OPINION: The Sean Payton effect

Sean Payton changed the Broncos team and culture forever

By Dillon Lewis

February 8, 2026

Denver Broncos fans have been through it all. After winning the Super Bowl in 2016, fans believed they could continue their victory run.. Since then, the team has struggled to even be playoff contenders. The franchise was struggling to find itself.

The answer: Sean Payton.

After suffering the 20-70 loss to the Dolphins in 2023, the franchise looked to Sean Payton, everyone telling him to fire the defensive coordinator Vance Joseph. Instead he kept him on the staff and Coach Payton slowly started building the most aggressive, competitive defense the Broncos have seen since 2016.

This season, Denver held the lead in the NFL in sacks with 68 total in the regular season, kept teams to 278 yards per game which was within the top 3, also keeping teams to just 18.3 points per game. How did the Broncos, who broke a record 3 years ago for giving up the most points allowed since 1940, manage to get to where they are today?

This started by building the secondary back up around the core players on Denver’s defense such as Patrick Surtain II. In 2023, the Broncos drafted Cornerback Riley Moss, then in 2024 they added Brandon Jones to their roster from free agency.

Now that the secondary was set, the Broncos focused on trying to rebuild their Defensive line—much like in 2016. They wanted to have the quickest, sharpest, and most cut throat pass rushers in the NFL. Their focus was to build around the weapons they already had, like Nik Bonito and Zach Allen. In 2024, the Broncos signed Defensive tackle Malcolm Roach and traded for Defensive End John Franklin Myers from free agency to secure the D Line. The Broncos also secured Defensive End Sai’Vion Jones in the 2025 draft.

However, Denver didn’t stop there, they picked up key players off the free agency list like safety Talanoa Hufunga, completing their secondary. Linebackers Dre Greenlaw, Justin Strnad, and Dondrea Tillman filled in Denver’s missing pieces.

This turnaround is about more than just stats for Denver. The leadership Sean Payton brought to Denver not only changed the team, it created a culture. A culture where expectations are high—A culture built on accountability. Denver isn’t chasing the shadows of the Super Bowl winning team they had 10 years ago, they’re building a future.

About the Contributor

Dillon Lewis, Staff Writer

It was more of a way to make friends, I feel like, because I went to Peak to Peak, so I didn’t know anyone. I came here, and I was like, I don’t have any friends. I met all my friends through football I played receiver and corner my freshman through junior year, and now I play safety. “ I like the physical aspect of it. Not a lot of sports you get to, like, hit people. I wouldn’t choose any other sport.”

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