Denver, Colorado — Even though it was only voluntary workouts, the lights at Empower Field at Mile High stayed on well into the night.
While most players had already gone home after the voluntary offseason session, one lone figure remained on the far practice field: rookie running back RJ Harvey.
Sweat soaked through his practice jersey as he continuously ran cuts, worked on ball security, and exploded through tackling drills in the cool spring mist, long after the official session had ended.
Head coach Sean Payton, after returning to his office to review film from the day’s voluntary practice, witnessed the scene and stood silent for several minutes.
“I’ve coached a lot of players in my career, but not everyone has that kind of fire,” Payton shared. “He doesn’t just want to participate — he wants to build something special for the Broncos.”
When Payton asked Harvey why he was still out there practicing so late during the voluntary period, the 23-year-old rookie smiled and replied simply: “Coach, if I don’t do more than everyone else, I’ll never become who I want to be.”
That short answer left a deep impression on Payton.
“I’ve seen that look before,” the head coach continued. “That’s the exact look I’ve seen in the best young players this organization has ever produced. It’s not the look of a future star — it’s the look of a warrior who doesn’t want to miss even the smallest detail.”
During the preparation for the 2026 season through these voluntary offseason workouts, RJ Harvey has quickly become a name mentioned often thanks to his habit of staying late after nearly every session.
He reviews every rep on his tablet, takes detailed notes on his footwork and vision, and shows up the next morning earlier than most veterans. Teammates say that sometimes at 6 a.m. when they arrive, Harvey is already there — headphones on, cap pulled low, notebook full of notes.
The story of Harvey’s late-night workouts quickly spread among insiders and Broncos fans.
“That’s what gives me chills,” a longtime fan posted online. “No one is forcing him to stay. These are voluntary workouts, yet RJ still chooses to do extra because he believes in the Broncos Way.”
On social media, the hashtag #FaithInHarvey quickly became a trending topic among Denver fans, turning into a symbol of new hope for the franchise.
For Sean Payton — who has led the Broncos into this new era — the image of Harvey working alone under the lights of Empower Field carries special meaning.
“That’s the exact spirit this organization was built on,” Payton said slowly. “When you see a young player voluntarily sacrificing his time to perfect himself during the offseason — you know this team is building something real.”
In that quiet late-night moment at Empower Field at Mile High, as RJ Harvey cut sharply, secured the ball, and burst through imaginary gaps in the darkness, people didn’t just see a rookie working hard.
They were witnessing the future of the Denver Broncos being built — one voluntary rep at a time.
