ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — When defensive lineman Zach Allen stepped onto an NFL field for the first time in 2019, few could have predicted the path he'd take or the player he'd become.

Fast forward to 2025, and Allen is not only one of the NFL's most productive interior defensive linemen, he's a cornerstone of the Denver Broncos' defense and a testament to perseverance and belief. A second-team All-Pro in 2024, Allen earned the No. 90 spot on the NFL's Top 100 list for 2025 — recognition that reflects his elite play and the respect he's earned across the league.

But Allen's journey to signing a four-year contract extension on Saturday hasn’t been typical — and he'll be the first to say that's exactly what makes it special.

Before Allen was elite in opposing backfields, football wasn't even the sport in which he saw himself succeeding. Allen told The Heights, Boston College's student magazine, that he originally didn't see much of a future in football and that playing offensive line didn't feel like much fun. So much so, in fact, he nearly quit. Allen once approached his high school coach intending to walk away from the game altogether.

"He said, 'I don't want you for offensive line, I just want you to play the game, and we'll figure it out,'" Allen told the magazine after signing with the Broncos in 2023. "And I ended up playing outside linebacker, loved it, was able to start my sophomore year, and just rolled with it."

Since signing with the Broncos in 2023, Allen has been a model of consistency and growth. Over two seasons, he's racked up 121 tackles, 23 tackles for loss, 64 quarterback hits, 13.5 sacks and the most quarterback pressures (131) of any defensive lineman — all while missing just one game.

In 2024 alone, Allen posted career highs: 61 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, 40 quarterback hits and 8.5 sacks. His 67 total pressures, according to NFL Next Gen Stats, were more than any other interior defender in the league. He exploded in Week 17 against Joe Burrow and the Bengals, securing a career-best 3.5 sacks in a game.

Despite all the stats and accolades, Allen says his transformation really took off once he arrived in Denver and truly started believing in himself.

"I think I've always had it," Allen said Saturday of his self-belief. "But last year, I was just in a really good situation, playing with some really good players. This organization really set me up for success."

That belief was tested earlier in his career, including a low point in his second season with Arizona.

"I played the worst game of my life," Allen remembered. "I was in the parking lot, and I was talking to Charlie Bullen, one of our coaches, and was like 'I'm going to get cut.' I came home and told my fiancée Molly, 'I have a finance degree, we're going to move back east, and I guess I'm going to be working in an office.'"

But he didn't get cut or walk away; he stayed determined.

"It's a testament to everybody in my life that's helped me get here," he said. "You just have to be gritty and take it day by day — it's never over."

For Allen, Denver isn't just a team. It's the place where he found his stride — and found a second family.

"Being here, this is my happy place," he said. "The guys on this team are awesome. From the teammates to the staff to the front office, the way we handled everything has been awesome. We have very high goals for ourselves."

After signing a four-year contract extension on Saturday, Allen is one of the league's highest-paid interior linemen — and he doesn't take that lightly.

"It's a blessing," Allen said. "A lot of work went into it. God's put a lot of great people in my life that have helped me get here. It can't be stated enough just how blessed I am. … Hopefully, it serves as an inspiration to others: no matter where you start, it's where you finish. Just keep grinding through, taking it day by day, brick by brick."

Allen's obsession with improvement shows no signs of slowing down. From physical tweaks in the gym to mental preparation, he's constantly adapting.

"I just have that drive," Allen said. "That's probably part of why I am here is I have an obsession about this. You can talk to anyone in this building, I'm not trying to toot my own horn, but I love this. This is my life. I take a lot of pride in this. I take it seriously. Every day since the season ended, [I] was finding ways to get better. Every year I am getting better. Right now, I'm way ahead of schedule of where I was last year, so that's really encouraging."

As the Broncos aim for greatness in 2025 and beyond, they'll rely heavily on Allen's presence — both on the stat sheet and in the locker room.

"He's excited," Head Coach Sean Payton said Saturday. "I think the players are genuinely excited for him when they see that something like that happens. It's a good thing for the Broncos."

And at the center of it all is Allen — showing that with grit and belief, there's no limit to how far you can go.