Denver Broncos defensive end Zach Allen continues to be one of the more dominant defensive players in the NFL, and it still feels like he's someone who flies under the radar at times. He's led the NFL in quarterback hits in each of the last two full seasons, and he's off to another insane start this year.
The NFL started tracking QB hits back in 2006, and with Allen having two-straight seasons of at least 40 QB hits, he joins only JJ Watt, his former teammate, with two such seasons in league history. Allen had 47 QB hits last season, and it got us wondering - could he break the single-season record?
Watt holds that record with 51 QB hits back in the 2014 NFL Season. Let's dive into the numbers thus far and crack open a tracker that we'll update weekly with his QB hit totals.
Denver Broncos' DE Zach Allen's quest for the most QB Hits in a season
Week | QB Hits |
|---|---|
Week 1 @ KC | 3 |
Week 2 vs. JAX | 1 |
Week 3 vs. LAR | 5 |
Week 4 @ SF | 3 |
Week 5 @ LAC | 1 |
Through five games, Allen has 13 QB hits, which comes out to 2.6 per game. That would put him on pace for 44 QB hits this year. What is interesting is that he had 12 through four games, which comes out to three per game, which would put him on pace for 51 this year. Allen was on pace to tie Watt's record before Week 5.
We are still early enough in the season to where this can fluctuate a good bit, but as we get deeper into the season, we'll begin to get a more accurate number of what Allen is on pace on, and we'll update this tracker each week.
Allen signed with the Broncos back in 2023 after finishing out his four-year rookie contract with the Arizona Cardinals. He was signed to essentially replace Dre'Mont Jones along the defensive line, and while many had doubts, Allen instantly proved why he is among the best in the league, which peaked in the 2025 season, as he earned Pro Bowl and first-team All-Pro honors.
He also seems to be performing quite nicely against the run this year, and with the departure of John Franklin-Myers, and Jonathon Cooper not being eliglble to play, a lot more has fallen on Allen's shoulders. The defense has definitely taken a step back this year, but Allen is continuing to dominate, and if he can string some active weeks together, he'll be right back on pace to tie or break the single-season record.
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