Alex Singleton forged his professional career in Canada, but his story belongs in an American novel.
He is the player who couldn’t take a hint. He has been cut more times than his hands have fingers. He refused to go away and would go anywhere to play from Montana State to the Calgary Stampeders and Philadelphia Eagles.
It wasn’t until he arrived in Denver that he finally earned his first multi-year contract. Less than a month away from training camp, Singleton, signed in 2022 to anchor the special teams, has evolved into one of the most important players on the Broncos. As a veteran inside linebacker, he will wear the green dot on his helmet this season, calling the defensive signals.
With the Broncos offense more van Stop than van Gogh, Denver will lean on Singleton, Pat Surtain II and crew to color the canvas as rookie quarterback Bo Nix learns the brush strokes.
“Don’t suck,” Singleton told me of the defense’s first-month goals.
The Broncos, our cringes as memories, were abysmal last September. Over nine quarters bridging games against the Commanders, Dolphins and Bears, Denver allowed 140 points. The 2001 Baltimore Ravens surrendered 165 in 16 games. There were orange uniforms and red faces. While credit goes to Vance Joseph for his patience and professionalism in not pointing fingers, Singleton was a calming force.
He accepted criticism, discussed the unit’s shortcomings candidly, and kept believing there was a path out of the darkness.
A five-game winning streak began in October featuring 16 takeaways. Singleton delivered 59 tackles in this span, including 16 against the Vikings.
This is who he is. His hair cascading out the back of his helmet, masking the name on his jersey, Singleton plays with the freedom of a spirit animal. Watch him bury ball carriers, and it’s fair to wonder if he takes a postgame shower or just licks himself clean.
He loves to tackle. Has since he was 8 years old. The door opened to professional football because his dad, Steve, cracked it open on the practice field.
Let Alex explain.
“He was my coach way back in the day. He would bring a door out to our workouts, so you couldn’t see the player. It would be my little brother Matt and my friends behind it. We didn’t know which side they were coming out of,” Singleton said.
“There were cones set up a yard apart on each side, and when they popped out from behind the door you had to tackle them before they got into the end zone. I would try to pair with my brother so I could hit him.”
The contact became addictive. The numbers tell the story more than any adjective ever could. Singleton boasts nine 100-tackle seasons counting two years in college and his past two seasons with the Broncos. He posted 21 against the Chargers at Sofi Stadium in 2022 when members of the Thousand Oaks High School team he helped coach in his spare time were in attendance.
Singleton, 30, believes the continuity of the coaching staff will help the Broncos start quickly and play fast this season.
“I think we (were) flying around (in spring practice) at a pace better than we did at any point last year,” Singleton said.
Joseph couldn’t help but notice Singleton in practice, praising his “comfort” level. Coach Sean Payton has been energized by a team defined by youth and competition. Singleton fits this fabric. He climbed the stairs to the top of the depth chart.
“He arrived here the hard way,” Payton said of Singleton, who will be counted on to play a bigger role with Josey Jewell signing with the Panthers as a free agent. “A guy like him has earned everything he’s got. Definitely, you feel his leadership.”
Singleton punctuates stops by pumping his left fist in the air. He likes big hits off the field as well. After mandatory minicamp, Singleton stuck around Colorado for a few weeks. He had plans to see country star Morgan Wallen and Foreigner. Yeah, Singleton has a soft spot for ’80s rock and hair metal.
“We were at a Foreigner show one time when they were asking people to cheer who were in their 60s, 50s, 40s, 30s. … I think we were the only ones there in our 20s,” Singleton said with a laugh.
Concerts are not alone in his day planner. Singleton recently attended a charity golf tournament for Weld Central High School. Before heading to the driving range, Singleton stopped to talk with a family whose son was uniquely abled. Singleton’s sister Ashley was born with Down syndrome. She is a star swimmer in the Special Olympics. Alex says Ashley is the reason he plays with a smile, forever inspired by her.
As other golfers began boarding their carts, Singleton hadn’t moved from his spot. He continued hanging out with the family who drove to the event specifically to meet him.
What makes Singleton special is his everyman quality. He competes with child-like enthusiasm. He takes nothing for granted and maintains a humble perspective.
At one point, the boy produced a No. 49 jersey for Singleton to sign. His face lit up. It was a single snapshot. But it captured why the Broncos’ best tackler is such a hit with coaches, teammates and fans.
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