Garett Bolles
DENVER BRONCOS
| Position | College | Years in the NFL |
|---|---|---|
| Tackle | Utah | 9 |
Excellence on the Field
Since being selected 20th overall in the 2017 NFL Draft, Denver Broncos left tackle Bolles has established himself as one of the league's most durable, dependable, and technically sound linemen. A cornerstone of the Broncos' offense, Bolles has started over 125 games and consistently anchors the blindside with consistency and toughness. Bolles's 2020 season marked his emergence as one of the NFL's premier tackles as he earned Second-Team All-Pro honors from the Associated Press after allowing zero sacks and ranking among the league's best in pass-blocking efficiency. According to Pro Football Focus (PFF), Bolles has maintained top-tier pass-protection grades for multiple seasons, including an 88.2 pass-blocking grade in 2024, placing him among the top 10 tackles league-wide. In 2025, analytics outlets such as Sports Illustrated and PFF continue to recognize Bolles for allowing one of the lowest pressure rates in the NFL (1.9%), while his run-blocking grades remain among the best in Denver's offensive front. Film review further highlights his polished technique and consistency: in one recent game he gave up zero sacks and only one pressure, while registering a 94.6 % pass‐protection grade and 93.9% run‐block grade, demonstrating his excellence in both facets of offensive line play.
Dedication & Commitment to Community Efforts This Year
In 2025, Bolles elevated his impact to a new level of depth and sustainability by transforming his personal experiences into systemic change in special education. This year, Bolles partnered with renowned speech-language pathologist Jennie Bjorem to launch the Bjorem & Bolles (B&B) Apraxia Education Initiative and funded the opening of a first-of-its-kind education and training center in Colorado. Inspired by his son Kingston's diagnosis with Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS), Bolles turned a family challenge into a statewide opportunity for learning and advocacy. The new center serves as a hub for training educators, speech-language pathologists, and families to better identify, understand, and support children with speech or language-based learning differences. By focusing on education and workforce development rather than short-term support, Bolles has created an infrastructure for impact, improving early intervention outcomes for children across Colorado and beyond. CAS is a motor speech disorder in which a child's brain has difficulty coordinating the precise muscle movements needed to produce clear, consistent speech. Children with CAS know what they want to say, but their brain struggles to plan and sequence the movements of the mouth to form words correctly. CAS is neurological in origin and differs from other speech delays or articulation disorders because it specifically affects the planning and programming of speech movements, not comprehension or muscle strength. Because of its low prevalence (2 children per 1,000) and complexity, CAS is often misdiagnosed or underdiagnosed, which is why education and training, such as through the B&B Initiative, are vital to improving early detection and support for affected children and their families. The Training Center represents a major step forward in Bolles' evolution from longtime mentor to changemaker. His work with Bjorem bridges the gap between awareness and action, equipping professionals with the knowledge and tools to reach thousands of students each year. The project earned Bolles recognition as the NFLPA Week 1 Community MVP (2025), highlighting how his leadership drives meaningful, scalable change. Beyond the Apraxia Initiative, Bolles continued to engage youth in 2025 through his juvenile justice counseling programs and free youth football camps, reinforcing his commitment to accessibility, inclusion, and mentorship. Taken together, these efforts reflect a multi-tiered commitment: direct service to youth through camps, individualized impact through long-term, consistent mentorship; and strategic, infrastructure-focused investments via the apraxia training center. Bolles is very literally using his platform and voice to give a voice to the next generation.
Dedication & Commitment to Community Efforts in Years Past
Since entering the league in 2017, Bolles has built a substantial community legacy grounded in empathy, mentorship, and education, using his own life story as a platform to serve others facing adversity. His outreach has been consistent, personal, and deeply connected to causes that reflect his journey of resilience and growth. Now a two-time Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year nominee, Bolles focuses his impact on two specific populations: youth engaged in the juvenile justice system and youth with learning differences. Bolles' most enduring service has been with the Marvin W. Foote Youth Services Center and the Arapahoe County 18th Judicial District Youth Probation Court, where he has mentored more than 150 youth involved in the justice system since 2020. Week after week, Bolles visits the facility to speak with young people, share his story of transformation, and encourage accountability and perseverance. Staff members have reported measurable improvements in youth behavior following his visits, a testament to his genuine impact and sustained presence. He also records personalized video messages for probation officers to share with youth who need encouragement, ensuring his reach extends beyond in-person interactions. In recognition of his outstanding service to the juvenile justice system, Bolles was presented with the Raymond C. Frenchmore Juvenile Law Award from the Arapahoe County Bar Association in 2023. Drawing on his own history of ADHD and learning challenges, Bolles founded the GB3 Foundation, which empowers children and youth with language-based learning differences, dyslexia, and other educational obstacles. Through that foundation, he has supported mentorship, educational resources, and holistic development (mental, physical, spiritual) for his beneficiaries. In education, Bolles has been an active advocate through his partnership with Vertical Skills Academy, a Colorado school serving children with dyslexia and language-based learning challenges. Bolles frequently visits classrooms, funds resources, and invites students to team facilities for hands-on learning and mentorship experiences. Most importantly, Bolles' efforts are rooted in his personal story. He has emphasized his genuine care for the young people he mentors: "If I can change one kid a day or one kid a month, I feel like I'm doing my purpose." By combining his foundation's educational mission with hands-on mentorship in high-need populations, Bolles has demonstrated sustained, meaningful service and advocacy in past years that aligns strongly with the type of commitment celebrated by the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award.
Positive Character & a Lifestyle of Giving Back
Bolles's story is one of redemption, resilience, and relentless compassion, traits that have shaped both his career and his community impact. Overcoming a turbulent youth marked by instability and personal struggle, Bolles has become a model of perseverance and purpose. His transformation from being temporarily expelled from his home as a teen to becoming a first-round NFL draft pick and devoted father is a testament to his character. Bolles often credits the mentors who "never gave up on him," which fuels his own mission to do the same for others. He embodies consistency in giving through hands-on, long-term relationships rather than single appearances. Whether visiting incarcerated youth weekly at the Marvin W. Foote Youth Services Center, mentoring students with learning differences, or leading his GB3 Foundation initiatives, Bolles shows up year after year. His service stems from genuine empathy: he speaks openly about learning disabilities, mental health, and fatherhood to destigmatize challenges others face. Teammates, coaches, and community partners regularly describe Bolles as one of the Broncos' most authentic voices: passionate, faith-driven, and deeply invested in the Denver community. His family is central to his service, with his wife Natalie and their children frequently joining him at events, underscoring that giving back is a lifestyle, not a side project. In his own words: "I know what it's like to feel forgotten. That's why I'll always show up for people who need to be reminded they matter." Through humility, persistence, and compassion, Garett Bolles has built a life that models what the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year stands for: sustained excellence, enduring character, and an unwavering commitment to lifting others.
