winning three (XXXII, XXXIII and 50) and suffered a league-low seven losing seasons. Bowlen's death occurred two months before he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
One year before Pat Bowlen's death, two of his children expressed interest in succeeding as the Broncos' controlling owner—Beth Bowlen Wallace and Brittany Bowlen. On December 2, Brittany Bowlen, 29, made her return to the Broncos' organization with a senior management position of vice president of strategic initiatives, following the end of her employment with McKinsey & Company. Ellis stated that selling the team remained an option, even with Brittany Bowlen's return to the organization.
Roster changes
Free agents
Unrestricted Position Player 2019 team Notes LB Shaquil Barrett Tampa Bay Buccaneers signed with the Buccaneers on March 15 CB Tramaine Brock Arizona Cardinals signed with the Cardinals on April 2 G Max Garcia Arizona Cardinals signed with the Cardinals on March 16 LB Jerrol Garcia-Williams None originally an C Gino Gradkowski None TE Jeff Heuerman Denver Broncos re-signed March 15 QB Kevin Hogan None originally an , re-signed March 21, waived August 31 DE Zach Kerr Arizona Cardinals re-signed March 16, released August 26 TE Matt LaCosse New England Patriots originally an ERFA, signed with the Patriots on March 14 LB Brandon Marshall Oakland Raiders signed with the Raiders on March 28 LB Deiontrez Mount None C Matt Paradis Carolina Panthers signed with the Panthers on March 13 TE Brian Parker New Orleans Saints signed with the Saints on October 13 DT Domata Peko Baltimore Ravens signed with Ravens on November 12 LB Shane Ray Baltimore Ravens signed with the Ravens on May 17 CB Bradley Roby Houston Texans signed with the Texans on March 13 CB Jamar Taylor Seattle Seahawks signed with the Seahawks on May 9 WR Jordan Taylor Minnesota Vikings originally an , signed with the Vikings on April 13 G Billy Turner Green Bay Packers signed with the Packers on March 14 OT Jared Veldheer New England Patriots signed with the Patriots on May 13, retired May 21
Restricted and exclusive-rights Position Player Tag 2019 team Notes DE Shelby Harris RFA Denver Broncos assigned tender on March 7, resigned April 2 LB Joseph Jones ERFA Denver Broncos assigned tender on March 7, resigned April 2 LS Casey Kreiter RFA Denver Broncos re-signed March 7 WR Tim Patrick ERFA Denver Broncos assigned tender on March 7, resigned April 2 S Dymonte Thomas ERFA assigned tender on March 7, re-signed April 2, waived August 31 OT Elijah Wilkinson ERFA Denver Broncos assigned tender on March 7, resigned April 2
Signings Position Player 2018 team(s) Notes QB Brandon Allen Los Angeles Rams signed September 1 LB Jeremiah Attaochu New York Jets signed October 1 CB De'Vante Bausby Philadelphia Eagles signed April 4, placed on injured reserve October 8 FB/TE Andrew Beck None signed September 1 PK Taylor Bertolet New York Jets signed April 29, waived July 23 OT Adam Bisnowaty Minnesota Vikings signed August 9, waived August 31 WR Fred Brown Practice squad promoted from the practice squad on September 24, CB Bryce Callahan Chicago Bears signed March 15 CB Rashard Causey None signed August 11, waived August 31 FB/TE Orson Charles Cleveland Browns signed August 21, released August 31,re-signed November 19, waived November 22 WR River Cracraft Denver Broncos initially waived September 1, re-signed September 11,waived September 24 WR Steven Dunbar Jr. San Francisco 49ers signed July 18, waived August 31 OT Chaz Green New Orleans SaintsOakland Raiders signed June 3, released August 31 CB Devontae Harris Cincinnati Bengals signed September 2 DE Jonathan Harris None originally undrafted, signed by the Chicago Bears after the draft,claimed off waivers on October 23 TE Bug Howard Atlanta Legends signed May 13, placed on injured reserve August 21 CB Kareem Jackson Houston Texans signed March 13, suspended for the final two games OT Ja'Wuan James Miami Dolphins signed March 13 CB Cyrus Jones Baltimore Ravens claimed off waivers on November 13,designated as reserve/non-football injury on November 26 G Tyler Jones None signed August 21, waived August 31,assigned to the practice squad on September 1 C/G Corey Levin Tennessee Titans signed September 1, waived September 14 C Patrick Morris Pittsburgh Steelers claimed off waivers on December 3 LB Corey Nelson Atlanta Falcons signed September 2, placed on injured reserve November 1 LB Dadi Nicolas Washington Redskins claimed off waivers on August 21, designated as waived/injured on August 31 NT Kyle Peko Buffalo Bills waived by the Bills on November 2 and by the Indianapolis Colts on November 9,signed by the Broncos on December 14 NT Mike Purcell Salt Lake Stallions signed April 22 RB Theo Riddick Detroit Lions signed August 4, placed on injured reserve September 2 OT Jake Rodgers Baltimore Ravens signed April 22, waived September 1,assigned to the practice squad on September 3,promoted to the active roster on September 14 CB Coty Sensabaugh Pittsburgh Steelers signed October 8, waived November 13 WR Diontae Spencer Ottawa Redblacks signed September 1 P Justin Vogel Cleveland Browns signed July 23, waived July 27 RB David Williams Jacksonville Jaguars signed July 19, waived August 31 DE DeShawn Williams Indianapolis Colts signed May 13, waived August 31 WR Nick Williams Los Angeles RamsTennessee Titans signed July 26, released August 26 DE Billy Winn None signed April 22, placed on injured reserve August 4 WR Kelvin McKnight "None" signed to Practice Squad on October 23
Trades February 13: The Broncos agreed in principle to trade for former Baltimore Ravens' quarterback Joe Flacco in exchange for their 2019 fourth-round selection. March 7: The Broncos traded quarterback Case Keenum and a 2020 seventh-round selection to the Washington Redskins in exchange for the Redskins' 2020 sixth-round selection. This trade, along with the aforementioned trade for Joe Flacco, became official on March 13—the first day of the 2019 league year. April 27: The Broncos acquired linebacker Dekoda Watson as part of a trade that sent their fifth-round selection to the San Francisco 49ers—see draft trades below. This would have been Watson's second stint with the Broncos—he previously played one season with the Broncos in 2016 before signing with the 49ers in 2017; however, he was later released on August 26. August 30: The Broncos traded their 2020 sixth-round selection to the New England Patriots in exchange for cornerback Duke Dawson and the Patriots' 2020 seventh-round selection. October 22: The Broncos traded wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders and their 2020 fifth-round selection to the San Francisco 49ers in exchange for the 49ers' 2020 third-and fourth-round selections.
Departures
Position Player Notes S Su'a Cravens waived August 31 QB Garrett Grayson waived May 2 WR Chad Hansen waived May 2 LB Jeff Holland waived August 11 WR Andre Holmes designated as waived/injured on January 24 OT Andreas Knappe waived April 15 CB Craig Mager waived April 18 S Darian Stewart released on March 7
Draft
The Broncos did not have selections in the fourth or seventh rounds—see draft trades below.