Garett Bolles Bio
Garett Bolles is an American professional football offensive tackle for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). Born on May 27, 1992, in Walnut Creek, California, he had a challenging childhood that led him to strive for success in sports. He played college football for Snow College and the University of Utah before being selected by the Broncos in the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft. Bolles is known for his exceptional skills on the field, as well as his dedication to mentoring youth through various community programs.
Early Life and Background
Garett Bolles was born in Walnut Creek, California on May 27, 1992, and his family later moved to Lehi, Utah. After being kicked out of his father’s home, Bolles was taken in by the Freeman family and rebuilt his life by reactivating himself as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The stability of his new household gave him the foundation to focus on school and athletics, and he eventually attended Westlake High School in Saratoga Springs, Utah.
At Westlake High School, Bolles played on both the offensive and defensive lines while also competing in lacrosse. During his high school years, he was arrested and suspended for three games after he and four other players extensively vandalized a rival high school’s football field, a setback he later spoke about publicly. Following high school, he chose to delay college and serve an LDS Church mission in Colorado Springs, Colorado, a decision that shaped his discipline and maturity before pursuing football at the next level.
Path to Professional Football
After completing his mission, Garett Bolles enrolled at Snow College, where he played for the Badgers for two seasons and developed into a top junior college prospect. Following his sophomore year, he was named the 2015 Western State Football League Offensive Player of the Year, earned NJCAA first-team All-America honors, and helped Snow College finish No. 2 in the NJCAA rankings after winning the WSFL championship and Salt City Bowl. His play at the junior college level put him on the radar of major Division I programs.
Bolles signed with the University of Utah as the No. 1 overall junior college prospect in 2016 and immediately earned All-Pac-12 Conference First-team honors in his only season with the Utes. Starting all 13 games at left tackle, he contributed to an offense that averaged close to 30 points per game and featured a rushing attack that ranked third in the Pac-12 with 214.0 rushing yards per game. The offensive line he anchored allowed just 2.1 sacks per game. After the season, Bolles decided to forgo his senior year and enter the 2017 NFL Draft.
Garett Bolles Career
Draft and Rookie Season (2017)
Bolles received an invitation to the NFL Combine as one of the top five offensive tackle prospects in the 2017 draft class. He performed well in athletic drills, including running his 40-yard dash in under five seconds, and completed every drill except for the bench press. He was ranked the second-best offensive tackle by ESPN and NFLDraftScout.com, fourth by Sports Illustrated, and third by analysts Mike Mayock and Bucky Brooks. The Denver Broncos selected him 20th overall in the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft.
On May 11, 2017, Bolles signed a four-year, $11.01 million contract that included $8.59 million guaranteed and a signing bonus of $6.16 million. He opened all 16 games at left tackle, becoming just the fifth rookie left tackle in Broncos history to start every game since starting lineups were tracked beginning in 1968. Bolles earned all-rookie honors from the PFWA and was the sixth rookie to open the season at left tackle for the Broncos in Week 1.
Establishing Himself in Denver (2018-2019)
Bolles started all 16 games at left tackle in 2018 and continued to hold down the position throughout the 2019 season, again starting all 16 contests and playing every offensive snap for Denver. Despite his durability, he drew public criticism from general manager John Elway for repeated holding penalties. According to reports, Bolles was flagged for holding more than any other player in the NFL during his first three seasons in the league.
Breakthrough and Contract (2020-2021)
On May 1, 2020, the Broncos declined the fifth-year option on Bolles’ rookie contract, making him a free agent in 2021. He responded with his best professional season, and on November 28, 2020, after improving throughout the year, he signed a four-year, $68 million contract extension with Denver. On January 8, 2021, Bolles was recognized as a second-team All-Pro left tackle. He appeared in and started 14 games during the 2021 season before injuries began to affect his availability.
