The Broncos’ captaincy group for 2026 has a familiar look - with one notable newcomer.
Denver announced its nine captains after Wednesday’s practice, just days before Week 1, and safety Devon Key is the fresh face on the list. He joins quarterback Bo Nix, right guard Quinn Meinerz, wide receiver Courtland Sutton, defensive lineman D.J. Jones, inside linebacker Alex Singleton, cornerback Patrick Surtain II, safety Talanoa Hufanga and safety Brandon Jones.
Sutton was voted a captain for a sixth consecutive season, while Lutz, Meinerz, Nix, Singleton and Surtain are captains for a third consecutive year. Jones and Hufanga were each voted captains for the second consecutive season, according to the team website.
For Key, the honor fits the path he’s carved since arriving in Denver. The former undrafted defensive back is entering his third season with the organization, and after earning All-Pro recognition on special teams last year, he’s expected to keep doing the dirty work there while also handling a larger defensive role.
In three seasons and 35 games with the Broncos, Key has piled up 61 combined tackles, including 36 solo stops, along with a pass deflection, a forced fumble and a sack.
Payton made it clear back in January how much Key has meant to the operation.
"I just realized he’s had more special-teams tackles than anyone in the history of the Broncos," Payton said of Key in January. "Every week, we give awards.
Special team game balls, offensive and defensive game balls. His name comes up, and even in his play last week when he came on defense, he just steadily, quietly… Is he at [26]?
We can talk about the extended game. I get it, but that’s hard to do in the kicking game now.
That’s hard to do."
The safety picture in Denver is pretty clear at the top, where veterans Talanoa Hufanga and Brandon Jones are set as the starters. Behind them, though, there’s a little more movement, with Key, JL Skinner and Tycen Anderson all on the 53-man roster.
Key isn’t projected to be the third safety off the bench, especially after Taylor Rapp was re-signed, but he still looks positioned for another heavy special-teams workload. He played 658 special-teams snaps in 2025 and should be in line to top the 324 defensive snaps he logged under coordinator Vance Joseph.
Surtain also pointed to Key and JL Skinner in July when discussing the Broncos’ need to replace former third-string safety PJ Locke after he left in free agency.
“We have a lot of great pieces to fill that void," Surtain said in July of losing former third-string S PJ Locke in free agency this offseason. "Obviously P.J. was a great player, a very instrumental part to our team.
So obviously you know you have JL, Devon Key, and a couple other guys too to step up and fulfill that spot. So I'm looking forward to it."
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