Latest news with #Ex-Broncos
USA Today
a day ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Ex-Broncos pass rusher dominated the UFL this spring
Ex-Broncos pass rusher dominated the UFL this spring And the award for the best former Denver Broncos player in the UFL goes to ... Pita Taumoepenu! Taumoepenu (6-2, 250 pounds) signed with the Broncos in 2021, and after failing to make the active roster out of training camp, he spent the season on the team's practice squad. He is a journeyman pass rusher who has spent time with six NFL teams and now plays for the UFL's St. Louis Battlehawks. Taumoepenu, 31, had a dominant spring season, leading the league with 7.5 sacks. He also totaled 27 tackles (five behind the line), three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and one pass breakup in nine games. Following that impressive season, Taumoepenu was named to the 2025 All-UFL Team. Another former Broncos pass rusher, Andre Mintze, ranked fourth in the UFL with 5.5 sacks in nine games. He signed with Denver as an undrafted free agent out of Vanderbilt in 2021 and initially made the 53-man roster before landing on injured reserve. Mintze went to training camp with the Minnesota Vikings in 2022 and has been playing spring football since 2023 with the DC Defenders. Elsewhere in the UFL, running back Nate McCrary, who had a brief stint with the Broncos in 2021, rushed for 380 yards (fifth-most in the league) and two touchdowns this spring. Former Broncos quarterbacks Kevin Hogan and Case Cookus both started three games. Cookus totaled 546 passing yards and threw five touchdown passes. Hogan had 500 yards and two scores. Jarrett Guarantano only made one appearance with 29 yards and no scores. Ex-Denver punters Colby Wadman (1,335 yards) and Marquette King (1,709 yards) played the full 10-game season. King averaged 47.5 yards per punt with a long of 69 yards and eight kicks downed inside the 20-yard line. Wadman averaged 46.0 yards per boot with a long of 68 yards and 11 kicks downed inside the 20. The UFL will hold conference final games on Sunday featuring the Michigan Panthers against the Birmingham Stallions, and the DC Defenders taking on the St. Louis Battlehawks. The winners of those matchups will face off in the UFL's final on June 14. Following the championship game, NFL teams will be allowed to sign UFL players. Related: These 25 celebrities are Broncos fans.
USA Today
3 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Elvis Dumervil among 6 ex-Broncos nominated for College Football Hall of Fame
Elvis Dumervil among 6 ex-Broncos nominated for College Football Hall of Fame A half-dozen former Denver Broncos players are candidates for the College Football Hall of Fame's 2026 class. The list is headlined by former defensive lineman Elvis Dumervil, who was named a unanimous first-team All-American and won the Nagurski Trophy after leading the nation with 20 sacks in 2005. Dumervil went on to play for the Broncos from 2006-2012, totaling 63.5 sacks (eighth-most in franchise history). Also on the list of nominees are running back Reggie Rivers (who spent his six-year pro career in Denver), tight end Vernon Davis (who won Super Bowl 50 with the Broncos), cornerback Tyrone Poole (who played two seasons in Denver), pass rusher Simeon Rice (who had a brief late-career stint with the Broncos) and running back Garrison Hearst (who finished his career in Denver). Ex-Broncos nominated for College HOF DE Elvis Dumervil RB Reggie Rivers TE Vernon Davis CB Tyrone Poole DE Simeon Rice RB Garrison Hearst There are 179 players and 44 coaches nominated for next year's class. Meanwhile, former Broncos running back Montee Ball will be officially inducted into the CFHOF as a member of the 2025 class on Dec. 9 in Las Vegas. Related: These 25 celebrities are Broncos fans.
