The Denver Broncos’ quarterback room is starting to feel like a vintage muscle car restoration—all shiny new parts with a seasoned mechanic whispering secrets under the hood. Bo Nix, last year’s first-round spark plug, revved up hope in Mile High. But every project needs a hidden wrench. Enter Sam Ehlinger’s Broncos deal, a move that’s less about horsepower and more about the playbook wisdom tucked in a backup’s back pocket.
On Monday, the Broncos snagged former Colts QB Sam Ehlinger on a one-year contract, per FOX Sports’ Jordan Schultz. Ehlinger, 26, chose Denver over “multiple offers,” eyeing Sean Payton’s offense as his next classroom. He’ll slot in as QB3 behind Nix and Jarrett Stidham, replacing Zach Wilson, who bolted for Miami. It’s a low-risk gamble on a guy who’s spent four years studying NFL defenses like a chess grandmaster stuck on the practice squad.
From Colt to Bronco: Ehlinger’s Rocky Road
Ehlinger’s NFL journey reads like a country song—drafted in the sixth round, tossed into Indy’s QB carousel, and benched faster than a diner coffee refill. In 2022, he started three games, completing 63.4% of his throws for 573 yards, three touchdowns, and three picks. Those numbers won’t wow fantasy owners, but his locker-room impact did. Colts GM Chris Ballard called him one of the “strongest voices” for Anthony Richardson during the rookie’s rocky 2024 season, per The Athletic.
Sources: The #Broncos are signing former #Colts QB Sam Ehlinger to a 1-year deal.
He had multiple offers but chose Denver, seeing the best fit with HC Sean Payton and QBs coach Davis Webb, joining a room with Bo Nix and Jarrett Stidham. pic.twitter.com/8aaQRpKR4p
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) March 31, 2025
“It’s very unique because you always want another shot to play, but ultimately, I’m not being asked to play,” Ehlinger told the New York Times last year. “[But] I think the best utility of what I could do to serve the team and to serve othersand to love others is… to help Anthony and to love Anthony.” That mentorship vibe? Pure gold for a Broncos squad molding Nix into their franchise cornerstone.
Sam Ehlinger’s Broncos Deal: More Than Just a Backup?
Payton’s no stranger to QB projects—see Drew Brees in New Orleans. Now, he’s betting Ehlinger’s blend of grit and IQ can stabilize Denver’s depth chart. The Texas alum isn’t here to start a QB controversy. He’s here to drill Nix on reading Cover-2 blitzes and maybe sneak in a play when the Rocky Mountain air gets thin.
Ehlinger’s stats won’t headline ESPN, but his intangibles might. In Indy, he backed up Richardson and Joe Flacco, absorbing schemes like a playbook sponge. In Denver, he’ll join QBs coach Davis Webb, a former Payton protégé. Think of it as a mentorship relay: Webb to Ehlinger, Ehlinger to Nix.
The Final Chapter—or a New Verse?
Ehlinger’s arrival closes Denver’s QB3 gap, but it raises questions. Can he outduel Stidham for QB2? Unlikely. Yet in the NFL, backup gigs are lottery tickets. Just ask Kurt Warner stocking groceries before winning a Super Bowl. “Football is just a small microcosm of life,” Ehlinger had said. “It’s an opportunity to be put in a unique situation and to see what you’re made of.” For Denver, that philosophy fits like a broken-in cleat.
Payton’s building a culture where every clipboard holder matters. And as training camp looms, Ehlinger’s role crystallizes: mentor, emergency arm, and locker-room glue. For a team clawing back into AFC West relevance, that’s worth more than a stat sheet. So here’s the thing—can a third-string QB’s quiet grind shape a franchise’s future? Ask Vince Lombardi, who once said, “The measure of who we are is what we do with what we have.”
Main Photo: Marc Lebryk – Imagn Images
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