There’s a quiet intensity about Denver Broncos linebacker Nik Bonitto these days, one that speaks to a player who knows exactly where he stands and where he wants to go. After a breakout 2023 season that saw him rise from promising rotational pass rusher to full-blown defensive weapon, Bonitto enters the 2025 NFL campaign not satisfied, not content, but motivated to build on the momentum he’s created. For the 24-year-old former Oklahoma Sooner, last year wasn’t the destination — it was merely the starting point.
The NFL is a league that thrives on projections. Rookies are drafted on potential, veterans are paid for production, and the best players in the league find ways to merge both. For Bonitto, year two was the one where the promise finally collided with consistent performance. After a rookie season in 2022 that offered flashes but lacked volume, and a sophomore campaign where he struggled to find rhythm, 2023 marked the moment he put it all together. Bonitto registered 8.5 sacks, 15 tackles for loss, and was constantly in the quarterback’s lap. He looked faster, stronger, and most importantly, more confident. He wasn’t thinking out there anymore — he was playing free.
It’s that confidence that has Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph excited. Speaking during OTA availability earlier in the offseason, Joseph praised Bonitto for the growth in both his physicality and football IQ. “He’s always had the speed, the twitch, the bend — that’s why we drafted him,” Joseph said. “But now he’s starting to anticipate plays before they happen. He’s not just reacting; he’s diagnosing. And that’s the leap you want to see in your young players.” Joseph isn’t alone in his optimism. Teammates have raved about Bonitto’s film study, his relentless approach in practice, and the edge he brings to the locker room.
Bonitto himself remains grounded. There’s no bravado, no inflated ego when he talks about his 2023 success. Instead, there’s a deep awareness of how fleeting momentum can be in the NFL. “Last year was a good step,” he said during minicamp. “But in this league, you’ve got to do it again. And then again. Consistency is what makes guys great. One year isn’t enough. That’s what I’m chasing — that next level, that consistency.” It’s a veteran mindset for a player just entering his prime, and it bodes well for a Broncos team looking to redefine its identity on the defensive side of the ball.
Denver’s defense has gone through its fair share of growing pains in recent seasons. The team has had to navigate coordinator changes, an inconsistent offense that often left the defense overexposed, and a revolving door of injuries. Through it all, Bonitto’s emergence gave the unit a much-needed boost. His explosiveness off the edge forced offensive lines to account for him, often shifting protections that freed up other pass rushers. When paired with Baron Browning or Zach Allen, Bonitto became part of a three-headed monster capable of generating pressure from multiple angles.
Still, Bonitto understands that his role now carries expectations. No longer the unknown, he’ll be a focal point on opposing scouting reports. Offensive coordinators will scheme around him. Tackles will study his every move. Double teams will come more frequently. That’s the burden of success in the NFL, and Bonitto seems ready for it. “That’s what you want,” he says with a smile. “If teams are paying attention to me, that means I’m doing my job. But it also means I’ve got to keep evolving. Add new moves. Get stronger. Get smarter. You can’t just be the same guy every year.”
That mentality has led Bonitto to an offseason of refinement. While many players use the spring and summer to recover or vacation, Bonitto has spent most of it fine-tuning his craft. He’s worked with private pass rush specialists, focused on hand placement and leverage, and added muscle to his frame to better withstand the rigors of the run game. Conditioning has also been a focus, as Bonitto looks to stay on the field for more snaps without sacrificing explosiveness. He’s determined to not be just a situational pass rusher, but a complete three-down linebacker.
This evolution comes at a critical time for the Broncos, who are still in the early stages of a rebuild under head coach Sean Payton. While the offense remains in flux — especially with the quarterback situation still unresolved — the defense has a chance to be the bedrock of the team’s identity. For that to happen, players like Bonitto must not only maintain their level of play, but elevate it. He’s no longer the complementary piece; he’s becoming a cornerstone.
Bonitto’s leadership is also beginning to blossom. While he may not be the most vocal player in the locker room, his work ethic speaks volumes. Younger players have taken note, following his lead in meetings and drills. His transformation from prospect to producer has made him a point of reference — not just on film, but in culture. “He’s one of those guys that leads by example,” said fellow linebacker Jonas Griffith. “When you see the way he works, the way he prepares, it pushes everyone to raise their level. You want to match that energy.”
That energy might be most visible on Sundays, where Bonitto’s motor seems to run hot every play. Whether he’s chasing down a scrambling quarterback, shooting gaps in the run game, or dropping into coverage on disguised blitz packages, his presence is felt. There’s a natural flair to his game — a certain twitch and urgency that makes him stand out. But what’s most impressive is how he’s learned to harness that energy. Early in his career, Bonitto’s aggressiveness sometimes led to missed assignments or over-pursuits. Now, it’s controlled chaos. It’s impact within structure.
What makes Bonitto’s rise even more meaningful is how he’s done it within the framework of a team that hasn’t had much to celebrate in recent years. Denver has missed the playoffs each of the last seven seasons, and fan frustration has been palpable. Amid the noise and the scrutiny, Bonitto has stayed the course, carving out his lane through work and focus. There’s a sense among Broncos brass that he represents the type of player they want to build around — tough, humble, driven, and capable of flipping a game in one explosive moment.
Even as individual goals loom — double-digit sacks, Pro Bowl honors, long-term financial security — Bonitto remains team-first in his approach. “All of that stuff is cool,” he admits, “but winning is what matters. That’s what I want to be part of. Winning games. Playing in big moments. Competing in January. That’s why we do this.” It’s a mindset that Payton and the Broncos’ coaching staff have tried to instill in every player on the roster, and Bonitto embodies it perfectly.
In many ways, Bonitto is becoming the archetype of the modern NFL edge player — undersized by traditional standards, but explosive, versatile, and cerebral. He can rush with his hand in the dirt or standing up, he can drop into zone coverage, and he can track down plays from the back side. That multiplicity is what gives the Broncos flexibility defensively, and it’s why Bonitto’s continued development is such a vital piece of their long-term puzzle.
As the 2025 season approaches, all eyes will be on whether Bonitto can turn a breakout into a breakthrough. Can he go from being a player with promise to a player with pedigree? Can he become a consistent game-wrecker? The answers will come on the field, but if preparation is any indication, Bonitto is ready to take the next step.
He’s no longer chasing the respect that comes with production — he’s earning it every snap. And in a league where attention spans are short and production windows even shorter, Bonitto is proving he has the mentality, skillset, and hunger to stay in the conversation. Not as a flash-in-the-pan talent, but as one of the league’s premier edge defenders in the making.
