In a league defined by constant turnover, head coach Sean Payton is betting on stability. His latest move secures a key specialist, Wil Lutz, who has been with him for the better part of a decade in the Denver Broncos, proving some relationships are built to last.

“The #Broncos and kicker Wil Lutz have agreed to terms on a three-year contract extension through 2028, per @tompelissero and me,” Ian Rapoport wrote on X.

The extension keeps the 31-year-old locked in through 2028. Lutz, who was headed toward free agency, has been part of Denver’s rebuild since 2023. That was Payton’s first season running the show, and keeping Lutz ties the coach’s trust directly to continuity. In a league that moves fast, this stability matters.

Furthermore, the timing of the extension says everything. Lutz earned AFC special teams player of the week after going 5 of 5 on field goals in Sunday’s win over the Chiefs, including the game-winner against the Kingdom. That performance reinforced Payton’s belief in him. The veteran delivered when it mattered, and Denver reacted with long-term security.

Finally, Payton underlined the whole decision with his own words.

In the press conference, Payton said, “He had a great night… I saw it in New Orleans… that’s why he’s here.”

Wil Lutz earned Sean Payton’s trust over the years

Sean Payton trusts Wil Lutz, and that story goes way back. He cycled through kickers in New Orleans for years, trying everyone from John Carney to Garrett Hartley to John Kasay. Then things finally changed in 2016 when John Harbaugh recommended Lutz for a workout.

Payton took one look, made his choice, and the then-rookie grabbed the job. He kept it too, missing only the 2021 season because of a core muscle injury. That long-standing trust, forged in New Orleans, is why Payton was quick to secure him in Denver.

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Lutz is now in his third year with the Broncos after Denver traded for him in August 2023. The new contract makes him the 13th-highest-paid kicker in the league at $4.2 million per year.

Per stats, he has also proven his hefty paycheck. Lutz has hit 78 of 88 field goals and 99 of 101 extra points for 333 total points in 45 games for Denver.

He earned AFC special teams player of the month in October, and he drilled game-winners against the Giants and the Texans. He even smashed a 57-yarder against the Jets, a kick that fired up all of Broncos Country.

Finally, his bond with Payton appeared clearly in Houston, as cameras caught Payton shouting “Right through!” before the game-winning moment. And now with the contract done, Payton can focus on the next matchup knowing his guy is set.