Jake Plummer knows all about having success as the starting quarterback of the Denver Broncos.
Plummer started at quarterback for the Broncos from 2003 until 2006, leading the team to the playoffs in three consecutive seasons (2003-2005). The peak of Plummer's success was during the 2005 season when he led them to the AFC Championship game while clinching the lone Pro Bowl nod of his career.
The 51-year-old Plummer is long retired, but he keeps close tabs on the Broncos organization. Led by young franchise quarterback Bo Nix, the Broncos are coming off of an AFC Championship game appearance, their deepest postseason run since 2015 when Peyton Manning led Denver to a victory in Super Bowl 50.
Nix suffered a season-ending injury in the Broncos' divisional
round playoff win over the Buffalo Bills in January, causing him to miss the AFC Championship game loss to the New England Patriots. Many feel that had Nix played in the 10-7 loss instead of Jarrett Stidham, the Broncos would have advanced to the Super Bowl to play the Seattle Seahawks.
Plummer takes it a step further by saying that the Broncos were the "best team" in football last season.
"I think they're right up there," said Plummer in a one-on-one interview when asked where they rank in the AFC hierarchy. "The way they won last year, they never really got credit. For me, I believe that they were the best team in the NFL last year. The Seahawks won it all, but the way they [Denver] won the games, the way they came from behind, the way they rallied and guys made plays, we now know who the playmakers are because they stepped up and did it when it mattered. It wasn't how pretty they looked in their combine or how great they looked in jersey and shorts. They were doing it on the field with their full gear on in front of 75-to-80,000 fans."
The Broncos went 14-3 last season and clinched the AFC's No. 1 seed. Denver set an NFL record with 12 comeback wins during the 2025 season.
They return most of their nucleus from last season and even added former Miami Dolphins star receiver Jaylen Waddle to the mix. Waddle produced 104 receptions during his rookie season and posted three consecutive 1,000-yard seasons to start his NFL career.
Plummer makes sure to mention that the Broncos are well served heading into the 2026 season because of how "battle-tested" they are.
"We know now who those guys are, and I think this team is battle-tested, and they're led by some really great coaches, really, really good coaches, not only offensively but defensively too," said Plummer of the Broncos. "Looking forward to seeing them compete and be right in the thick of all the talks. Obviously, the season has yet to play out, and we don't know what's going to happen. But I know that they're going to be in the thick of each game they play. They're going to be right there and competing hard till the end."
Earlier this week, Plummer partnered with USAA for the second consecutive year for their "Salute to Service" boot camp at the Broncos' facility. The boot camp saw 50 military service members participate in NFL combine-type drills such as the 40-yard dash, broad jump, three-cone shuttle, receiving gauntlet, and the QB arm challenge.
Plummer, who played 10 years in the NFL, admitted that a few guys beat him in the QB arm challenge.
“A couple guys smoked me bad,” said Plummer. “I threw it like 50 yards, and then the three winners of the distance that threw it, I think 55 and 58 and 60. We did a crossbar throw for the final, and I missed. And then two of the guys hit it on their first throws, so they showed me up, but I’m all right with that. It was about them, not me. I had my time, but it was fun. There definitely were some great athletes out here.
“Everybody was putting forth the effort, having a good time, and to go into the field house here and run around and get to play around on the field that these guys practice on for me is still a thrill,” Plummer continued. “I couldn’t imagine how many of these military personnel and individuals here today, how much of a memory they formed today, and how much fun they had. So great to be a part of it.”
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This article originally appeared on Broncos Wire: Jake Plummer says Broncos were the 'best team' in the NFL last season
