Darian Stewart posts goodbye to Broncos fans, time in Denver likely over

Mar 6, 2019, 2:55 PM Updated: 7:28 pm

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Heading into free agency next week, the Denver Broncos appear poised to move on from one of the last remaining original members of the “No Fly Zone.”

In a post to Instagram on Wednesday, safety Darian Stewart thanked Broncos Country for his time in Denver and said he would be moving on this offseason, indicating he would be released by the team.

Stewart, in an exclusive interview with Denver 7 Insider Troy Renck, said he was “in a good place” and that general manager John Elway called him to break the news.

“I have nothing but respect. I loved my time in Denver. But it was time for a change,” Stewart said.

The first major cap casualty for the Broncos this offseason, Stewart was due to make $4.75 million in base salary next season and the same in 2020, per OverTheCap.com.

Stewart signed on with Denver ahead of the 2015 season, inking a two-year, $4.25 million deal. In November 2016, the club extended Stewart four more years, a deal worth $28 million.

In four season with Denver, Stewart played 61 games (58 starts), racking up nine interceptions, 24 passes defensed, two forced fumbled, four fumble recoveries, and one sack.

During his extension year of 2016, Stewart also made the only Pro Bowl squad of his career, starting all 16 games for the Broncos that season and earning a career-high three interceptions and 25 passes defensed.

On Wednesday, Stewart’s Broncos teammates took to social media to lament the transaction, including the only remaining original member of the “No Fly Zone,” Chris Harris Jr.