On any level of football, when it comes to postseason honors, to the victor go the spoils.
The Denver Broncos found out as much when the NFL All-Pro Team was announced on Saturday, January 10, with the No. 1 seed in the AFC Playoffs landing a whopping 6 selections, including 4 first-team picks.
The Broncos put 2 players on the first team offense with left tackle Garett Bolles and right guard Quinn Meinerz.
On defense, interior defensive lineman Zach Allen was a first teamer and safety Devon Key was the first team special teams pick.
Reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year Patrick Surtain was selected as second team cornerback and safety Talanoa Hufanga was also selected to the second team in his first year with the Broncos after signing a 3-year, $39 million free agent contract in March.
“Tied for the second-most selections in team history,” the Broncos wrote on their official X account. “Congrats to our six AP All-Pros!”
The Broncos tied a franchise record with 14 wins and have a bye in the first round of the AFC Playoffs. They will face the highest remaining AFC seed on January 17 or January 18 in Denver.
Bolles Overtakes Top Spot at Premiere NFL Position
The most impressive of the Broncos’ NFL All-Pro selections has to be Bolles, who delivered a career year to be named the NFL’s elite left offensive tackle — arguably the most important position on the field after the quarterback.
It was just 2 years ago that many thought Bolles, a 2017 first round pick, may have run his course in Denver.
“Favorite All Pro story is Bolles.” Denver 9 News’ Mike Klis wrote on X. “Can’t get over how uproariously booed he was by home fans in 2019 Khalil Mack game to not getting 5th-year tender to two big contract extensions to best pass blocker in league. Credit to Mike Munchak and then Zach Strief for bringing him along.”
“Garett Bolles was the only LT to play at least 230 pass-blocking snaps without allowing a sack — he played 714,” Pro Football Focus wrote on its official X account.
It’s the second time Bolles, 33 years old, has been named NFL All-Pro after being selected to the second team in 2020.
It was also the second All-Pro selection for Meinerz, who made it in consecutive years, as well as for Hufanga, who was a 2022 NFL All-Pro with the San Francisco 49ers. It was third All-Pro Selection in 5 seasons for Surtain and the first for Key.
“Quinn Meinerz signed his massive extension then immediately went on to have back-to-back First-team All-Pro seasons,” DNVR’s Zac Stevens wrote on X. “Credit to the Broncos and Quinn. Paid the right player and person.”
Bonitto Denied Second All-Pro Selection
Far and away, the biggest snub on the Broncos seemed to be edge rusher Nik Bonitto, who missed making the second team by one vote and, in a bizarre twist, had more first team votes than the players who made the second team.
“Broncos OLB Nik Bonitto finished one point shy of a second-team All-Pro selection,” Broncos.com’s Aric DiLalla wrote on X. “Detroit’s Aidan Hutchinson had 55 points, Bonitto had 54. Bonitto actually had more first-team votes (11) than second-team selections Hutchinson (8), Brian Burns (10) and Danielle Hunter (9).”
“14 sacks 14 tackles for loss 28 quarterback hits 39 quarterback pressures,” Mile High Huddle’s Zack Kelberman wrote on X. “Absolutely disgusting that Nik Bonitto was robbed of All-Pro.”
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