Football

“We’re Heading in the Right Direction”: Patrick Surtain II Believes the Broncos Are Super Bowl Contenders in 2025

Published: Mar 17, 2025, 11:30 AM
8 min read
Updated: Jul 8, 2025, 11:58 AM
Fact checked by:
Sergey Demidov
Marvin Mims Jr. #19 of the Denver Broncos dives to score a touchdown in the third quarter against the Kansas City Chiefs

Patrick Surtain II details why the Denver Broncos can develop into a Super Bowl contender (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)

Patrick Surtain II is confident the Denver Broncos can emerge as Super Bowl contenders next season.

The Broncos are coming off of a surprise playoff appearance during the 2024 season, a year in which they snapped a nine-year postseason drought with rookie quarterback Bo Nix at the helm. Although Denver began last season with the second-youngest roster in the NFL, the reigning Defensive Player of the Year believes the team is primed to take the next step heading into 2025.

“Oh, for sure,” Surtain II said in a one-on-one interview with RG when asked if the Broncos can emerge as Super Bowl contenders. “I think any team is a contender. I feel like that's the topic that some people look at and say, 'Are the Broncos Super Bowl contenders?' I feel like we are contenders in our own right. I feel like we are building success and I think we are headed in the right direction for sure.”

Denver went 10-7 last season behind the strong play of the defensive unit (third in the NFL) and Nix, who posted one of the best rookie seasons of any quarterback in NFL history. The 2024 first-round draft pick ended the season with 33 total touchdowns with a 93.3 passer rating and 430 rushing yards.

Surtain II details what makes Nix so good and how he noticed the young quarterback's “confidence” grew with each passing week. Nix went through a 10-game stretch where he committed just two turnovers. Unsurprisingly, the Broncos went 7-3 during that time frame.

 “He's a great teammate, a great person as well, a great leader,” said Surtain II of Nix.

“You could tell when he is on the field, he has great confidence that he possesses out there and it shines bright each and every Sunday.

“I saw him grow and grow each and every week,” Surtain II continued. "Just seeing his mechanics, just the way he goes about his business, and it's kind of rewarding knowing that you have a guy like that you work with each and every week. I'm looking forward to his success at the end of the day.”

The Broncos are having an active offseason, adding weapons for Nix in Pro Bowl tight end Evan Engram and wide receiver Trent Sherfield. Denver also added San Francisco 49ers standouts from the defensive side of the ball in linebacker Dre Greenlaw and Pro Bowl safety Talanoa Hufanga.

The hope is those veteran additions combined with the holdovers from last season's playoff team will lift the Broncos to the next level. As bright of a season as last year was for Denver, they struggled against playoff competition. When not including their Week 18 victory against a Kansas City Chiefs squad sitting their starters, they went 1-5 against postseason teams and 1-7 against squads with winning records.

 “Obviously, you just don't wake up and say like, 'Okay, I want to be in the Super Bowl,'” said Surtain II. “Obviously there's work to put in before that. I think we have a great chance for sure. We're building up a team to reach — obviously in the playoffs — but even further.

“Like I said, we built this team up for the right reasons to reach that step,” Surtain II continued to say. “So we'll see. But I'm very optimistic about our future in reaching the Super Bowl.”

Although the Broncos were demolished by the Buffalo Bills, 31-7, in the wild card round, the experience itself of playing in the playoffs will only pay dividends for a young Denver squad that is way ahead of schedule as one of the rising teams in the NFL.

Head coach Sean Payton is one of the few members of the Broncos who doesn't lack playoff experience. The 61-year-old previously led the New Orleans Saints to a Super Bowl victory at the conclusion of the 2009 season and led the Saints to multiple playoff runs, advancing to the postseason on nine different occasions.

“Yeah, very instrumental,” said Surtain when asked how important the playoff experience was. “Obviously the Bills, they were a great team and they had our number. At the end of the game, Sean (Payton) said, 'That's what playoff football is like. It gets tougher each and every time you're in the tournament, playing against good teams.' Once you're in that playoff circuit, there's no complacency.”

The 24-year-old cornerback says the biggest thing he's learned from Payton is that you have to be able to laugh at yourself. If you can't laugh at yourself, that means you can't take coaching or criticism.

 “If you look at some of your faults, or you look at some of your mishaps, and you'd be so hard on yourself, but you take the time to laugh at yourself too, to understand 'I can learn from this,' but also just laugh about that sometimes,” said Surtain II. “You can be amused by some of the stuff that you do as well, too. That makes you even more confident as a player that a coach believes in you so much that you can take the time to laugh about some of the things that you missed on, but also be criticized on some of the things that you missed on too.”

Payton is Surtain II's third head coach since entering the NFL, with Vic Fangio and Nathaniel Hackett serving as his previous head coaches. For the first time in his young NFL career, Surtain had the same head coach in back-to-back seasons, and it obviously paid dividends considering the team's success and when also considering that Surtain II is coming off of a year in which he won the Defensive Player of the Year award.

 “I think from that point forward, it is like you move on with confidence,” said Surtain II of Payton's advice to him.

“You move on without a burden on your shoulders. You could go out there and play at your full speed, not worried about making mistakes, but just to play freely and play at your own speed. When he said that, it really opened my eyes for sure.”

Surtain II was making his playoff debut — like many other Broncos players — in that game against the Bills. The learning experience from the game itself is that everything has to be “spot on” if the Broncos want to advance further in the playoffs and eventually develop into a Super Bowl-caliber squad.

 “Everything's gotta be spot on,” said Surtain II. “The urgency, the attention to detail. You could feel the magnitude, the atmosphere of the playoffs. You realize this is playoff football. To get to that point again, it will be for sure the next step, no doubt. Now we know what it's like, but now it's about winning, and it's about consistency in that mark.”

