Former Broncos linebacker Todd Davis said he caught the “coaching bug” last summer as an intern, and now he’s become a full-time NFL assistant.

Davis was among seven additional assistants announced by the Broncos on Thursday for head coach Sean Payton’s staff. He holds the entry-level position of defensive quality control coach.

“I feel great,’’ said Davis, who had been doing broadcasting work broadcasting work for DNVR Broncos. “I’m really excited and thankful for the opportunity and ready to get to work.”

Davis played in the NFL from 2014-20, including 2014-19 with the Broncos. He was an intern at Denver’s training camp last summer as part of the NFL Bill Walsh Diversity Coaching Fellowship program.

“I kind of got the coaching bug,’’ Davis said. “And this year there was an opening at the quality control position, so I reached out and we talked and ultimately they felt like it would be a great fit to start my coaching career.”

Davis wasn’t the only former NFL player named Thursday to Payton’s staff. Zach Line, an NFL fullback from 2013-19, becomes a special teams quality control coach. Line played his final three NFL seasons under Payton with New Orleans.

Line was previously head coach at his alma mater, Oxford (Mich.) High School, leading the team to four postseason berths in five seasons. He was head coach at the school on Nov. 30, 2021, when a shooter killed four students on campus, including football player Tate Myre, and injured seven.

The Broncos had previously announced Darren Rizzi as special teams coordinator/assistant head coach, replacing the fired Ben Kotwica. In addition to Davis and Line, other new coaches announced Thursday were Craig Morgan (assistant offensive line), Evan Rothstein (director of game management, offensive line assistant), Brian Niedermeyer (defensive quality control), Marwan Maalouf (assistant special teams) and Taylor Porter (assistant strength and conditioning).

The Broncos also announced that seven holdover coaches have new titles. Zach Strief goes from offensive line coach to offensive run game coordinator/assistant head coach. Davis Webb went from quarterbacks coach to offensive pass game coordinator/assistant head coach. Austin King went from assistant offensive line coach to tight ends. Jim Leonhard went from defensive pass game coordinator/defensive backs to defensive pass game coordinator/assistant head coach. Addison Lynch goes from defensive quality control to cornerbacks coach. Isaac Shewmaker goes from defensive quality control to linebackers. And Shaun Snee went from assistant strength and conditioning coach to director of strength and conditioning.

The Broncos now have three assistant head coaches in Rizzi, Strief and Leonhard. The latter two received promotions after they had been courted for other jobs. Webb also had gotten outside feelers.

Davis said he will work primarily with linebackers and the secondary. He will be reunited with Vance Joseph, the Broncos’ defensive coordinator who was their head coach from 2017-18.

“I think it helps not only playing in the NFL but that I also played for Vance Joseph in this defense,’’ Davis said of working with players in his new role. “I think I understand what is needed from a linebacker in being successful.”

While with the Broncos, Davis started 63 of the 82 games he played. He was on the team that won Super Bowl 50 in the 2015 season.

Broncos 2025 coaching staff

(as of March 6)