Grief Engulfs Empower Field at Mile High: Former Broncos DE Passes Away at Age 35, Leaving Unbearable Pain for Denver Fans - The Super Bowl Dream That Never Came True with Broncos Can Never Be Realized

Denver, CO – March 2026. Lloyd Cushenberry, the former center for the Denver Broncos, has officially signed with the Buffalo Bills after departing Denver at the end of the season. Cushenberry, who started 17 games over the last two seasons, revealed that the reason for leaving the Broncos was an unfulfilled promise, which has touched the entire NFL community. He shared, “I’ve been a Buffalo Bills player. My new journey will start here. But I couldn’t fulfill the promise I made to my mother, Debbie Cushenberry, who had the biggest impact on my football career. She wanted me to continue playing for the Broncos, but I couldn’t do it.” After playing for the Broncos over the past seasons, Cushenberry was faced with tough financial decisions after the team had to part ways with quarterback Russell Wilson. With $85 million in dead cap space due to the Wilson cut, the Broncos had to make some hard financial decisions after the 2023 season. One of the hardest decisions was watching Cushenberry leave for a 4-year, $50 million contract with the Tennessee Titans. After two seasons, Cushenberry found himself back on the open market in a surprising turn of events. “The Titans are releasing starting center Lloyd Cushenberry, sources say, moving on from a former big-ticket free agent from 2024,” NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport wrote on X on February 25. “He signed a 4-year, $50M deal two years ago and was due $8M this season. Now, Cam Ward will have a new center… Cushenberry is coming off shoulder surgery, but should be fully good to go for the 2026 season.” The Titans then moved on from Cushenberry, allowing him to return to free agency, where the Buffalo Bills quickly signed him to fill the center position. When discussing the decision, Cushenberry couldn’t hide his emotions and the regret over not being able to fulfill his promise to his mother, Debbie. He added, “My mom always wanted me to stay in Denver, continue contributing to the Broncos. But now I have a new opportunity, and I have to keep moving forward.” This unfulfilled promise struck a chord with the NFL community, as fans and colleagues alike sympathize with the difficult choices Cushenberry had to make. Cushenberry also mentioned that while he left Denver, he always cherishes the memories and is deeply grateful for everything the Broncos and their fans gave him. “Denver will always be a place I take pride in. I’ve always considered it a crucial part of my career,” Cushenberry shared. Now, with the Buffalo Bills, Cushenberry hopes to find stability and another opportunity to continue his career and start a new journey with a new team. Joining the Bills will offer Cushenberry the chance to compete in a promising team, bringing his experience to help the offensive line in a new environment. While he has had many successes in his career, Cushenberry understands that every new chapter brings fresh challenges that he must face and overcome. Both the Broncos and Titans have lost a player who could have made a significant impact on their offensive and defensive lines, but Cushenberry is now looking forward to this new chapter with the Bills. Cushenberry’s journey to Buffalo isn’t just a career shift, but a big change for both him and his fans. Though he wasn’t able to fulfill the promise to his mother, Cushenberry is still chasing his dream of playing in the NFL and pushing himself to perform at his best with his new team. With the challenges ahead, Cushenberry hopes he will be able to accomplish even greater things and make his new team proud. Cushenberry’s story isn’t just about on-field tackles and blocks; it’s a story of loyalty, family, and career dedication. Cushenberry hopes that joining the Buffalo Bills will be the next step to fulfilling his dreams and completing his career, even though he couldn’t keep the promise he made to his mother.