Sean Payton, Denver Broncos
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Head coach Sean Payton of the Denver Broncos looks on prior to the game against the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium on November 02, 2025 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)
The Denver Broncos and head coach Sean Payton have been contenders in the AFC each of the last two years.
Looking into the future, things look bright. With Payton and young quarterback Bo Nix leading the way, there is no reason to think the Broncos will fall off. However, there is a new rumor that has been making rounds in the NFL rumor mill.
That rumor has connected Denver as a potential free agency destination for future Hall of Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
Pro Football Talk insider Mike Florio has reported that the Broncos are a team to watch for Rodgers.
“With (to date) only the Steelers linked to Rodgers during the 2026 free-agency cycle, Denver has potentially re-entered the chat,” Florio wrote.
“There’s talk of the Broncos possibly bringing Rodgers in for a visit. The motivation comes from the possibility that current starter Bo Nix won’t be fully and completely back to 100 percent when Week 1 rolls around.”
Why Florio Believes the Broncos Could Actually Sign Aaron Rodgers
Florio went on to detail why Payton and Denver would even consider signing Rodgers with Nix already penciled in as the starting quarterback in 2026.
“For Payton, the possibility of blazing a new trail for NFL coaches could be the thing that gets him to Canton,” Florio wrote. “From Rodgers’s perspective, which team gives him a better chance to walk away with a second Lombardi Trophy in his back pocket, the Steelers or the Broncos?”
At 42 years old, Rodgers proved last season with the Pittsburgh Steelers that he can still play good football. He completed 65.7 percent of his pass attempts for 3,322 yards, 24 touchdowns, and seven interceptions.
Rodgers may not be the elite superstar that he once was with the Green Bay Packers, but he’s still a solid starting NFL signal caller.
Signing Rodgers Could Be a Costly Mistake for Denver
While the idea of Rodgers heading to the Broncos could be intriguing for some, it would be a major mistake for the team.
Tinkering with the status of Nix as the starting quarterback could be catastrophic for the future. It would shake up Nix’s feelings about the franchise. That could lead to an ugly departure down the road.
Nix is coming off of a 2025 season that saw him play in 17 games and throw for 3,931 yards, 25 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions, while completing 63.4 percent of his passes. He also ran for 356 yards and five more scores.
Denver is in a good place at the quarterback position. There is no reason to reach on a move for Rodgers. If he were four or five years younger, Rodgers would be well worth targeting even with Nix on the roster. That time has come and gone.