Trying to track the Denver Broncos QB list is a bit like trying to follow a mountain trail in a blizzard. You think you know where you’re going, and then suddenly, you're looking at a guy like Kendall Hinton starting a game with zero preparation. It's wild. For a franchise with three Super Bowl rings, the path has been surprisingly jagged. We usually think of the "Holy Trinity" of Denver passers—Elway, Manning, and now potentially Bo Nix—but the names in between? Those tell the real story of Mile High football.
Honestly, the list is longer than you’d expect. Since the team’s inception in 1960 as an AFL original, over 70 different men have suited up to take snaps. Some were legends. Others were "blink and you'll miss them" footnotes.
The Mount Rushmore of Mile High
If you’re looking at the Denver Broncos QB list through the lens of success, the conversation starts and ends with John Elway. He’s the undisputed king. You've got to realize he spent 16 seasons in Denver, racking up 148 wins and 300 touchdowns. He wasn't just a player; he became the identity of the city.
Then you have Peyton Manning. His four-year stint was basically a second act that shouldn't have been possible. In 2013, he put up 55 touchdowns. Fifty-five! That’s still a league record. Even when his arm was basically held together by tape and willpower in 2015, he managed to steer the ship to a Super Bowl 50 victory.
Craig Morton deserves a lot more respect than he usually gets. He was the guy who finally took the Broncos to their first Super Bowl (XII) in 1977. Before him, the team was kinda the laughingstock of the league. He stabilized things.
The Current Era: Bo Nix and the Shift
Fast forward to right now—January 2026. The Denver Broncos QB list has a new definitive leader: Bo Nix.
It’s been a crazy ride since Manning retired in early 2016. We went through a desert. Trevor Siemian, Paxton Lynch, Case Keenum, Joe Flacco, Drew Lock, Teddy Bridgewater, and the Russell Wilson experiment. It was exhausting for the fans. But Nix has changed the vibe. As of the 2025-26 season, Nix has already tied Russell Wilson’s record for the most wins by a quarterback in their first two seasons (24).
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He’s currently sitting at:
- Total Passing Yards (2 seasons): 7,706
- Passing Touchdowns: 54
- Rushing Touchdowns: 9
- Win-Loss Record: 24-10
He’s not just "the next guy." He’s the first one since Manning to actually look like he owns the huddle. Being named a Pro Bowl alternate for the 2026 game just proves that the league is finally taking Denver seriously again.
The Forgotten and the Infamous
You can’t talk about the Denver Broncos QB list without mentioning the "Post-Manning Carousel." It’s a dark place, but it's part of the lore.
Brock Osweiler is a name that triggers a lot of emotions. He helped win that 2015 Super Bowl while Manning was hurt, then chased a massive contract in Houston. When he came back later, the magic was gone.
Then there’s Paxton Lynch. He was a first-round pick in 2016 that just never clicked. Many scouts now point to him as one of the biggest "what-ifs" in franchise history. He only started four games. Compare that to Jake "The Snake" Plummer, who was actually incredibly efficient. Plummer won 72% of his games in Denver. He was the king of the bootleg, but he was eventually replaced by Jay Cutler, who had the arm of a god but the leadership of... well, let's just say it was a personality clash with the coaching staff.
Weird Statistical Anomalies
- Frank Tripucka: He was the first. His number 18 was retired, then "un-retired" so Manning could wear it. He once threw 45 interceptions in a single season. Different times, man.
- Marlin Briscoe: In 1968, he became the first Black starting quarterback in the modern era of professional football. He was a trailblazer in Denver before being moved to wide receiver elsewhere.
- Kendall Hinton: The COVID-19 game against the Saints in 2020. A wide receiver starting at QB because every other passer was in protocol. He went 1-for-9 with two interceptions. It was heroic and painful all at once.
What People Get Wrong About the Denver Broncos QB List
Most people think Denver is a "quarterback graveyard" because of the last decade. That’s a bit of a recency bias. If you look at the total history, Denver has actually been better than most at finding "the guy"—they just tend to keep them for a very long time, making the gaps in between feel like an eternity.
When you have Elway for 16 years and Manning for 4, you get spoiled. The 13 different starters between Manning and Nix weren't all "bad" players; they were just playing in the shadow of giants. Trevor Siemian actually won 13 games. Teddy Bridgewater was a solid .500. They just weren't Hall of Famers, and in Denver, that’s the standard.
The Full 2026 Depth Chart
If you're looking at who is in the room right now, the hierarchy is clear. Sean Payton has built this room to be stable, avoiding the panic moves of the late 2010s.
- Bo Nix: The franchise. He’s the locked-in starter heading into the 2026 playoffs.
- Jarrett Stidham: The veteran safety net. He’s reliable, knows the system, and doesn't make huge mistakes.
- Sam Ehlinger: The developmental/scout team guy.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Analysts
Looking back at the Denver Broncos QB list, you can see a pattern. The team wins when they have a "processor"—someone who can read the defense pre-snap. Elway eventually learned it, Manning was the master of it, and Bo Nix is currently excelling at it.
If you're tracking the future of this list, keep an eye on how Nix handles the "Year 3" jump. Historically, Broncos QBs who survive their first two seasons with a winning record (like Morton and Plummer) tend to have long, productive stays. Nix is currently ahead of the curve statistically.
To really understand where this team is going, stop looking for the next "strong arm" and start looking for the next "high-IQ" player. That is the Denver blueprint. The list will keep growing, but the names that stick are the ones who can handle the mental load of Payton's offense. Check the injury reports as the 2026 playoffs approach, as Nix’s health is essentially the team's entire postseason hopes. For now, the carousel has finally stopped spinning.