Denver Broncos training camp: Special teams preview

Casey Kreiter

Age: 26 – Contract: 1 year ($540,000 cap hit)

The Denver Broncos didn’t bring Casey Kreiter out of retirement to be their long snapper, but they did bring him out of the classroom.

Kreiter was working as a school teacher when he got the call from the Broncos in April of last year, and he’s earned the trust of the front office as the team brought him back this season on a one-year deal.

That’s impressive for a number of reasons.

First and foremost, Kreiter was the player chosen to replace Aaron Brewer, the snapper for the Broncos in Super Bowl 50 and by no means a slouch at his position. Long snapping often goes underrated, and people don’t really notice the guy doing it unless something goes wrong, but there’s an art form to it.

Kreiter has it down to a science.

The Broncos lost Kreiter to a season-ending injury last year, one that forced them to keep two long snappers on the roster for a good chunk of the season. I have mixed opinions on that decision, but what to I know?

Kreiter returns to form the battery on punts and field goals with Riley Dixon. By all accounts, he was excellent last year and the good news for the Broncos is, they have him on his second consecutive one-year deal so they aren’t on the hook for a bunch of money if things don’t work out midseason.

The Broncos are confident enough in Kreiter that no one has been brought in to compete with him, so the long snapper job is his as long as he continues to perform at a high level.