Nik Bonitto

Nik Bonitto was born on September 26, 1999, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. He attended St. Thomas Aquinas High School, where he excelled in football and was named an Under Armour All-American. Bonitto committed to play college football at the University of Oklahoma, where he began his collegiate career by redshirting his freshman year after playing in three games. He became a starter at outside linebacker during his redshirt freshman season, recording 43 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, and 3.5 sacks.

During his redshirt sophomore season, Bonitto continued to develop, achieving 29 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, and 7.5 sacks, earning second-team All-American honors from the Associated Press in 2020. He was also a two-time second-team All-Big 12 selection in 2020 and 2021. Following his redshirt junior season, where he had 39 total tackles, 15 tackles for loss, 7 sacks, and one forced fumble, Bonitto declared for the NFL Draft, forgoing his senior year and opting out of the 2021 Alamo Bowl.

Bonitto was drafted by the Denver Broncos in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft with the 64th overall pick. This pick was notably acquired from the Los Angeles Rams as part of the trade for Von Miller. He made significant strides in his professional career, particularly in the 2024 season, where he recorded 13.5 sacks, making him the first Broncos player since 2018 to achieve double-digit sacks. His performance earned him his first Pro Bowl appearance and second-team All-Pro honors. On September 4, 2025, Bonitto signed a four-year extension worth up to $120 million with the Broncos, solidifying his role as one of the team’s top defensive assets. He was also named AFC Defensive Player of the Week after a standout performance in Week 5 against the Philadelphia Eagles.