DK #26

Devon Key

Safety · Western Kentucky

An undrafted special teams grinder who became the first Broncos player ever named a first-team All-Pro special teamer.

Devon Key is a safety and special teams standout for the Denver Broncos whose long climb from undrafted free agent to All-Pro is one of the more remarkable stories on the roster. After bouncing through three organizations' practice squads, Key became a coverage-team fixture in Denver and, in 2025, a franchise first.

★ First-team AP All-Pro, special teams (2025)

★ First Broncos player ever named to the AP All-Pro special teamer slot

★ Set Western Kentucky's FBS-era career tackles record (350)

★ Second-team All-Conference USA (2020)

Path to the league

Key played five seasons at Western Kentucky from 2016 to 2020, breaking the program's FBS-era record for career tackles with 350. As a senior he posted 92 tackles and earned Second-team All-Conference USA honors. He went undrafted in 2021, signing with the Kansas City Chiefs before being released ahead of the season, and then cycled through the Atlanta Falcons' practice squad.

Career highlights

Key joined Denver's practice squad in December 2022 and signed a reserve/future contract with the Broncos in January 2023. He made the 53-man roster for the 2024 season and quickly became known as one of the league's premier coverage-team players, with head coach Sean Payton noting he racked up more special-teams tackles than anyone in franchise history. His younger brother, Dane Key, also plays wide receiver for the Broncos, making them NFL teammates.

2025 season recap

Key capped his best season yet in 2025 by being named a First-team All-Pro as a special teamer, the first Broncos player ever chosen for that AP All-Pro slot since it was introduced in 2016. Denver's most recent primarily special-teams All-Pro before Key had been punter Mike Horan back in 1988, underscoring how rare his recognition was for the franchise.