Quinn Meinerz had a celebration fit for one of the best interior offensive linemen in football.
Upon finding out Thursday night that he’d been named an Associated Press first-team All-Pro at right guard, Meinerz didn’t have time for a big party or a long set of phone calls.
After all, Denver’s on the charter Friday afternoon to Buffalo to get ready for Sunday’s wild-card round.
But he found a way to mark the occasion anyway.
“I had a milkshake and a cheeseburger and it’s on to the next thing,” Meinerz told reporters Friday.
Meinerz was one of three Broncos first-team All-Pros and five All-Pros total. He was joined on the first team by cornerback Pat Surtain II and punt returner Marvin Mims Jr. Defensive lineman Zach Allen and outside linebacker Nik Bonitto were named to the second team.
The honors were particularly sweet for Meinerz and Allen since neither was named to the AFC Pro Bowl team like the other three were.
Denver landed three first-team All-Pros for the first time since 2016. Their five total honorees are second-most in franchise history and the most since they had six in 1996.
For many players, getting All-Pro means more than recognition. Meinerz, for example, triggered $1.5 million in incentives by being named a first-team All-Pro, a source told The Denver Post. The honor this year means a $500,000 salary boost for the 2026-28 seasons. He can add the same if he’s a first-teamer again next year and has up to $8 million in All-Pro incentives in the four-year extension he signed in the summer.
He acknowledged early in the season that the top-of-the-market extension and being voted captain by his teammates came with a level of pressure that he didn’t handle well in a couple of poor performances.
That he rebounded not only to help the Broncos make the playoffs but also put together his best individual season marked an achievement he felt proud of.
“As the weeks and as the season and as more time of me being in those roles of being one of the top-paid and the captain and whatever — dealing with that stress — it just took time,” said Meinerz, who added he had a lot of conversations with family, friends, teammates and his mental performance coach. “… It was a lot harder than I thought it was going to be and it definitely did affect my play early in the season, but I’m proud of myself of how I handled that after the first couple of weeks.”
Meinerz credited the rest of the offensive line, too, saying it wouldn’t have been possible to make All-Pro without right tackle Mike McGlinchey, center Luke Wattenberg and the rest of the Broncos’ group.
“I can firmly say I think we’re the best offensive line in football this year,” he said. “I think we play really well together in all phases.”
You’ll hear no argument from Allen, who said facing that group through training camp allowed the Broncos’ disruptive defensive front to get off to a hot start.
“They definitely get us ready going five or six weeks with them,” Allen said.
Allen said he was proud to get the first All-Pro nod of his career — he logged a career-best 8.5 sacks and led all NFL defensive tackles in pressures for the season.
“It’s kind of nuts thinking about the journey it’s been,” Allen said. “It’s been really cool and I have the best support system in the world with my family, my team, everything like that. It’s a really special moment and it’s cool that we’re still playing football, too.”
Surtain made All-Pro for the third straight year and is a top contender for the league’s defensive player of the year award. Bonitto closed the season with 13.5 sacks and Mims has been regarded as one of the best return men in the game since debuting as a rookie last year.
They weren’t available for comment Friday because the Broncos closed their normal post-practice locker room access.
“It’s outstanding,” Payton said of the five honorees. “The Pro Bowl is one thing — a lot of people vote. But this All-Pro … It’s a tremendous honor for these guys and I’m proud of all of them. Our team is excited for all of them. Much deserved.”
AP All-Pro Team
The Associated Press 2024 NFL All-Pro team selected by a national panel of 50 media members:
First team
Offense
Quarterback — Lamar Jackson, Baltimore
Running Back — Saquon Barkley, Philadelphia
Fullback — Patrick Ricard, Baltimore
Tight End — Brock Bowers, Las Vegas
Wide Receivers — Ja’Marr Chase, Cincinnati; Justin Jefferson, Minnesota; Amon-Ra St. Brown, Detroit
Left Tackle — Tristan Wirfs, Tampa Bay
Left Guard — Joe Thuney, Kansas City
Center — Creed Humphrey, Kansas City
Right Guard — Quinn Meinerz, Denver
Right Tackle — Penei Sewell, Detroit
Defense
Edge Rushers — Myles Garrett, Cleveland; Trey Hendrickson, Cincinnati
Interior Linemen — Cameron Heyward, Pittsburgh; Chris Jones, Kansas City
Linebackers — Zack Baun, Philadelphia; Fred Warner, San Francisco; Roquan Smith, Baltimore
Cornerbacks — Patrick Surtain II, Denver; Derek Stingley Jr., Houston
Slot cornerback — Marlon Humphrey, Baltimore
Safeties — Kerby Joseph, Detroit; Xavier McKinney, Green Bay
Special Teams
Placekicker — Chris Boswell, Pittsburgh
Punter — Jack Fox, Detroit
Kick Returner — KaVontae Turpin, Dallas
Punt Returner — Marvin Mims Jr., Denver
Special Teamer — Brenden Schooler, New England
Long Snapper — Andrew DePaola, Minnesota
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Second team
Offense
Quarterback — Josh Allen, Buffalo
Running Back — Derrick Henry, Baltimore
Fullback — Kyle Juszczyk, San Francisco
Tight End — George Kittle, San Francisco
Wide Receivers — Terry McLaurin, Washington; CeeDee Lamb, Dallas; A.J. Brown, Philadelphia
Left Tackle — Jordan Mailata, Philadelphia
Left Guard — Quenton Nelson, Indianapolis
Center — Frank Ragnow, Detroit
Right Guard — Chris Lindstrom, Atlanta
Right Tackle — Lane Johnson, Philadelphia
Defense
Edge Rushers — T.J. Watt, Pittsburgh; *-Nik Bonitto, Denver, *-Andrew Van Ginkel, Minnesota
Interior Linemen — Zach Allen, Denver; Jalen Carter, Philadelphia
Linebackers — Frankie Luvu, Washington; Bobby Wagner, Washington; Zaire Franklin, Indianapolis
Cornerbacks — Trent McDuffie, Kansas City; Christian Gonzalez, New England
Slot cornerback — Derwin James, Los Angeles Chargers
Safeties — Kyle Hamilton, Baltimore; Budda Baker, Arizona
Special teams
Placekicker — Brandon Aubrey, Dallas
Punter — Logan Cooke, Jacksonville
Kick Returner — Austin Ekeler, Washington
Punt Returner — Kalif Raymond, Detroit
Special Teamer — J.T. Gray, New Orleans
Long Snapper — Ross Matiscik, Jacksonville
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* tied for second-team spot
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