Alex Palczewski Bio
Alex Andrzej Palczewski (born August 3, 1999) is an American professional football guard for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). Standing 6 feet 6 inches tall and weighing about 314 pounds, he plays the offensive line position with the jersey number 63. He played college football at the University of Illinois, where he was named a college football All-American for the 2022 season. Known around the league by the nickname “Palcho,” Palczewski signed with the Broncos as an undrafted free agent in 2023 and has developed into an active contributor on the offensive line.
Early Life and Background
Alex Andrzej Palczewski was born on August 3, 1999, in Mount Prospect, Illinois, to Andrzej and Bozena Palczewski. His parents are both immigrants from communist Poland who moved to the United States in the mid-1980s, and his father worked as a carpenter while his mother worked as a nurse. Growing up in a Polish-speaking household, Palczewski did not fully master English pronunciation until the third grade. Before turning to football, he played soccer as a goalkeeper and spent time in amateur wrestling, water polo, and track and field.
Palczewski attended Prospect High School in Mount Prospect, Illinois, where he competed in multiple sports and developed into a highly regarded three-star football recruit. During his junior year, he received his first scholarship offer from the Virginia Military Institute and later drew interest from programs including North Carolina, North Carolina State, Minnesota, Michigan State, and Indiana. He ultimately received offers from Syracuse, Vanderbilt, and Illinois. Sports writers have suggested that a fractured vertebra sustained during his junior year may have slowed his recruitment, but he remained one of the more promising linemen in the Midwest.
Path to American Football
Choosing loyalty to his home state, Palczewski committed to the University of Illinois and joined the Illinois Fighting Illini in 2017. He made an immediate impression by becoming part of the first trio of true freshmen to ever start on the Illinois offensive line, playing as a starting guard in the final 11 games of his first season. The early start gave him valuable experience and set the stage for a long college career on the offensive front.
Over the next several seasons, Palczewski moved between guard and tackle, earning a reputation as a reliable and versatile lineman. He was named to the All-Big Ten third team in 2019 after starting all 13 games at right tackle, and he returned to All-Big Ten recognition as a senior. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology in 2021 and finished his college career as a team captain during the 2022 season, when he was recognized as an All-American.
Alex Palczewski Career
Early Career (2017–2022)
Palczewski’s early career at Illinois was defined by steady development and positional versatility. After his freshman year at guard, he shifted to starting right tackle in 2018 and held that role for 12 games. As a sophomore in 2019, he was named to the All-Big Ten first team and continued to start every game, cementing himself as a foundational piece of the offensive line.
His later college seasons were interrupted by injuries but still produced strong results. In 2020, he started four games at right tackle before a season-ending injury cut his year short, and he responded by earning Big Ten third team honors in 2021 while splitting time between tackle and guard. In his final senior season of 2022, he returned to right tackle, started all 13 games, served as team captain, and collected multiple All-American and All-Big Ten selections.
Denver Broncos Era (2023–Present)
On February 21, 2023, Palczewski was selected 68th overall by the New Orleans Breakers in the 2023 USFL draft, though he never signed with that team. Instead, the Denver Broncos signed him as an undrafted free agent on May 12, 2023. He was placed on injured reserve on August 31, 2023, and later activated on January 6, 2024, as he worked to establish himself on the active roster.
Palczewski made his first NFL start in Week 3 of the 2024 season, stepping in at right tackle for an injured Mike McGlinchey. A high-ankle sprain suffered during the Week 5 win over the Las Vegas Raiders briefly interrupted his progress, but he returned to action and continued to earn trust from the coaching staff. Through Week 18 of the 2025 season, he has appeared in 31 games with 13 starts.
Driving Style and Strengths
Palczewski’s value to the Broncos comes from his size, positional flexibility, and ability to step into multiple roles along the offensive line. He has started games at both guard and tackle, allowing Denver to adjust its protection schemes when injuries hit the front five. His background in wrestling and track and field has contributed to his balance and leverage at the line of scrimmage.
Notable Events and Milestones
His first NFL start in Week 3 of 2024, taking over for an injured starter, marked the clearest milestone of his professional career so far. During the 2025 season, Broncos fans began cheering every time Palczewski was reported as an eligible receiver while lining up as the jumbo tight end on rushing plays, turning a routine assignment into a fan favorite moment at Empower Field at Mile High.
Alex Palczewski Career Wins
As an offensive lineman, Alex Palczewski’s career is measured less in personal win totals and more in team success, individual recognition, and durability. Through Week 18 of the 2025 NFL season, he has played in 31 games and made 13 starts for the Denver Broncos. His college resume includes multiple All-Big Ten selections and a 2022 All-American honor.
Denver Broncos Highlights
Palczewski joined the Denver Broncos as an undrafted free agent in 2023 and has steadily grown into a dependable reserve and spot starter. His first NFL start came in Week 3 of the 2024 season, and he has since added additional starts at guard and tackle. The Week 5, 2024 win over the Las Vegas Raiders stands out as an early career milestone that showcased his toughness.
Alex Palczewski Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Palczewski comes from a tight-knit Polish-American family. His parents, Andrzej and Bozena Palczewski, emigrated from communist Poland in the mid-1980s and settled in the Mount Prospect, Illinois area, where they raised their sons. He has two brothers, and the family remains connected to its Polish roots, with Palczewski having grown up speaking Polish at home.
Personal Life
Throughout his college and NFL careers, Palczewski has been known by the nickname “Palcho,” a simplified version of his Polish surname that teammates and coaches adopted because the original name proved difficult to pronounce. During his Illinois senior season in 2021, he co-presided over Lift for Life, a local charity group that raises money and awareness for people battling rare diseases. He has cited the fictional boxer Ivan Drago as a favorite athlete, admiring Drago’s decision to express himself through work ethic rather than words.
2025 Season Performance
During the 2025 season, Palczewski has carved out a versatile role on the Broncos offensive line, serving primarily as the backup right tackle before shifting into a starting role at left guard in Week 7. That move came after left guards Ben Powers and Matt Peart landed on injured reserve, giving Palczewski a chance to showcase his positional flexibility. Through Week 18, he has appeared in 31 career games with 13 starts, and his 2025 production reflects a player who has earned the trust of the coaching staff.
A unique storyline of his 2025 season has unfolded on the field whenever he lines up as a tight end in Denver’s jumbo package on rushing plays. Broncos fans cheer each time he is reported as an eligible receiver, turning a routine offensive line substitution into one of the home crowd’s favorite moments. The atmosphere reflects how fully Palczewski has been embraced by the Denver fan base.
Looking ahead, Palczewski remains a key depth piece and emergency starter for the Broncos, with the versatility to play both guard and tackle. His ability to step into multiple roles gives Denver important protection against injuries along the offensive front. If he continues to develop, he could push for a full-time starting role in the seasons to come.