EJ Warner Gets Broncos Tryout as He Follows Undrafted Path Like Father Kurt

EJ Warner’s football journey has taken another step forward after the Denver Broncos invited the quarterback for a tryout following his undrafted status in the 2026 NFL Draft. The opportunity keeps the son of Pro Football Hall of Famer Kurt Warner in the professional conversation despite not hearing his name called during draft weekend.

Like his father, EJ Warner enters the league through an unconventional path, though the similarities end there in many respects. While Kurt Warner’s rise from undrafted free agent to NFL champion remains one of the sport’s most famous stories, his son is still working to establish consistency and traction at the professional level.

The Broncos’ decision to evaluate Warner comes as part of their broader quarterback assessment process under head coach Sean Payton, who has a history of developing quarterbacks of varying physical profiles and experience levels. That connection has added intrigue to the opportunity.

Kurt Warner, who knows the challenges of breaking into the league without draft capital, weighed in on his son’s chance in Denver, pointing to both the challenge and the fit as meaningful parts of the process.

1. A Familiar Undrafted Path

EJ Warner’s journey into professional football mirrors his father’s in at least one key respect: neither was selected in the NFL Draft. While Kurt Warner famously worked his way up from arena football to Super Bowl MVP honors, EJ now begins his pro career facing his own uphill climb. Standing at 5-foot-11, EJ Warner entered the league with physical measurements that placed him outside the prototypical quarterback profile. Despite that, he has continued to earn opportunities based on production and experience across multiple college programs. His football development has been shaped by movement rather than stability, as he has transferred multiple times in search of the right system and opportunity. That path has given him a wide range of collegiate experience but also limited long-term continuity. The Broncos’ tryout represents his first formal NFL opportunity since the draft, offering a chance to prove he can translate his college production into a professional setting.

2. College Production And Transfer Journey

Warner first emerged at Temple University, where he quickly established himself as a starter in the 2022 season. He threw for 3,028 yards and earned American Athletic Conference Rookie of the Year honors, signaling early promise in his college career. He followed that debut season with another productive year in 2023, passing for 3,076 yards and 23 touchdowns. Despite the strong statistical output, Warner decided to transfer after the season, eventually landing at Rice University. His stint at Rice proved more challenging, as he was unable to consistently replicate his earlier production. He finished with fewer than 3,000 passing yards and threw 18 touchdowns against 11 interceptions, reflecting an uneven offensive season. Seeking a reset, Warner transferred again, this time heading west to Fresno State under head coach Matt Entz. There, he experienced both adversity and resilience, including briefly losing the starting job before regaining it late in the season.

3. Redemption Moment And NFL Opportunity

Despite the ups and downs of his final college season, Warner ended his Fresno State tenure on a strong note. He delivered a standout performance in the Snoop Dogg Arizona Bowl, earning Most Valuable Player honors after throwing for 214 yards and a touchdown in an 18–3 victory over Miami (Ohio). That bowl performance helped stabilize his draft stock heading into the 2026 NFL Draft, though it ultimately was not enough to secure selection. Still, it kept him on the radar of NFL teams looking for developmental quarterback options. The Broncos’ interest aligns with head coach Sean Payton’s history of working with quarterbacks who may not fit traditional molds but possess functional traits and experience. Kurt Warner specifically highlighted Payton’s track record with Drew Brees as a relevant comparison when discussing his son’s opportunity. As EJ Warner enters the professional evaluation stage, his path remains open-ended, with the Broncos tryout serving as a potential first step toward earning a roster spot or further NFL consideration.