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. Standing 6 ft 6 in and listed at 314 lb, he plays the guard position while wearing jersey number 63 for the Broncos. Palczewski played college football at the University of Illinois, where he became a recognized offensive lineman, and he signed with Denver as an undrafted free agent in 2023.
Known to teammates and fans as “Palcho,” Palczewski has built his career on durability, position flexibility, and steady development. After going undrafted, he earned a roster spot with the Broncos and has gradually grown into a contributing member of the offensive line.
Early Life and Background
Alex Andrzej Palczewski was born in Mount Prospect, Illinois, to Andrzej and Bozena Palczewski, both immigrants from communist Poland who moved to the United States in the mid-1980s. His father worked as a carpenter, and his mother worked as a nurse, raising their sons in a Polish-speaking household. Palczewski grew up speaking Polish at home and was still learning English pronunciations through the third grade.
Before football became his main sport, Palczewski played soccer as a goalie. He also competed in amateur wrestling throughout high school and spent two years each in water polo and track and field. He attended Prospect High School in Mount Prospect, Illinois, where his size and athletic background drew college attention. During his junior year at Prospect, Palczewski received his first scholarship offer from the Virginia Military Institute. Rated a three-star athlete, he drew interest from North Carolina, North Carolina State, Minnesota, Michigan State, and Indiana, and he also received offers from Syracuse, Vanderbilt, and Illinois.
Recruitment analysts suggested that his junior-season absence, caused by a neck injury that included a fractured vertebra, may have affected his recruitment profile.
Path to Professional Football
Choosing loyalty to his home state, Palczewski committed to the University of Illinois. He arrived on campus in 2017 and, after missing the opening game, joined Vederian Lowe and Larry Boyd in making college history as Illinois’ first true freshmen starters on the offensive line. He played as a starting guard in the final 11 games of that debut season.
In 2018, Palczewski shifted to starting right tackle, playing all 12 games in that role, and he continued to anchor the right side of the line in subsequent seasons. He earned All-Big Ten recognition across multiple years, which positioned him as one of the conference’s most experienced linemen by the end of his college career. Despite going undrafted in the 2023 NFL draft, his body of work in college led to opportunities at the next level.
Alex Palczewski Career
College Career (2017–2022)
Palczewski’s college career at Illinois spanned six seasons, beginning with a historic freshman campaign. After moving to right tackle in 2018, he started every game that season, and he continued as the starting right tackle for his junior year in 2019, starting all 13 games and earning third-team All-Big Ten honors.
In 2020, he played four games at right tackle before missing the final four games of the shortened season due to injury, and he returned in 2021 to play seven games at tackle and five at guard, earning another third-team All-Big Ten selection. For his final senior season in 2022, Palczewski returned to starting right tackle and started all 13 games, serving as team captain and collecting first, second, and third-team All-American and All-Big Ten honors. He graduated from Illinois with a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology in 2021.
Denver Broncos Era (2023–Present)
Although Palczewski was selected 68th overall by the New Orleans Breakers in the 2023 USFL draft, 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 was activated on January 6, 2024.
Palczewski made his first NFL start in Week 3 of the 2024 season, taking over at right tackle for an injured Mike McGlinchey. He later suffered a high-ankle sprain during the Week 5 win over the Las Vegas Raiders in 2024. During the 2025 season, he primarily served as the backup right tackle until Week 7, when injuries to left guards Ben Powers and Matt Peart pushed him into a starting role at left guard, a position he had never played before.
Driving Style and Strengths
Palczewski is valued for his combination of size, technique, and positional versatility, having started games at guard and right tackle. His experience across the offensive line has allowed the Broncos to deploy him in jumbo packages, including as an eligible receiver in short-yardage rushing situations. Teammates and coaches have noted his steady work ethic, which has helped him transition between positions.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Palczewski’s standout moments is his 2024 Week 5 win over the Las Vegas Raiders, his first NFL start in Week 3 of the 2024 season, and the fan tradition that emerged during the 2025 season, when Broncos supporters cheered every time he was reported as an eligible receiver. His ability to start at left guard in 2025 despite never having played the position added to his reputation as a reliable reserve.
Alex Palczewski Career Achievements
Across his time at Illinois and in the NFL, Palczewski has built a résumé defined by All-Conference recognition, positional flexibility, and durability. He has earned All-Big Ten honors in multiple seasons, was named a college football All-American, and has become a regular contributor on the Denver Broncos’ offensive line.
Big Ten Highlights
Palczewski earned third-team All-Big Ten honors in 2019 and second-team All-Big Ten honors in 2022, and he was also recognized with All-Big Ten selections in additional seasons during his Illinois career. His 2022 campaign, in which he started all 13 games at right tackle and served as team captain, marked the peak of his college accolades, including his All-American recognition.
NFL Performances
Since joining Denver in 2023, Palczewski has appeared in 31 games with 13 starts through the 2025 season. He has contributed on special teams and along the offensive line, and he has started games at right tackle and left guard for the Broncos.
Alex Palczewski Family
Family Background and Heritage
Palczewski was raised in Mount Prospect, Illinois, by Andrzej and Bozena Palczewski, both Polish immigrants who settled in the United States in the mid-1980s. His Polish heritage is a central part of his identity, and the pronunciation of his surname has remained a notable feature of his public profile, leading to the nickname “Palcho.” He has two brothers.
Personal Life
Throughout his college and NFL careers, Palczewski has used the nickname “Palcho” because his Polish surname has been difficult for teammates and coaches to pronounce. During his 2021 senior season at Illinois, he co-presided over Lift for Life, a charity initiative that raises money and awareness for people battling rare diseases. He has named Ivan Drago, the fictional character from the Rocky film series, as his favorite athlete, citing admiration for Drago’s decision to let his actions and work ethic speak louder than words.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season has marked a step forward in Palczewski’s NFL career, as he has carved out a defined role on the Denver Broncos’ offensive line. Early in the year he served as the backup right tackle, but injuries to teammates opened a path to a starting position, and he delivered steady play in relief. His ability to line up at multiple positions has given the Broncos valuable flexibility on game day.
Off the field, Palczewski also reached a contract milestone, signing a two-year, $9.5 million extension with Denver on March 5, 2026, reflecting the organization’s confidence in his development. With double-digit career starts and a growing role in the offensive line rotation, his outlook in Denver looks strong heading into future seasons.
