Former Denver Broncos kicker Brandon McManus has been released by the Green Bay Packers.
After drafting Florida kicker Trey Smack in the sixth round last month, the Packers released veteran kicker Brandon McManus today, per source. pic.twitter.com/mDWi0MqdWW
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) May 8, 2026
The Packers decided to make the move after drafting Trey Smack in the sixth round of this year’s NFL Draft.
McManus spent the last two seasons with the Packers, including a career season in 2024. During that season, McManus made a career-high 95.2% of his field goals, going 20 of 21 and making 100% of his extra points.
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Last season, McManus’ numbers dipped as he missed six field goals, including four between 40 and 49 yards. The 34-year-old also missed two more field goals from beyond 50 yards and an extra point. In the Packers’ playoff game against the Chicago Bears, McManus missed two field goals and an extra point. Green Bay lost 31-27.
After spending nine years with the Broncos, McManus was released by head coach Sean Payton. McManus then signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2023 and made just 81% of his field goals. Playing for a team in the Sunshine State, McManus missed 50% of his kicks from beyond 50 yards and missed two more field goals between 40 and 49 yards. He also completed the fourth season of his career, where he didn’t miss an extra point.
McManus’ time in Denver didn’t start off too well.
The Broncos decided to move on from Matt Prater in 2014, and signed McManus as their kicker. After struggling that season, making just 69.2% of his kicks, the Broncos waived McManus to sign veteran kicker Connor Barth.
Since Barth didn’t have the strongest leg, the Broncos re-signed McManus to be their kickoff specialist for the rest of the season.
In 2015, the Broncos brought both kickers in for training camp with McManus eventually beating out Barth in their competition. During that season, McManus continued to struggle on kicks of 50 yards or longer by going five for seven. McManus also missed three field goals between 40 and 49 yards. Everything under 40 yards, McManus didn’t miss a kick.
Once the Broncos finished the season as the No. 1 seed, they headed into the playoffs with a Super Bowl on their mind.
During the Broncos’ Super Bowl run, McManus was one of the most valuable players in the playoffs. McManus didn’t miss a field goal or extra point. The Super Bowl 50 champion went five for five against the Pittsburgh Steelers in the Divisional Round, four for four in the AFC Championship against the New England Patriots, and four for four in the Super Bowl against the Carolina Panthers.
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During the rest of his career with the Broncos from 2016-2022, McManus made 96.2% of his extra points and made 81.4% of his field goals. Kicks under 40 yards, McManus missed eight field goals, but kicks 50 yards and longer, McManus struggled by making 35 out of 63 attempts.
Currently, McManus sits second all-time in Broncos history in field goals made (223) only behind Ring of Famer Jason Elam.