Payton's Offseason Plan: Broncos Prioritize Rest

0:00On February 27, Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton says the deep run into the playoffs like reaching the AFC Championship would push back the team's 2026 off-season training program. Normally kicking off in mid-April, it would now start May 1st with just lifting and conditioning. No football drills until June, giving players time to recharge after a long season. Payton shared this on the Pat McAfee show at the NFL Combine, explaining the need for a real break so players don't feel like they're jumping right. Back into practice. Last year, voluntary organized team activities began late May, but veterans would get even more downtime this time around. Rookie Mini Camp stays on track post-straft in early May. Fans craving any off-season action might feel the wait, but Payton's approach has paid off. Since he arrived, the Broncos slashed missed games due to injury from over 130 in his first year there to just 36 the next season, leading the league both times.

1:00He credits new hires like vice-president of player health, Bo Lowry, and strength coach Dan Dowrymple. Payton draws from mentors like Bill Parcells to build a top-notch environment, players actually want to join. The team invested in training staff and facilities to beat private options, boosting health and buy-in, they earned high marks from the NFL Players Association on ownership. Though Payton's tough style got a B from players. Come training camp, the Broncos move into a shiny new facility right across the practice field in Dub Valley just months away. With a packed June ahead and that six-week summer break intact, Payton's balancing rest and readiness keeps the team trending up. Payton's balancing rest and readiness keeps the team trending up.