Denver Broncos · Franchise era 7 of 7
The quarterback carousel: the Denver Broncos story
The story in one sentence
The defense remained capable after Manning retired, but repeated quarterback and coaching changes turned the search for a successor into the era's central story.
A champion defense waits for offensive continuity
Justin Simmons, Patrick Surtain II and Courtland Sutton gave the era its recognizable core.
Its final meaning is still being written.
Timeline
How it unfolded
Before 2016
What came before
Manning directed the highest-scoring offense in league history before Miller and an elite defense carried Denver to victory in Super Bowl 50.
- 02TradeMarch 16, 2022
March 16, 2022
Seattle's Russell Wilson reset
The Broncos believed an established quarterback would unlock a ready-made roster. Seattle chose a clean reset after a decade with Wilson.
To DEN2022PICKround asset
To SEADraftPICKround asset+5 assetsRussell Wilson to DenverDEN receives Russell Wilson, 2022 fourth · No. 116SEA receives Drew Lock, Noah Fant, Shelby Harris + 5 more10 original assets · 5 outcomes tracedOpen trade → 2025-01-12
Wild Card: Denver Broncos vs Buffalo Bills
2026-01-17
Divisional Round: Buffalo Bills vs Denver Broncos
2026-01-25
Conference Championship: New England Patriots vs Denver Broncos
Still unfolding
Where the story stands
This chapter remains active, so its final place in franchise history is still being written.
The core