Wild Horses: M12 Franchise
The 2010 Denver Broncos season was the franchise's 41st season in the National Football League, the 51st overall and the 10th playing their home games at INVESCO Field at Mile High. The off-season was marked by the draft selections of Georgia Tech wide receiver Demaryius Thomas and All-American Florida quarterback Tim Tebow, as well as season-ending injuries to All-Pro linebacker Elvis Dumervil and free agent running back LenDale White. The team failed to improve on its 8–8 record from 2009, and set a new franchise record for losses in a single season, with a 4–12 record. The regular season was marked by a videotaping scandal dubbed Spygate II and the firing of head coach Josh McDaniels.
In the 2011 off-season was an off-season marred with scandals and a high number of chances. After the firing of Josh McDaniels the Broncos hired former Panthers HC, John Fox. John Elway was also named Executive VP of Football Operations, and will have the final say in all football matters. The following changes were made to the Broncos' coaching staff: Clancy Barone was moved from offensive line coach to tight ends coach, replacing Bob Ligashesky. Dave Magazu was named the new offensive line coach. Tyke Tolbert was named the new wide receivers coach. Magazu and Tolbert both previously served on John Fox's staff with the Panthers. Brian Callahan was moved to the offensive quality control position, while Jay Rodgers was moved to the defensive quality control position. Eric Studesville, who served as the team's interim head coach for the final four games of the 2010 season, will retain his position as running backs coach. Also Adam Gase, who served as the Broncos' wide receivers coach during the previous two seasons, was named the team's new quarterbacks coach, replacing Ben McDaniels. That same day, Jeff Rodgers, who served on John Fox's staff with the Panthers during the previous two seasons, was named the team's new special teams coach. the Broncos hired former New Orleans Saints' secondary coach Dennis Allen as the team's new defensive coordinator, replacing Don Martindale. The following day, the team hired Ron Milus as the new secondary coach and Richard Smith as the new linebackers coach. Milus previously served as the Broncos' secondary coach in 2000, while Smith previously served as the Broncos' special teams coach and linebackers coach in the mid-1990s, and both previously served on John Fox's staff with the Panthers during the past two seasons. The coaching staff was finalized, whenKeith Burns was brought back as the assistant special teams coach and Sam Garnes was hired as the teams' new assistant secondary coach. Garnes served on John Fox's staff with the Panthers last season.
| Denver Broncos 2011 Draft | |||||
| Pick | Player | College | Pos | Ht | Wt |
| 1(2) | Von Miller | Texas A&M | LB | 6'2" | 146 |
| 2(45) | Rahim Moore | UCLA | S | 5'11" | 202 |
| 2(46) | Orlando Franklin | Miami | OT | 6'5" | 316 |
| 3(67) | Nate Irving | N.C. State | LB | 6'1" | 240 |
| 4(108) | Quinton Carter | Oklahoma | S | 6'0" | 208 |
| 4(129) | Julius Thomas | Portland St. | TE | 6'4" | 246 |
| 6(189) | Mike Mohamed | California | LB | 6'3" | 239 |
| 7(204) | Virgil Green | Nevada | TE | 6'3" | 249 |
| 7(247) | Jeremy Beal | Oklahoma | DE | 6'2" | 262 |
| Denver Broncos Preseason 2011 Schedule | ||||
| DATE | OPPONENT | RESULT | ||
| Aug 13 | at Dallas Cowboys | |||
| Aug 20 | vs Buffalo Bills | |||
| Aug 27 | vs Seattle Seahawks | |||
| Sep 1 | at Arizona Cardinals | |||
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