Report: Broncos Sign FB Andy Janovich To Three-Year Extension

It's always good to see an underdog make good. Per Mike Klis of 9NEWS, the Denver Broncos have signed fourth-year fullback Andy Janovich to a three-year extension.

Per Kils, Janovich will get $5.7 million over three years, with a $1.35M signing bonus. With a $1.9M APY, Janovich ranks behind only San Fran's Kyle Jusczyk ($5.25M) and Buffalo's Patrick DiMarco ($2.1M) in fullback salary. Janovich's contract features a total guarantee of $3.22M.

“Since he was drafted back in 2016, Andy has developed into one of the best fullbacks in the league,” GM John Elway said via statement. “He’s exactly what you look for in a fullback—tough, reliable and a versatile part of not only the offense but also our special teams. It’s nice to see how Andy’s hard work has paid off, and we look forward to his continued impact on the Broncos.”

Janovich's path has been that of the ultimate underdog. A walk-on at the University of Nebraska, Janovich fought his way onto the team and earned a scholarship.

He became one of the nation's most dynamic fullbacks and eventually caught the attention of the Broncos' scouting department. Denver selected him in the sixth round of the 2016 NFL Draft in a class that featured a few quality fullbacks.

Janovich's career as a Bronco began in the most auspicious way possible, as he took his first career carry 28 yards to the house in the 2016 season-opener. Since then, he's established himself as a special teams maven and the Broncos lead-blocker extraordinaire.

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Janovich's impact on the offense has been perennially underrated but it became evident in the first three weeks of the 2019 season just how crucial he is to the rushing attack. After suffering a pectoral injury in the preseason, he was sidelined for the first three games but since he returned to the lineup, the Broncos' rushing attack has really taken off.

The Broncos rushed for 191 yards on the road vs. the L.A. Chargers last week and the veteran fullback was a big reason why.

The fullback position had been diminished in the NFL for a few years but it's slowly gaining back relevancy, thanks to the proliferation of the West Coast Offense philosophies as exemplified by the L.A. Rams, San Francisco 49ers and now the Broncos.

Hats off to Andy Janovich. It's great to see the underdogs in the NFL win.

Follow Chad on Twitter @ChadNJensen and @MileHighHuddle.