Sean Payton has trusted one player since he stepped into the Mile-High City in 2023. And now, that trusted star is not going anywhere. Wil Lutz has built a calm, steady presence for the Broncos, and Denver clearly wants more of it. So the veteran kicker will stay for a long stretch, just as Payton hoped.

“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.”

And with that, the Broncos made the connection official.

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 history set the foundation for everything happening now in the Mile-High City.

Lutz is now in his third year with the Broncos after Denver traded for him in August 2023. And now he has the 13th-highest-paid kicker in the league at 4.2 million per year.

Statwise, 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. Cameras caught Payton shouting “Right through!” before the game-winner. That moment showed real trust. And now with the contract done, Payton can focus on the next matchup knowing his guy is set.