Stallions DE Dondrea Tillman Poised For Big Third Year In Denver

Over the years, the Birmingham Stallions have sent quite a few players to the NFL. One of the underrated UFL to NFL storylines to come out of the organization: edge rusher Dondrea Tillman. He went from a spring football standout to a legitimate rotational piece with the Denver Broncos. Now, he’s set up for even more success heading into year three.

Dondrea Tillman is the perfect example of someone who continued to pursue their dreams, taking chances on himself even when the numbers weren’t in his favor. He is EXACTLY why the United Football League (UFL) exists.

After two seasons in the USFL with very little NFL attention, Tillman could have given up. However, he kept at it. Dondrea ultimately made Birmingham’s inaugural roster in the UFL – and went on a tear. He tallied 27 tackles, six TFL’s, and 3.5 sacks – while adding two PBU’s and a forced fumble to his name. Tillman won a UFL Championship in 2024, making it three rings in spring ball for the stud edge rusher.

Fast forward a month, and Tillman finally got his big break. After three years in spring football, Dondrea was signed by the Denver Broncos. Originally, he was projected to be nothing more than just a camp body – or at best, a practice squad candidate.

Tillman proved all of the doubters wrong, and more. He went absolutely crazy during the preseason, landing on the practice squad. Dondrea was quickly elevated, though, dominating in his first couple of NFL appearances. He had two sacks in his first NFL game alone against Tampa Bay.

Over the past two seasons, Dondrea has established himself in Denver – making it impossible for the team to let him go. He’s got 29 regular season appearances to his name, totaling 64 tackles, nine sacks, and two interceptions.

Both of those picks came during the 2025 NFL season. Tillman found himself in the right place at the right time, showcasing that he’s more than just an edge rusher – he can drop into basic coverage schemes and perform when needed.

During his rookie year, Tillman played 29% of defensive snaps. That ticked up to 37% in his second season, one where more trust was put into the spring football product.

With Broncos standout edge rusher Jonathan Cooper on the NFL’s “exempt list”, it opens the door for Tillman to see even more snaps. His field time is expected to increase for a third straight campaign – and rightfully so.

Hopefully, it will be a smooth, productive year for Dondrea Tillman in the Mile High City. What’s been made evident throughout this tenure: always bet on yourself. Without spring football, these NFL contracts would have never been possible. If Dondrea hadn’t entered The Spring League in 2021 – all of this likely wouldn’t have been written today.

Dondrea Tillman will make his year three debut tonight, as the Broncos hit the road to take on the Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium. You can tune in on ESPN/ABC at 8:15pm Eastern.

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