Denver Broncos Era (2022-Present)
In Week 5 of the 2022 season, Bolles suffered a broken leg and was placed on season-ending injured reserve on October 10, 2022. He rebounded to start all 17 games in 2023 and was also the Broncos’ nominee for the 2023 Walter Payton Man of the Year award. On December 12, 2024, the Broncos rewarded his consistency with a four-year, $82 million contract extension. He started all 17 games during the 2024 season and was named to the Pro Bowl in 2025.
Driving Style and Strengths
Bolles is recognized for his athleticism, footwork, and ability to anchor the edge in pass protection. His Combine performance, including a 40-yard dash under five seconds, foreshadowed the quick-twitch traits that have defined his play. Pairing movement skills with strength, he has become a dependable blindside protector capable of handling both speed rushers and power defenders.
Notable Events and Milestones
Bolles’ signature moments include becoming a first-round pick by his hometown-region Broncos, signing a four-year, $68 million extension in 2020, and earning a second-team All-Pro selection in 2020. He signed a second major extension in December 2024, and in 2025 was selected to the Pro Bowl, further cementing his standing among the league’s top left tackles.
Garett Bolles Career Wins
While offensive tackles are rarely judged by traditional win totals, Garett Bolles has accumulated team and individual achievements across his Denver tenure. He earned a Pro Bowl selection in 2025, second-team All-Pro honors in 2020, and PFWA All-Rookie Team recognition in 2017, along with All-Pac-12 First-team distinction in 2016.
NFL Highlights
Bolles opened all 16 games in his rookie 2017 season, started all 16 in both 2018 and 2019, started 14 in 2021, and started all 17 in both 2023 and 2024. He signed a four-year, $68 million extension on November 28, 2020, and followed it with a four-year, $82 million extension on December 12, 2024. He was named second-team All-Pro on January 8, 2021, and was selected to the Pro Bowl in 2025.
Other Wins and Performances
Bolles helped Snow College win the WSFL championship and Salt City Bowl in 2015 and was named the 2015 Western State Football League Offensive Player of the Year. He earned NJCAA first-team All-America honors at Snow College and capped his college path with All-Pac-12 Conference First-team recognition at Utah in 2016.
Garett Bolles Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Information about Garett Bolles’ family background centers on his upbringing in Walnut Creek, California, and his relocation to Lehi, Utah. After being kicked out of his father’s home, he was taken in by the Freeman family, who helped him reset his life through faith, stability, and renewed focus on school and sport. That support system laid the foundation for his later football career.
Personal Life
Garett Bolles is married to Natalie Bolles, with whom he has three children: a son, Kingston, and two daughters, Ariyah and Zaya. In 2021, his son was diagnosed with Childhood Apraxia of Speech, a speech disorder that causes difficulty speaking from a young age. Bolles himself grew up dealing with ADHD, and the experience inspired him to found the GB3 Foundation, a non-profit focused on improving education strategies, mental health, and physical wellbeing for children with learning disabilities. In August 2025, Bolles and speech pathologist Jennie Bjorem opened the Bjorem and Bolles Apraxia Education Initiative training center, a facility created to assist educators and speech pathologists in diagnosing and treating children with CAS. For his contributions, he was awarded the Raymond C. Frenchmore Juvenile Law Award by the Arapahoe County Bar Association in June 2023 and was named the NFLPA Community MVP for Week 1 of the 2025 NFL season.
2025 Season Performance
Garett Bolles entered the 2025 season coming off a four-year, $82 million contract extension signed in December 2024. He continued to anchor the Broncos’ offensive line at left tackle, building on a 2023 campaign in which he started all 17 games and was the team’s Walter Payton Man of the Year nominee. His leadership in the locker room and consistency on the field helped set the tone for a young Denver offense aiming to contend in the AFC.
On the field, Bolles was recognized with a Pro Bowl selection in 2025, validating his status among the league’s top tackles. Off the field, his community work expanded through the opening of the Bjorem and Bolles Apraxia Education Initiative training center in August 2025, and he was named the NFLPA Community MVP for Week 1 of the 2025 NFL season. Together, his play and his platform have made him one of the most visible veteran leaders on the Broncos roster.