Denver Broncos edge-rusher Jonathon Cooper was named AFC Defensive Player of the Week on Wednesday.
Cooper and the Broncos defense tore up the New York Jets on Sunday, posting nine sacks as a team and Cooper registering two of those. He also accounted for five total tackles, three QB hits and one tackle for loss. Denver escaped London with an ugly 13-11 win over the worst team in the NFL.
For Cooper, it’s the first time in his career he’s won this award, but he helped make Broncos history in the process. After fellow outside linebacker Nik Bonitto took home the same honor last week, this is the first time ever Denver’s had back-to-back AFC Defensive Players of the Week.
For the first time in franchise history, two Broncos have been named AFC Defensive Player of the Week in back-to-back weeks https://t.co/tcG9oSIMQH
— Tyler Gorse (@Tyler_Gorse_) October 15, 2025
Jonathon Cooper and Bonitto have formed a dynamic duo through six games. Cooper has 4.5 sacks on the season while Bonitto has 8.0 and is currently the favorite to win NFL Defensive Player of the Year.
Overall, Cooper is the 10th Broncos linebacker to be named AFC Defensive Player of the Week, joining Bonitto, Cody Barton, Von Miller, Wesley Woodyard, Al Wilson, D.J. Williams, Glenn Cadrez, John Mobley and Karl Mecklenburg. In total, 34 different Denver players have received the award on 42 different occasions since its inception in 1984.
The Broncos rewarded Jonathon Cooper with a healthy contract extension last season, and so far, it seems to be worth every penny.
At 4-2, Denver will look to win a third straight AFC Defensive Player of the Week after welcoming in the New York Giants and rookie QB Jaxson Dart on Sunday.