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Kyle Kempt #17 of the Iowa State Cyclones celebrates after a win against the Texas Tech Red Raiders.
Head coach Sean Payton and the Denver Broncos continue to make noteworthy adjustments ahead of the 2026 offseason that could see multiple significant changes to their roster on both sides of the ball.
Their latest move brings another new presence to the offense.
That is Payton’s specialty, but there is more uncertainty from the top down than his track record would otherwise suggest.
Former Drake OC Joins Broncos’ Sean Payton
GettyDenver Broncos head coach Sean Payton looks on before facing the Green Bay Packers.
Payton is entering his fourth offseason at the helm of the Broncos. Change has been a constant, with multiple staff members leaving this season, both by choice and being fired.
The Broncos’ staff is getting even more quarterback-friendly with the latest news.
“Source: The Denver Broncos are set to hire Kyle Kempt as an offensive assistant,” ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg reported on X on February 23. “He spent last season as Drake’s offensive coordinator, after six years on staff at Iowa State, where he played quarterback under Matt Campbell.”
Kempt is a Cyclones legend. He was also a teammate of San Francisco 49ers QB Brock Purdy. He brings a noteworthy skill set from his playing days to the Broncos’ sidelines.
Kempt walked on in 2016 and was fifth on the depth chart entering the 2017 season.
Then, in the fifth game of the season, with two games played under his belt, Kempt raised his profile in spectacular fashion. The rest is NCAA and Cyclones history, but it could bode well for Payton and the Broncos.
Kyle Kempt an ISU Legend
GettyKyle Kempt #17 of the Iowa State Cyclones looks to throw against the Oklahoma Sooners.
Long before joining the Broncos, Kempt made a name for himself by notching what is widely regarded as one of the greatest wins in Cyclones history as a player.
He threw for 343 yards and 3 touchdowns in a road win over the then-No. 3 Oklahoma Sooners.
“Kempt became an overnight sensation,” Kempt’s profile on Drake’s website reads. “He went on to tally a 5-3 record as a starter, leading the team to a national ranking, an 8-5 record and a victory in the Liberty Bowl.”
“He is the only quarterback in Cyclone history to lead his team to a pair of wins over top-five opponents.”
It was ISU’s first-ever road win over a top-five team.
Comments from one of Kempt’s former teammates, ex-Cyclones offensive lineman Jake Campos, stand out as the coach heads into a new role: “He’s got incredible poise. The guy is a computer science major and is very analytical.”
That was in 2017, when the duo was still taking the field together. Now that Kempt is with Payton and the Broncos, though, it is a fitting reminder of what the newcomer brings.
Broncos’ Offense in Spotlight
GettyDenver Broncos head coach Sean Payton looks on before the AFC Divisional Playoffs against the Buffalo Bills.
Payton’s decision to bring on Kempt will fly under the radar at the 2026 NFL combine, with another decision looming even larger. That is whether Payton will retain play-calling duties next season.
The Athletic’s Nick Kosmider noted that Davis Webb’s promotion from QB coach to OC “was accompanied by an almost existential question” regarding Payton’s hold on the play sheet.
“Webb took himself out of the running for the Las Vegas Raiders head coach job, for which he had interviewed twice, and passed on offensive coordinator opportunities elsewhere that would have come with play-calling responsibilities. Would he have done those things if he wasn’t getting the same opportunity in Denver?” Kosmider wrote on February 23.
“It’s hard to envision Payton not calling plays. It is a core part of his identity as a coach.”
Kosmider called it a “fascinating subplot for the Broncos” heading into the offseason. He noted there was “plenty of room for improvement,” but also that the Broncos still won 14 games. Kosmider also noted the Broncos were without QB1 Bo Nix in the AFC Championship Game.
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
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