2012 Denver Broncos season

The  Denver Broncos season will be the franchise's upcoming 43rd season in the National Football League, the 53rd overall and the second under head coach John Fox. The offseason was dominated by the signing of former Indianapolis Colts' quarterback Peyton Manning on March 20, leading to the team trading incumbent quarterback Tim Tebow and a seventh-round selection to the New York Jets in exchange for two draft selections. The Broncos are hoping to improve on their 8–8 record in 2011, in which the team clinched their first playoff berth and division title since 2005. While the Broncos did not have a first-round selection in the 2012 NFL Draft, the team selected Derek Wolfe as the team's first pick in the second round of the draft.

Uniform change
On October 3, 2011, the NFL approved the Broncos' request to switch the team's primary home jersey color from navy blue to orange, beginning with the season. The orange jerseys that served as the team's alternate colored jersey from 2002–2011 will become the primary home jersey, while the navy blue jerseys that served as the team's primary home jersey from 1997–2011 will switch to alternate designation. The change was made due to overwhelming popularity with fans, who clamored for the team to return to wearing orange at home, which was the team's predominant home jersey color from 1962–1996. The road white jerseys remain unchanged.

On April 3, 2012, the Broncos, along with each of the other 31 NFL teams, unveiled the team's new uniforms for the 2012 season, with Nike replacing Reebok as the NFL's merchandising dealer. With the exceptions of a few tweaks (including the neckline), the team's uniform designs will remain much the same as the previous seasons.

Personnel changes

 * On January 17, Matt Russell, who served as the team's director of college scouting during the past three seasons, was promoted to director of player personnel. That same day, the Broncos announced that Rich Tuten, the team's strength and conditioning coach since 1995, will not return for the 2012 season.


 * On January 24, defensive coordinator Dennis Allen was hired as the new head coach of the Oakland Raiders.


 * On January 27, the Broncos hired former Jacksonville Jaguars' head coach Jack Del Rio as the team's new defensive coordinator, replacing Dennis Allen. Del Rio previously worked in the same capacity on (current Broncos' head coach) John Fox's staff with the Carolina Panthers in . Also on January 27, the Broncos hired Luke Richesson as the team's new strength and conditioning coach, replacing Rich Tuten.


 * On February 3, the Broncos hired Mike Sullivan as the team's new director of football administration, replacing Mike Bluem.


 * On May 7, the Broncos parted ways with general manager Brian Xanders after four seasons. The team has yet to announce a replacement.


 * On May 14, Wayne Nunnely, who served as the team's defensive line coach during the past three seasons, retired. His position was filled by Jay Rodgers, who served as a coaching assistant during the past three seasons.


 * On May 29, Cory Undlin was hired as the new defensive quality control coach—a position previously held by Jay Rodgers. Undlin previously worked on (current Broncos' defensive coordindator) Jack Del Rio's staff with the Jacksonville Jaguars for the previous three seasons.

Trades

 * On March 21, one day after the signing of Peyton Manning, the Broncos traded quarterback Tim Tebow and a 2012 seventh-round selection to the New York Jets in exchange for the Jets' fourth- and sixth-round selections.


 * On May 23, cornerback Cassius Vaughn was traded to the Indianapolis Colts in exchange for fullback Chris Gronkowski.

Suspensions
On March 9, linebacker D. J. Williams, defensive tackle Ryan McBean and tight end Virgil Green were each suspended by the NFL for violating the league's policy on performance-enhancing substances. Williams and McBean were each suspended for the first six games of the season, while Green was given a four-game suspension. Williams and McBean are both challenging the suspensions as well as taking legal action against the NFL. McBean later signed with the Baltimore Ravens on May 7, three weeks after his restricted free agent tender was rescinded by the Broncos.

Signing of Peyton Manning
On March 20, 2012, the Broncos reached an agreement with former Indianapolis Colts' quarterback Peyton Manning on a five-year, $96 million contract. Manning missed the entire season following multiple neck surgeries, and was released by the Colts two weeks earlier on March 7, one day before the Colts were due to pay him a $28 million roster bonus. The Arizona Cardinals, Miami Dolphins, San Francisco 49ers and Tennessee Titans were also in pursuit of the former Colts' quarterback; however, Manning informed Broncos' personnel to begin contract negotiations with the team on March 19, and he was introduced as the Broncos' new quarterback in a press conference at the team's headquarters in Dove Valley the following day.

The language of the contract contains the following conditions: If Manning suffers a setback in his recovery from neck surgery prior to the end of the season, the Broncos will owe Manning $18 million for the 2012 season only. If Manning passes a physical exam at the beginning of the league year, but suffers an injury to any part of his body other than his neck during the 2013 season, the Broncos will owe Manning $40 million through the 2014 season. The remaining years of the contract ($19 million apiece for 2015 and 2016) are dependent on Manning passing a physical exam prior to each season.

2012 draft class
Notes:
 * undefined The team traded its original first-round selection (No. 25 overall) to the New England Patriots in exchange for the Patriots' first- and fourth- round selections&mdash;Nos. 31 & 126 overall. The Broncos later traded both selections to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in exchange for the Buccaneers' second- (No. 36) and fourth- (No. 101) round selections.
 * undefined The team traded its original third- (No. 87) and fourth- (No. 120) round selections to the Cleveland Browns in exchange for the Browns' third-round selection (No. 67 overall).
 * undefined The team traded quarterback Tim Tebow and its seventh-round selection (No. 232 overall) to the New York Jets in exchange for the Jets' fourth- (No. 108) and sixth- (No. 188 overall) round selections.
 * undefined The team traded its original fifth-round selection (No. 160 overall) and a 2011 sixth-round selection to the Cleveland Browns in exchange for quarterback Brady Quinn.
 * undefined The team acquired this fifth-round selection (No. 137 overall) in a trade that sent wide receiver Brandon Lloyd to the St. Louis Rams. The Rams originally sent a sixth-round selection to the Broncos in October 2011, however, the selection was later upgraded to a fifth-rounder after a condition was met in which Lloyd made a minimum of 30 receptions with the Rams during the season.
 * undefined The team traded its original sixth-round selection (No. 194 overall) to the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for linebacker Joe Mays. The Broncos originally traded running back J. J. Arrington to the Eagles in July 2010, with the condition that if Arrington did not make the Eagles' 53-man roster at the start of the season, the Broncos would instead send a 2012 sixth-round selection to the Eagles (Arrington was indeed released by the Eagles shortly before the 2010 season).

Undrafted free agents
All undrafted free agents were signed just after the 2012 NFL Draft concluded on April 28.

Schedule
The Broncos' preliminary preseason schedule was announced on April 4, 2012. Exact dates and times for all games were finalized on April 17, when the regular season schedule was announced.

Signings

 * On July 28, two days after the start of training camp, the Broncos signed undrafted safety Anthony Perkins from the University of Colorado.
 * On August 1, the Broncos claimed wide receiver Cameron Kenney off waivers from the Seattle Seahawks.
 * On August 4, the Broncos signed safety Jim Leonhard, who spent the past three seasons with the New York Jets.

Departures

 * On August 2, wide receiver D'Andre Goodwin was designated as waived/injured.

Schedule
The Broncos' regular season schedule was announced on April 17, 2012.

LEGEND:
 * Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
 * Indicates that the game time and network are subject to change as a result of flexible scheduling. 