Success Has Only Fueled His Drive
Denver Broncos edge rusher Nik Bonitto emerged in 2024 with a standout campaign, totaling 13.5 sacks and adding a highlight-reel pick-six in prime time. Now heading into 2025, the 25-year-old says that success has only fueled his drive. “Honestly, I feel like it’s made me hungrier,” he said.
“Now that I’ve kind of got a taste, having a really good season and everything that comes with that, I feel like I’ve attacked this offseason the hungriest I have. I’m really looking forward to getting back out there and seeing how much I’ve grown with all the training and stuff.”
Bonitto went from a rotational player in his first two seasons to a core part of Vance Joseph’s defense last year. His athleticism off the edge helped him generate 54 pressures, second only to Zach Allen among Broncos defenders, complementing his double-digit sack output.
Preparation, Learning And Team Chemistry
Bonitto enters his fourth season as a candidate for a contract extension following his breakout year. He credits a combination of preparation, learning, and team chemistry for the leap in production. “I feel like it was a bunch of things,” he said.
“Whether it was my preparation, each year I’m taking things and I’m learning more things, whether it’s from veterans and guys around me and continuing to add more, whether it’s film session, weight room, practice habits, things like that.”
“And just as far as on the field, not to say it’s easy, but when you’re with a bunch of selfless guys like the guys I’m rushing with, everybody eats. It’s just a matter of dialing into the game plan and rushing together. I feel like, not only for myself, but you know that’s why everybody had a really good year in the D-tackle room and the edge room.”
A Strong Tandem With Jonathon Cooper
Bonitto and Jonathon Cooper formed a strong tandem on the edge, with Cooper racking up 10.5 sacks. The duo became the first Broncos edge rushers with double-digit sacks in the same season since Von Miller and Bradley Chubb in 2018.
“Me and Coop have always kinda pushed each other,” Bonitto said. “We’ve always kinda reminded ourselves of the goals we came in with in the league. We’re always a competitive group with me and him and just pushing each other every day since I came in as a rookie. Kinda instilling that type of competition with the younger guys in the room, as well.”
“It’s always a healthy competition and a brotherhood between me and him, and I’m glad with how it’s going, we’re spreading it onto the younger guys and making it such a competitive room where everybody wants to be great.”
Next In Line For A Contract Extension
Cooper signed his contract extension in November 2024, while Bonitto could be next in line. Zach Allen, entering the final year of his deal, is also a potential candidate for a new contract.
The Broncos defense appears well-positioned for a strong 2025 season. Bonitto, Cooper, and Allen form the core up front, with free-agent additions Dre Greenlaw and Talanoa Hufanga bolstering the second level. The secondary features Defensive Player of the Year Patrick Surtain II and rookie Jahdae Barron. If the unit can stay healthy, it has the pieces to push Denver beyond the first round of the playoffs.
