INDIANAPOLIS – Sean Payton is stumping for George Paton.

Paton, who joined the Broncos as general manager in January 2021, is entering his final season on a six-year deal. His head coach said he “already” has started advocating for Paton to get a contract extension.

“It’s overdue,’’ Payton, hired by Denver in 2023, said Tuesday at the NFL scouting combine. “I say that respectfully to the process, but he and I have a great working relationship. So my job wouldn’t be as fun or as exciting if he wasn’t a part of it. That should be something that gets handled quickly.”

Paton, sitting nearby, was humbled to hear what Payton said about him.

“That is really cool, but it will happen when it happens,’’ Paton said about an extension. “I’m not too worried about it. We have a lot going on this offseason. We have a busy offseason.”

With the Broncos losing 10-7 to New England on Jan. 25 in the AFC Championship Game, that gave them just four weeks to conduct end-of-the season business and make preparations for the combine and for the start of free agency in March.

‘Surprised’ that Joseph passed over

After a season in which the Broncos went 14-3 and ranked No. 2 in the NFL in total defense, defensive coordinator Vance Joseph interviewed for six NFL head-coaching jobs.

Not only was he not offered one, he didn’t get any second interviews.

“I love that he’s back,’’ Payton said. “I am a little surprised (he didn’t get a head position) with the season we had, as well as we played defensively and with 10 openings. He and I get a chance to talk about that kind of stuff as the season was wearing down. I know he felt like he had a handful of interviews that were productive, and which he felt were good opportunities. … There are 32 of these teams that are owned individually. Everyone is different. And yet a lot of them have trouble getting out of their own way.”

Paton also thought Joseph would land a head position.

“I was really surprised and I think we all felt like Vance would get a job,’’ Paton said. “We love having him. He’s a special leader. He’s a great balance with Sean. … I think that he should be a head coach in this league.”

Broncos to hire Kempt as offensive assistant

The Broncos are bringing in another former quarterback to help work with Bo Nix and others.

A source said Denver will hire former Iowa State quarterback Kyle Kempt as an offensive assistant. He spent 2025 as Drake’s offensive coordinator.

Kempt will work under Payton and recently named offensive coordinator Davis Webb, both former NFL quarterbacks. Webb was Denver’s quarterbacks coach the past three seasons.

Kempt played at Iowa State from 2016-18. That included a strong 2017 season in which he completed 66.3% of his passes with 1,787 yards, 15 touchdowns and three interceptions.

Kempt was an Iowa State assistant from 2019-24 before spending one season at Drake.

Payton said Tuesday that the Broncos are expected to announce their full 2026 coaching staff “within the week.”

Payton and Nix

Speaking to reporters Jan. 27, Nix pushed back on Payton having said the previous day that the broken ankle the quarterback suffered in a Jan. 17 playoff game against Buffalo “was predisposed.”

“Nothing predisposed,’’ Nix said then. “Nothing that was there originally. That might have gotten confused.”

Given a chance Tuesday, Payton declined to elaborate on any possible confusion.

Payton said Jan. 26 he had heard that Dr. Norman Waldrop II, who performed Nix’s surgery Jan. 20 in Birmingham, Ala., said the injury “was going to happen sooner than later,’’ and that Nix was found to have “a condition that was predisposed.”

Nix said Jan. 27 he expected to be sidelined four-to-six weeks and would be back for spring drills in late April.

From Broncos to Bills

After Joe Brady was named Buffalo’s head coach in January, two of his first moves were hiring away from the Broncos Pete Carmichael to be his offensive coordinator and Jim Leonhard as defensive coordinator.

Carmichael was the Broncos’ senior offensive assistant and Leonhard their assistant head coach and defensive pass game coordinator.

“He’s a guy that I look up to at the highest,’’ said Brady, a Saints offensive assistant from 2017-18 when Carmichael was offensive coordinator. “If there ever was going to be opportunity to be a head coach, I’d want Pete Carmichael on my staff. That was such a huge get for me. … Pete was the first call. … Jim Leonhard, obviously we’ve gone against Denver. … The more that we talk with Jim, the more that I’m around him now, it was a no-brainer decision for me.”

Payton wished the best for the two coaches. He said Carmichael will “keep that room moving” in Buffalo and that Leonhard is “real sharp” and a “good leader.”

Briefly

With starting linebacker Alex Singleton and top reserve linebacker Justin Strnad due to become free agents in March, Paton said the Broncos would “love to have those guys back.” Strnad told The Denver Gazette last month he wants to be a starter and get a multiyear contract and it might be difficult to re-sign if Singleton also returns. “We see those guys as Broncos,’’ Paton said. “If we let those guys leave, what are we doing? Those are good guys, but that doesn’t mean we can get them. Everybody is watching tape.” … Paton said the Broncos want to re-sign cornerback Ja’Quan McMillian, but he will be a restricted free agent, so they can match any offer. “Certainly a team could (sign McMillian to an offer sheet),’’ Paton said. “He’s one of our core players and we love having him here.” … B.T. Jordan, a Denver consultant in recent years, is joining Dallas as a pass-rush specialist consultant. Broncos defensive linemen Zach Allen and John Franklin-Myers have said working with Jordan has been pivotal in their development.