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5 best passing seasons for first-year Broncos quarterbacks

By Travis Wakeman

Nov 25, 2018; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Broncos quarterback Case Keenum (4) calls out in the first quarter against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Broncos Stadium at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 25, 2018; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Broncos quarterback Case Keenum (4) calls out in the first quarter against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Broncos Stadium at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Denver Broncos will have a brand new quarterback in 2022. Russell Wilson will lead the charge in hopes of changing the team’s fortunes. 

After watching a group of different passers try to replace the retired Peyton Manning, and missing the playoffs in each of those years, the Broncos decided to take drastic measures and trade for Russell Wilson, one of the most accomplished quarterbacks in the NFL.

Wilson, who was a third-round pick in 2012, currently sits at No. 26 on the league’s all-time passing list with over 37,000 career yards. He has thrown for over 4,000 yards in a season four times and he has five seasons with at least 30 touchdown passes.

In recent years, the Broncos have tried to win games with game managers at quarterback and a sound defense. Basically, they have asked the quarterback to keep them in games as much as possible.

But with Wilson, the offense once again becomes dynamic. He will give the team options it hasn’t had in quite some time and that should make players such as Courtland Sutton and Jerry Jeudy much more effective than they have been in their young careers.

When the 2022 season is over, where will Wilson’s season rank among the best first-year quarterbacks in team history?

This is a statistical list, so how the team finished in the standings in each of these seasons will not be relevant. This is strictly looking at passing yardage and touchdown passes for quarterbacks in their first year as the Broncos’ starter.

To qualify, a quarterback had to be the starter for at least 10 games.

As a result, among the names you won’t see on this list are John Elway, Jake Plummer and Jay Cutler.

Best passing seasons for Broncos first-year quarterbacks

No. 5 Teddy Bridgewater, 2021

DENVER, COLORADO – DECEMBER 12: Quarterback Teddy Bridgewater #5 of the Denver Broncos throws against the Detroit Lions at Empower Field At Mile High on December 12, 2021, in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
DENVER, COLORADO – DECEMBER 12: Quarterback Teddy Bridgewater #5 of the Denver Broncos throws against the Detroit Lions at Empower Field At Mile High on December 12, 2021, in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) /

Passing yards: 3,052

Touchdowns: 18

It wasn’t pretty for most Broncos fans but statistically, Teddy Bridgewater’s first (and only) season as the Broncos starter wasn’t bad.

Bridgewater threw for over 3,000 yards and had 18 touchdowns to just seven interceptions while also posting the second-highest QB rating of his career. He also did that in just 14 games before a nasty concussion against the Cincinnati Bengals late in the year ended his season.

Those numbers didn’t help the Broncos score points or win games but they did help to get him another contract with the Miami Dolphins, who he signed with this offseason.

Bridgewater’s time in Denver will be easily forgotten. I will always contend that Drew Lock should have been named the starter to begin the 2021 season, but that didn’t happen and it turned into a wasted year.

But Bridgewater still posted solid enough numbers to make this list.

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