Sports Reporter
DJ Siddiqi is a sports reporter focusing on football, basketball, hockey, baseball and pro wrestling. He has covered major events, including the Super Bowl, NBA Finals, CFP National Championship and WrestleMania, interviewing stars such as Tom Brady, Shaquille O’Neal and Giannis Antetokounmpo. Previously, Siddiqi was lead NBA writer at CBS Sports and 247 Sports, and an NFL beat reporter covering the Denver Broncos at Bleacher Report.
Interests:
NFL
NBA
NCAAF
NCAAB
NHL
Travel
Interviews

More RG Exclusive Interviews

Football
Opinion
Chargers Must Reunite With Keenan Allen After Mike Williams Retirement

With Mike Williams retiring, it's time for the Los Angeles Chargers to reunite with franchise legend Keenan Allen, who remains a free agent.

5
07/18/2025
Quinn Allen
Quinn Allen
Chargers Must Reunite With Keenan Allen After Mike Williams Retirement
Football
News Report
Micah Parsons Calls Out Cowboys’ Ownership Amid Stalled Contract Talks

Micah Parsons isn't pleased with the Dallas Cowboys' ownership group as he continues to be without a new contract extension.

6
07/17/2025
Quinn Allen
Quinn Allen
Micah Parsons Calls Out Cowboys’ Ownership Amid Stalled Contract Talks
Football
Interview
Russell Wilson Explains Why He’ll Reinvent Career With Giants

Veteran quarterback Russell Wilson revealed why he believes the New York Giants are the perfect place for him to find his best once again.

6
07/16/2025
Quinn Allen
Quinn Allen
Russell Wilson Explains Why He’ll Reinvent Career With Giants
Football
Interview
Zach Ertz Talks Jayden Daniels’ Rise, Commanders’ Plan To Beat Eagles

Zach Ertz praises Jayden Daniels’ breakout season and shares what the Commanders must do to finally overcome the Super Bowl champion Eagles.

7
07/15/2025
DJ Siddiqi
DJ Siddiqi
Zach Ertz Talks Jayden Daniels’ Rise, Commanders’ Plan To Beat Eagles
Football
Interview
How Kelvin Banks Jr. Is Ready To Make Lasting Impact With The Saints

Kelvin Banks Jr. is primed to make an immediate impact with the New Orleans Saints, thanks to elite training and his NFL-ready skills. Find out how he’s prepared.

8
07/11/2025
Landon Buford
Landon Buford
How Kelvin Banks Jr. Is Ready To Make Lasting Impact With The Saints
Football
Interview
Caleb Downs Reveals Key Differences Between Alabama And Ohio State

Caleb Downs opens up about the culture shift and coaching styles between Alabama and Ohio State after winning a title with the Buckeyes last season.

6
07/10/2025
DJ Siddiqi
DJ Siddiqi
Caleb Downs Reveals Key Differences Between Alabama And Ohio State
Football
News Report
Buccaneers Dealt Concerning Tristan Wirfs Injury Update

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will be without All-Pro tackle Tristan Wirfs for the start of the 2025 season after he underwent knee surgery.

5
07/09/2025
Quinn Allen
Quinn Allen
Buccaneers Dealt Concerning Tristan Wirfs Injury Update
Football
Juice Wells Bringing Swagger, Grit to New York Giants' WR Room

Antwane "Juice" Wells is ready to make his mark with the Giants, reuniting with his college QB and learning from NFL veterans in New York.

5
07/04/2025
Paul M. Banks
Paul M. Banks
Juice Wells Bringing Swagger, Grit to New York Giants' WR Room
Football
Xavier Watts Brings Relentless Energy to Falcons’ Defensive Future

Falcons rookie safety Xavier Watts' trainer broke down why the ex-Notre Dame star will thrive at the NFL level.

5
07/04/2025
Landon Buford
Landon Buford
Xavier Watts Brings Relentless Energy to Falcons’ Defensive Future
Football
Steelers Great Jerome Bettis Backs Rams as NFC West Favorite Over 49ers

Hall of Famer Jerome Bettis names the Rams NFC West favorites, praising Stafford and spotlighting defense as key to Super Bowl hopes.

5
07/03/2025
DJ Siddiqi
DJ Siddiqi
Steelers Great Jerome Bettis Backs Rams as NFC West Favorite Over 49ers

NFL Writers

Aaron WIlson
Aaron WIlson
NFL Reporter

Aaron Wilson is an award-winning sports journalist specializing in the NFL, with a career spanning over two decades since 1997. He has served as a beat reporter for multiple teams, including the Houston Texans, Baltimore Ravens, Tennessee Titans, and Jacksonville Jaguars.

A former linebacker at East Carolina University, Aaron brings a player’s perspective to his reporting. Over the years, he has conducted in-depth interviews with NFL legends such as Ray Lewis, J.J. Watt, and Tom Brady, as well as rising stars like C.J. Stroud. His coverage goes beyond the game, including critical off-the-field stories such as the Ray Rice domestic violence case during Rice’s time with the Ravens.

Known for his commitment to breaking news and maintaining journalistic integrity, Aaron prioritizes building strong sources and trusted relationships within the NFL community. His editorial work combines timely reporting with thoughtful analysis. Before joining RG, he contributed to the Houston Chronicle and the Baltimore Sun, further cementing his reputation as a respected voice in football journalism.

Aaron is based in Houston, Texas, where he continues to provide insightful coverage of the NFL and its players.

Meet All Our Experts
This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. Read our
Privacy Policy
.