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Dre Greenlaw #57 of the Denver Broncos reacts in a game against the Houston Texans.
The Denver Broncos hoped that Dre Greenlaw would help shore up their pass defense at the second level. After one injury-marred season, though, the Broncos cut ties with Greenlaw, one of their prized free agent signings during the 2025 offseason.
He played eight games during the regular season.
Greenlaw returned in time for the Broncos’ postseason run to the AFC Championship Game, but the partnership still ended in what head coach Sean Payton noted was a tough call.
Broncos Made ‘Tough’ Decision on Dre Greenlaw
GettyDenver Broncos linebacker Dre Greenlaw reacts against the Houston Texans.
Greenlaw signed a three-year, $31.5 million contract with the Broncos after beginning his career with the San Francisco 49ers. He returned to the 49ers after the Broncos cut him this offseason, a decision Payton said was “tough.”
“He’s so passionate. I would say in my career as a coach, I’ve been lucky enough to coach a lot of passionate players that love the game,” Payton told reporters, per The Denver Gazette’s Chris Tomasson on March 31. “I’m always disappointed internally that that didn’t work out and because, I love that player. I love how he competes. I love all the things he brings. And you feel somewhat responsible when it doesn’t work out.”
Greenlaw echoed Payton’s sentiments, lauding the Broncos organization.
“Honestly, it was a tough year, brother. It was a tough year. One of my toughest … years,” Greenlaw told former NFL offensive tackle Terron Armstead on “The Set” podcast on March 30.
“Love the organization, great organization, great people in the organization. I felt like the training staff was second to none. Just teammate-wise, man, great teammates, man. A really, really close building. Very, very similar to how it was in the Niners, man.”
Dre Greenlaw Never Got Fully Healthy in 2025
GettyDre Greenlaw of the San Francisco 49ers speaks to the media ahead of Super Bowl LVIII.
Greenlaw, who mentioned a lack of interest from the Niners in discussing a deal, said he felt like he was a rookie again as a first-time veteran free agent. However, Greenlaw also revealed how signing with the Broncos altered his approach to rehabbing from multiple injuries.
He had ruptured his Achilles during the Super Bowl in 2023, playing in two games in 2024.
Greenlaw dealt with quad injuries and a hamstring issue during his brief tenure with the Broncos, for whom he said he altered his rehab.
“Once I got the call to be a Bronco, I talked to my trainer here, and he’s like, ‘Hey, man, we going to start picking up the intensity and things like that because the Broncos practice different than the Niners. You’re not going to be able to come in there and just like how you were with the Niners, and they take care of your body.’ This and that. ‘Broncos, they’re going to want you to go every day. They’re six days on. Their rehab is tough.’ All of this and this. So, I’m just like, ‘Okay, let’s get it going.’ And we started picking it up. Started picking it up,” Greenlaw said.
“Once I just got there, man, it just–it was tough. Because it was like, I pulled my quad second day I got there, right? …Should have been just smarter about where I was going in this training with them. You going into a new spot, you want to get going, this and that, and that. Basically just had some hiccups that I really just–I felt like I had no control over.”
Greenlaw also received a one-game suspension for using abusive language toward an official at the end of the preceding contest. He appealed, but the suspension was upheld. Greenlaw finished his time in Denver with 43 total tackles, 1.0 sacks, and 1 forced fumble.
Dre Greenlaw Grew Unhappy in Denver
GettyDre Greenlaw #57 of the Denver Broncos reacts in a game against the Houston Texans.
Greenlaw called it a “roller coaster of a ride,” and said he “could never get the ball rolling” with the Broncos due to his health. He also cited the switch in defensive schemes in light of his missing practice time.
“For me, it was the fact that I’m not healthy. I don’t feel that twitch or that gear that I feel like I need to have. But, obviously, I’m out here trying to do everything I can to be on the field. But it makes it tough when you pay a guy $11 mil[lion], and he’s only on the field 50% of the time. So, it just–it made it tough for me, bro. And it made it to the point where it kind of makes you not happy, you know what I’m saying?” Greenlaw said.
“That’s really what it boiled down to at the end of the day. And everything works out for a reason, man. Everything works out in God’s timing, man. And I don’t regret none of it, this situation that happened. I’m thankful for it all. For Sean and for … everybody that accepted me into that organization, teammates and all. But yeah, I’m excited to be a Niner.”
Armstead, who played for Payton on the New Orleans Saints, believes the Broncos and Greenlaw fell victim to misfortune, missing out on what seemed like a strong fit.
Josh Buckhalter covers the NBA and NFL for Heavy.com. He has covered both leagues since 2016, including bylines at FanSided, Last Word on Sports and Clocker Sports. He’s based in Villa Park, Illinois. Follow Josh on Twitter and Instagram: @JoshGBuck More about Josh Buckhalter