Denver Broncos Dec 18, 2022; Denver, Colorado, USA; Detailed view of the helmet of Denver Broncos place kicker Brandon McManus (8) (not pictured) prior to the game against the Arizona Cardinals at Empower Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
FeaturedNFLBy Sam Neumann on

Brandon McManus didn’t have the season many anticipated last season with the Denver Broncos. Yes, the team’s offense was brutal in Russell Wilson’s first season as the team’s quarterback, but McManus had his lowest made field goal percentage since 2017. Now, McManus— a former Super Bowl champion and Temple University’s all-time leading points scorer— will look for other opportunities after being released by Denver on Tuesday.

McManus, who had been with Denver since 2014 and was the last remaining member of the Super Bowl 50 winning team, announced on Twitter that the Broncos informed him on Tuesday that he had been released.

He then hinted that there would be more to come in the following days. Whether that means the details surrounding his release or opportunities that may arise remains to be seen. In any event, McManus will be the best kicker on the market for teams in need of a veteran. And per Adam Schefter, McManus has been the NFL’s fourth-most accurate kicker on field goals under 54 yards over the last four seasons.

In a statement, the Broncos announced that they were parting ways with “one of the most productive kickers in franchise history.”

“Brandon has been a key player and presence with the Broncos for nearly a decade, making outstanding contributions to our team and community,” General Manager George Paton said in a statement. “Developing into one of the NFL’s most productive kickers, Brandon made so many clutch kicks for this franchise over the years as a Super Bowl champion and team captain. He will always hold a special place in Denver Broncos history. We thank Brandon for all he did for the Broncos, and we wish him and his family the very best in the future.”

The Broncos released McManus with a post-June 1 designation. McManus had two years remaining on his current deal. And Denver doesn’t currently have a kicker on its roster.

[Adam Schefter on Twitter, Denver Broncos; photo from

About Sam Neumann

Since the beginning of 2023, Sam has been a staff writer for Awful Announcing and The Comeback. A 2021 graduate of Temple University, Sam is a Charlotte native, who currently calls Greenville, South Carolina his home. He also has a love/hate relationship with the New York Mets and Jets.

View all posts by Sam Neumann