ENGLEWOOD — Devon Key is well aware of the public campaign for his Pro Bowl inclusion as the Broncos’ special teams ace.

“I love it,” Key told The Denver Gazette after practice at Broncos Park.

It started last week, when P.J. Locke pumped up his fellow safety on social media. Locke (@PjLocke4) posted: “Yooo #BroncosCountry Devon Key is leading the NFL in Special Teams tackles! It’s Mandatory we get him to the Pro Bowl!”

Kicker Wil Lutz backed him up. Lutz (@wil_lutz5) posted: “If the Pro Bowl is real, Devon Key will be in it.”

It’s hard to argue with their logic.

The Broncos (10-2) travel to face the Raiders (2-10) on Sunday with Key on pace to make history in Denver. His 21 special teams tackles entering Week 14, as noted by Locke, are most in the NFL. Key needs just four more to break the franchise single-season record set by Broncos linebacker Keith Burns with 24 special teams tackles in 2003 and 2004.

“It feels good. I just couldn’t be here without my teammates. Credit them for my success. The camaraderie and the joy of coming to work is kind of what gives me the drive,” Key told The Denver Gazette. “Trusting that they’re going to do their job and, hopefully, they trust me to do my job. I feel like that’s where my success comes from.”

Special teams coordinator Darren Rizzi said that Key is “playing at a Pro Bowl” and “All-Pro” type of level.

“He’s been a cornerstone for us this entire season,” Rizzi continued. “Just the model of consistency, particularly in coverage. … His leadership and just his consistency are two things that just jump out to me. I’d be on that bandwagon for sure. I think that he’s playing as well as anybody right now in the core teams in the league for sure.”

Key — a 6-foot, 208-pound safety — went undrafted out of Western Kentucky in 2021 and bounced from practice squads in Kansas City and Atlanta. He signed with the Broncos’ practice squad in December 2022. Key made his NFL debut the following season with one game played.

Key took another big step in 2024 with two starts at safety. He sacked Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield for his first NFL defensive stop. Key led the Broncos in tackles (nine) against the Ravens.

He is now a reserve safety, behind starters Talanoa Hufanga and Brandon Jones. But defensive coordinator Vance Joseph does not view him as a typical backup.

“Devon Key can be a starter for us tomorrow at safety and I wouldn’t lose any sleep over it,” Joseph said. “He did it last year on multiple occasions for us. But I’m proud of that kid because he’s played so well on (special) teams, and he’s going to be a Pro Bowl player, in my opinion. He’s played for us on defense. He’s played dime. He’s played both safeties.”

Joseph added: “He’s so smart. He’s such a mature player. He’s on every single day.”

Jones, when asked about Key, told The Denver Gazette: “A great teammate on and off the field. He’s playing at an elite level on special teams. I think he has now over 20 tackles, which is absolutely insane. He’s just that guy, whenever his number is called from a defensive standpoint, no food is ever going to fall off the plate. You know what I mean? … He just has that extra confidence.”

Key expressed gratitude for teammates and their support for his Pro Bowl candidacy. He received the eighth most fan votes, as of Monday, among all special teams players. Fans can vote at Probowl.com/vote or on X by posting: #ProBowlVote + player first and last name.

What would it mean for Key to make the Pro Bowl?

“That would mean a lot,” Key told The Denver Gazette. “Just where I came from, being undrafted and on the p-squad up until last year. Just looking back at all the work, it would mean a lot.”