Broncos Feared Jets Would Keep Star RB Breece Hall

Denver's connections to Hall led the Jets to use the franchise tag to prevent the Broncos from signing him.

Published on Mar. 4, 2026

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The Denver Broncos were reportedly interested in signing star running back Breece Hall from the New York Jets this offseason. However, the Jets were so concerned about the Broncos' pursuit of Hall that they used the franchise tag to keep him, preventing Denver from having a chance to sign him.

Why it matters

The Broncos were looking to upgrade their backfield this offseason after ranking 16th in rushing in 2025. Their connections to Hall through the Jets' GM and the Broncos' running backs coach made them a serious threat to sign him, forcing the Jets to take action to keep him.

The details

The Broncos had a clear connection to Hall through Jets GM Darren Mougey, who previously worked in Denver, and Broncos running backs coach Louis Ayeni, who recruited Hall to Iowa State when he was there. This led the Jets to use the franchise tag on Hall rather than the transition tag, ensuring the Broncos couldn't put together an offer the Jets would refuse to match.

  • In 2025, the Broncos ranked 16th in the NFL in rushing yards with 2,018 and 18 touchdowns.

The players

Breece Hall

A star running back for the New York Jets who was the target of the Denver Broncos' offseason pursuit.

Darren Mougey

The general manager of the New York Jets, who previously worked in the Denver Broncos' front office.

Louis Ayeni

The running backs coach for the Denver Broncos, who recruited Breece Hall to Iowa State when he was a coach there.

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What they’re saying

“Denver is the reason why the Jets used the franchise tag on Breece Hall rather than the transition tag, according to sources, making sure Denver wouldn't get the opportunity to put together an offer the Jets would refuse to match.”

— Jonathan Jones, CBS Sports (CBS Sports)

What’s next

The Broncos will now have to look elsewhere to upgrade their backfield, with potential free agent targets like Kenneth Walker III of the Seahawks or Travis Etienne of the Jaguars.

The takeaway

This situation highlights the importance of connections and relationships in the NFL, as the Broncos' ties to Breece Hall through their front office and coaching staff led the Jets to take aggressive action to prevent Denver from signing him.