Dec 14, 2025; Denver, Colorado, USA; Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton stands on the sidelines during the second quarter against the Green Bay Packers at Empower Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images

Broncos Unveil Unique Schedule for 2026 Offseason Program

Originally posted on Denver Broncos on SI
By Zack Kelberman | Last updated Apr 3, 2026 4:59 PM ET

The NFL on Friday officially announced the Denver Broncos' 2026 offseason workout program, a uniquely constructed schedule that begins later than usual.

Per The Denver Gazette's Chris Tomasson, the Broncos will report for their first day of work on May 4. They will then hold voluntary Organized Team Activities (OTAs) on June 2-4 and June 8-11, followed by a mandatory minicamp from June 16-18.

This was purposely done by Broncos head coach Sean Payton, who explained that the delayed calendar is a result of the club's deep 2025 postseason run, which concluded with a loss in the AFC Championship Game on Jan. 25.

NFL teams with returning coaches are permitted to begin their offseason program as early as April 20, with a maximum of ten OTA sessions. But Payton put the kibosh on that.

"[We] pushed the offseason schedule back a little bit," Payton said on The Pat McAfee Show in February. "Normally, it starts mid-April. Our guys won't come in until the first of May. And then we won't do a football item until June — they'll just be lifting for a month before we ever [practice]."

Payton revealed to reporters on Tuesday that Phase One of the program will be limited to weightlifting and strength and conditioning.

“What’s the first Monday in May? May 4. All of May will be weights and running. June will be OTA week 1, OTA week 2, mini camp week 3," he said at the NFL owners meetings in Phoenix.

Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

The Right Call

Payton obviously knows better than anyone else how to properly guide the Broncos -- indeed coming off a long, hard-fought, ultimately disappointing season -- through the spring and into training camp. He's a proponent of easing players into the process rather than rushing them back onto the field after weeks of inactivity.

On a micro level, however, this was a smart decision that allows franchise quarterback Bo Nix more than enough time to complete his recovery from a fractured ankle. Nix is, according to the club's brass, "ahead of schedule" with the rehab, but now there's zero pressure to goose it along unnecessarily.

“I think look, his job—and we say this all the time—is lead your team into the end zone, lead your team to wins," Payton said Tuesday. "We see him every day at the facility. He’s ahead of schedule with his rehab. He likes being around football. That draft and the significance of trying to get that right is like, ‘Holy cow.’ It’s so important. We’ll be able to grade that whole class… I always say three years out, but we could begin to apply that. Then certainly 10 years out, you really know. I think the tweaks, the changes, the additions, and then understanding the challenges ahead.”