Denver Broncos cornerback Pat Surtain II is the best defensive player in the NFL.
He won Defensive Player of the Year for his individual success in 2024, and now Surtain is optimistic even more team success will follow.
The Broncos had a great season, going 10-7 and making the playoffs for the first time since 2015. Unfortunately, they got blasted by the Buffalo Bills in the wild card round, but even making the dance was a big achievement.
Now, Surtain is focused on bigger goals, like making a deep postseason run and one day going to a Super Bowl.
“We built this team up for the right reasons to reach that step,” Surtain recently told DJ Siddiqi of RG. “So we’ll see. But I’m very optimistic about our future in reaching the Super Bowl.”
Of course, getting to the big game means going through the Kansas City Chiefs, who have represented the AFC in each of the last three Super Bowls. They’ve also won the AFC West a ridiculous nine times in a row, so the Broncos have their work cut out for them.
But you can tell Surtain believes in this squad and that he believes in QB Bo Nix, who will be entering his second season in the NFL.
“I saw him grow and grow each and every week,” Surtain told RG. “Just seeing his mechanics, just the way he goes about his business, and it’s kind of rewarding knowing that you have a guy like that you work with each and every week. I’m looking forward to his success at the end of the day.”
As for reaching the ultimate goal, a title, Surtain knows that’s a process. However, the fact this is even becoming a legitimate conversation is exciting for Broncos Country.
“Obviously, you just don’t wake up and say like, ‘Okay, I want to be in the Super Bowl,’” Surtain said to RG. “Obviously there’s work to put in before that. I think we have a great chance for sure. We’re building up a team to reach — obviously in the playoffs — but even further.”
That’s the next step for Denver. Winning a postseason game and eventually getting deeper and deeper into the playoffs and hopefully winning the conference.
Will it happen in 2025? Probably not. But Pat Surtain II thinks at some point the franchise’s fourth Lombardi Trophy is a possibility during his time in orange and blue.