How Ja’Quan McMillian became the key to the Denver Broncos’ defense

Only one NFL defensive back had multiple sacks, multiple interceptions, multiple forced fumbles and five or more tackles for loss in 2025.

Ja’Quan McMillian.

The last defensive back with those stats?

Ja’Quan McMillian in 2023.

“He makes the whole thing go,” defensive end Zach Allen said earlier this week. “The fact that he’s able to cover, blitz, the whole nine. J-Mac’s incredible. We were literally just talking about it in the locker room that we’re lucky to have him.”

That’s high praise, considering the Denver Broncos had one of the NFL’s top defenses last season, and McMillian wasn’t among the three All-Pros.

“It means a lot,” McMillian said. “It just shows all the work that I’ve put in and the love that the team has for me. That’s really what I care about at the end of the day, the love from those guys because those are the ones I’m grinding with each and every day. Just hearing that and hearing those guys say that, that means a lot to me. Those are my guys.”

McMillian is a nickel cornerback. He lines up over slot, but in a Vance Joseph defense, his responsibility includes far more than coverage.

“There are a lot of plays you can make in there, blitzing the quarterback, making tackles in the run game, covering, making plays on the balls in every which way,” McMillian said. “Just being a leader to the guys and being a controller of the back end.”