The most inspirational Broncos player from last season is returning to Denver.

The Broncos and inside linebacker Alex Singleton have agreed to a two-year contract extension, a source confirmed on Monday. The deal is worth $15.5 million, including $11 million guaranteed.

The move helps solidify the team’s vision at inside linebacker after Justin Strnad agreed to a three-year, $18 million contract extension on Sunday with $10 million guaranteed. Strnad returns to Denver for a seventh season as a presumed starter with that financial commitment.

The Broncos on Monday also released veteran inside linebacker Dre Greenlaw, a source told The Denver Gazette. The Broncos will take on a dead cap hit of $4.33 million with Greenlaw’s departure but will accrue a cap savings of about $6 million upon his release.

“We’d love to have (Singleton and Strnad) back, regardless of what’s in the draft. We see those guys as Broncos,” general manager George Paton told reporters last month at the NFL Combine. “If we let those guys leave, what are we doing? … With some players, you just want to get back regardless of the strength.”

Singleton, an unrestricted free agent, expressed a desire to remain in Denver after a personally challenging season.

Singleton broke his left thumb in training camp and reinjured it in the season opener. In November, he underwent surgery for testicular cancer and only missed one game. Singleton was named the team’s 2025 Ed Block Courage Award winner, as selected by teammates, for “exceptional courage, great character and inspiring effort.”

Singleton led the Broncos in tackles (135) last season and graded out as the league’s No. 29 overall inside linebacker (70.4) according to Pro Football Focus.

“I feel like I played at a really high level this year,” Singleton said in January. “Probably my best year ever, which is nice to be able to say after coming off of everything. … I thought that in the biggest games I played my best.”

Greenlaw joined the Broncos a year ago in free agency but struggled to stay healthy. He endured multiple injuries and appeared in only eight games. The 28-year-old linebacker was considered a valued leader despite his inability to stay on the field.

The Broncos are now likely to pursue inside linebackers in the upcoming NFL draft for what is considered a strong class for the position. Denver is also high on a young stable of young reserve inside linebackers with Levelle Bailey, Karene Reid and Jordan Turner.

The only real certainty in 2026 is that Denver trusts in the Strnad-Singleton partnership up the middle.

The inside linebacker duo has been teammates since 2022. On Monday, Singleton reacted to a game photo on social media. It showed the pair celebrating a big play. Singleton posted: “BANDITS!!!!!”