Executive Vice President of Football Operations John Elway, General Manager Brian Xanders and Head Coach John Fox completed their first full season together in 2011, which culminated in an AFC West title and an AFC Wild Card victory in the playoffs. Much of that success can be traced back to last offseason, when the team added 19 newcomers that made the 2011 opening-week roster.

Two of those newcomers — RB Willis McGahee and LB Von Miller — made the Pro Bowl. That made Denver the only team in the NFL in 2011 to have a free agent acquisition and a rookie make the Pro Bowl roster.