J.K. Dobbins made clear in January: no matter occurs, he’ll at all times bleed orange and blue.
“I’m a Bronco,” Dobbins stated, at his end-of-year presser. “I’m a Buckeye, and I’m a Bronco. I wasn’t drafted here, but I do firmly believe that I’m a Bronco.”
He’ll formally be a Bronco once more, now, in 2026.
Broncos NFL free agency 2026 tracker: Kenneth Walker, Travis Etienne already off the board at RB
Denver has agreed to phrases on a two-year deal for Dobbins, a supply confirmed to The Denver Post. The transfer ensures the Broncos can have their main rusher from 2025 again within the fold, because the fan favourite shortly endeared himself to Broncos Country and head coach Sean Payton alike after originally signing with the Broncos in June of last season.
Dobbins introduced the information himself on Twitter, posting an image of himself alongside guard Ben Powers and receiver Marvin Mims Jr. with an orange coronary heart.
“#Home,” Dobbins wrote on the post.
Top-of-market names like Kenneth Walker III (Kansas City Chiefs) and Travis Etienne (New Orleans Saints) flew elsewhere because the authorized tampering interval of free company kicked off Monday, and Denver at all times had curiosity in bringing again Dobbins. Payton loves the working again as each a again and a locker-room catalyst; with Dobbins again within the fold at a lower cost level, Denver can now flip its consideration to additional spending at huge receiver, tight finish and inside linebacker.
It’s nonetheless fairly attainable, in fact, that the Broncos add one other working again to juice the room and supply depth alongside the oft-injured Dobbins and second-year again RJ Harvey. Denver has re-signed exclusive-rights free agent Tyler Badie, however reserve again Jaleel McLaughlin has hit unrestricted free company, and Payton made clear after the season that the Broncos would look laborious at bettering their run recreation in each system and personnel.
“That’s definitely one of the points of emphasis that I think we’ll research and look into heavily,” Payton stated in late January. “I want to play from the gun, but I will always want to play with a two-back or multiple-tight-end mindset, have that flexibility.”
When wholesome — the important thing — Dobbins has persistently confirmed to be the most effective working backs within the NFL. He was the engine and frequent nearer for Denver’s offense for 10 video games in 2025, with 772 yards dashing on 5.0 yards per carry, earlier than suffering an ultimate season-ending Lisfranc injury midseason.
Dobbins, although, rehabbed so intensively that he managed to return to observe the week of the Broncos’ eventual AFC championship-game loss to the Patriots. After the season, the working again informed reporters that he, Broncos workers and docs had conversations about playing against New England — a quiet what-if on the finish of Denver’s 2025 season — however finally determined to maintain off if the Broncos made the Super Bowl.
The veteran made clear since midseason that he hoped to re-sign in Denver, and launched one other marketing campaign to re-sign with the Broncos in his end-of-year presser with reporters.
“I was able to get back on the practice field in 2.5 months, and it’s because they gave me everything I needed,” Dobbins stated. “There were things I’d ask (Greg) Penner, and he’d get it to us, get it to me.”
He’ll now be again to spearhead Denver’s backfield once more, and persevering with to function a mentor for Harvey in new play-caller Davis Webb’s offense.
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