USA Today
3 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Ex-Broncos cornerback's retirement was 'totally unexpected'
Ex-Broncos cornerback's retirement was 'totally unexpected' A former Denver Broncos cornerback is hanging up his cleats. Ronald Darby informed the Houston Texans earlier this week that he planned to retire, and the veteran has since been placed on the club's reserve/retired list. Darby's sudden retirement was "totally unexpected," according to KPRC 2 Houston's Aaron Wilson. The 31-year-old defensive back is walking away from the game after previously signing a one-year, $2.5 million contract this spring. After signing that deal, Darby didn't even make it to training camp. Darby originally entered the league as a second-round pick out of Florida State with the Buffalo Bills in 2015. He spent time with seven NFL teams during his career, including a stint with the Broncos from 2021-2022. Denver signed Darby to a three-year, $30 million contract in 2021 and he was healthy for 11 starts that year. He then started five games in 2022 before tearing his ACL. After returning from that injury, Darby was cut by the Broncos during the 2023 offseason. He totaled 67 tackles, nine pass breakups and one forced fumble in 16 games in Denver. Following his Broncos tenure, Darby played 16 games for the Baltimore Ravens in 2023 and 13 games for the Jacksonville Jaguars last fall. He's now calling it a career with 447 career tackles, 106 pass breakups and eight interceptions on his resume. Related: These 25 celebrities are Broncos fans.
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Ex-Broncos player graduates from Miami seven years after retirement
Seven years after retiring from the NFL, former Denver Broncos offensive lineman Orlando Franklin has graduated from the University of Miami. "I started a journey almost 19 years ago," Franklin wrote on his Twitter/X page. "Today, it finally comes to an end. I graduated from the University of Miami College of Arts and Sciences this morning. A degree that no one will ever be able to take from me. I faced tough times and thought I would never make it, heck, four years ago I had no intentions of ever graduating. But after a long talk with my wife Kiaana, and her encouraging words, we decided to make a plan and stick with it. She is the tide that raises all boats; I'm forever grateful for that. It's wild, I started this process many years before I met her, but I'm completing it solely because of her. Thank you, Kiaana. This paper may say my name, but it's our degree and accomplishment. Advertisement "Thank you to you and our two beautiful and amazing boys. I love you guys, and everything is possible with you three in my corner. To all my friends and family, thank you as well. Your love and support are always greatly appreciated. And lastly to all the haters, the people that said I would never be anything, the teachers that called me dumb and said that I wasn't going to amount to anything in life, IT WILL ALWAYS AND FOREVER BE A U THING, I'M A MIAMI HURRICAIN UNTIL THE DAY I DIE, I EARNED THIS PEICE OF PAPER AND THERE'S NOTHING YOU'LL EVER BE ABLE TO DO ABOUT IT. #THEU." Franklin, 37, was picked by the Broncos in the second round of the 2011 NFL draft. He spent the first four years of his career in Denver before later playing for San Diego, New Orleans, and Washington. The former lineman lost 90 pounds after retirement and his body transformation went viral on social media. Franklin is now a proud graduate of The U. Related: These 25 celebrities are Broncos fans. This article originally appeared on Broncos Wire: NFL: Ex-Broncos OL Orlando Franklin graduates 7 years after retirement
USA Today
18-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Ex-Broncos coach Wade Phillips steps down from UFL job
Ex-Broncos coach Wade Phillips steps down from UFL job Former Denver Broncos coach Wade Phillips is taking a leave of absence from his role as head coach of the San Antonio Brahmas, the United Football League announced on Wednesday. 'The UFL is extremely grateful for the leadership that Wade has delivered to the UFL as head coach of the San Antonio Brahmas," UFL president/CEO Russ Brandon and UFL executive V.P. of football operations Daryl Johnston said in a joint statement. "The credibility that he has brought to the UFL as a head coach validates what we are building as a league. "This coaching legend has the respect of everyone in the league as well as throughout the entire football community for his dedication and accomplishments as a coach for over 50 years. If and when Wade is ready to return to the sidelines, the entire UFL Family will be there to cheer him on.' Phillips, 77, had been the oldest head coach in pro football. He previously served as a defensive coordinator (1989-1992; 2015-2016) and head coach (1993-1994) with the Broncos earlier in his career, helping the team win Super Bowl 50 following the 2015 season. The Brahmas, who have started the UFL season 0-3, named offensive coordinator Payton Pardee their interim head coach following Phillips' leave of absence. These 25 celebrities are Broncos fans
