The Denver Broncos are staring down the long offseason with a mix of pride and frustration-pride in how far they came, and frustration in how close they were. After a tough AFC Championship loss to the New England Patriots, the Broncos find themselves in that familiar space of reflection and recalibration.
General manager George Paton didn’t sugarcoat the disappointment. “It’s never easy, but this is extra tough just because we got so close,” he said during his end-of-season press conference. And he’s right-Denver wasn’t just in the mix this year; they were leading it.
Let’s not lose sight of what this team accomplished. The Broncos claimed the AFC’s No. 1 seed, won their division for the first time in a decade, and rattled off 11 straight wins on their way to a 14-win regular season-tying a franchise record. That’s not just a good season by Denver standards; that’s elite company across the league.
Paton gave credit where it was due, pointing to head coach Sean Payton and the culture shift he’s brought since arriving in Denver. “Really, credit goes to Sean and the winning culture he has instilled since he has arrived,” Paton said. He also acknowledged the support from ownership-Greg Penner and Carrie Walton Penner-for backing the organization with the resources needed to compete at the highest level.
“This is a special team,” Paton added. And frankly, he’s not wrong.
For a franchise that’s spent the better part of the last decade searching for stability, this season felt like a turning point. The Broncos weren’t just winning games-they were winning tough ones, stringing together consistent performances, and showing the kind of resilience that defines contenders.
But now comes the hard part: keeping the momentum going.
The front office is already deep into offseason mode. Scouts have been on the ground at the East-West Shrine Bowl, and evaluations are underway as the team looks to fine-tune a roster that’s already one of the most complete Denver has fielded in years.
Paton made it clear that the work is far from over. “We will determine our needs.
We’ll be aggressive in filling those needs. We know that we start over.
Nothing is guaranteed.”
That last part is key-nothing is guaranteed. Not in this league, and certainly not in the AFC, where the margin between heartbreak and hoisting a trophy is razor-thin.
The Broncos know they have a championship-caliber core. But staying in that window means continuing to build, to adapt, and to get just a little bit better in the areas that matter most.
One storyline to watch: Paton himself is entering the final year of his contract. Given the roster he’s helped assemble and the culture shift underway, it’s hard to imagine the Broncos letting him walk. Continuity in the front office could be just as critical as the moves they make in free agency or the draft.
And speaking of the offseason, it’s coming fast. Free agency is just weeks away, and the draft won’t be far behind. The Broncos will have to make tough decisions-who to keep, who to let walk, and where to invest to push this roster over the top.
For now, Denver fans can take a breath and appreciate what this team accomplished. Yes, the ending stings. But the foundation is strong, the direction is clear, and the hunger is there.
This isn’t the end of something-it feels like the beginning.