Zach Kerr is a mountain of a man. At 6-foot-2, 334 pounds (officially), he’s the prototypical block-consuming nose tackle in a traditional 3-4 defense.

What sets Kerr apart from some of his behemoth brethren of the trenches, however, is his versatility. Kerr originally popped up on the Broncos’ radar in Week 2 of the 2016 season playing for the Indianapolis Colts.

In that game, Kerr played both defensive end spots in Chuck Pagano‘s 3-4 scheme, and the nose. And Kerr had one hell of a performance, totaling five solo tackles and a sack.

Broncos’ defensive line coach Bill Kollar took notice, and when Kerr hit the open market as a free agent in the ensuing spring, Denver pounced on the opportunity to bring him to Mile High.

Two years later, Kerr hit the open waters of unrestricted free agency once again, but ultimately chose to re-sign with the Broncos on a two-year deal. On Friday, he explained his decision, and the factors that pulled him back to Denver, notwithstanding all the changes that have taken place within the organization in the last few months.

Coach Kollar had a lot to do with it, but so did his teammates in the Broncos’ trenches.

“It actually played a lot [Kerr’s relationship with his teammates],” Kerr said via conference call on Friday. “Me, [DE] Derek [Wolfe] and [OLB] Von [Miller], we all actually work out together right now in our offseason. That played a big part in it. I was talking to [NT] Shelby [Harris] last night actually before [I made my decision] I was like, ‘You know what, I’m going to make the decision.’ I was just weighing my options. Let Shelby tell it, he’s the reason why I’m staying. It definitely was a big factor. We’re building something really good here. I feel like [Head Coach] Vic [Fangio] is the guy to kind of take us over that hump, take us over the hill. I just want to be a part of it.”

It’s unfortunate that the two years Kerr spent with the Broncos before re-upping also happened to be the darkest period of losing for the team in half a century. However, despite the problems the Broncos faced under former head coach Vance Joseph, the defense never lost it’s sense of pride and camaraderie.

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With the arrival of Vic Fangio as Joseph’s replacement, brighter times could be ahead. And Kerr doesn’t want to miss out on participating in turning the ship around.

Fangio is a huge draw for defensive free agents. His presence at Dove Valley no doubt served as a beacon for highly sought after outside free agents like Kareem Jackson and Bryce Callahan, and it was no different for Zach Kerr.

But Kerr’s relationship with his teammates, and his position coach, Kollar, is special. Kollar might take some getting used to, but his players almost always end up valuing his tutelage and want to stay close to him, because at the end of the day, Kollar makes them better players.

“Actually, I just got off the phone with Bill before I came over here,” Kerr said on Friday. “He was excited, I was excited. He was definitely a factor in me making this decision. Just knowing the type of guy he is and the type of coach that he is, he can elevate your career. Obviously, it was a no-brainer when I decided to come back and play for Bill. I can definitely deal with Bill. Now that I know the way he likes to coach, I’m OK with it (laughing).”

Kollar is known for his loud and barking coaching style replete with expletives on the practice field. He’s a curious character, and a former D-line pro player himself who once wrestled a bear. No joke.

With Vic Fangio in tow, things are looking up for the Broncos defense. The team has upgraded the secondary in a big way, and with Shelby Harris being tendered by Denver as a restricted free agent, and Kerr being re-signed, Fangio has his prototypical nose tackles. Kerr knows change is on the horizon for the Broncos, but he can’t quite put his finger on exactly what it’ll be yet, but he resonated with Fangio's "death by inches" ethos.

“It’s hard to tell as far as from a personal standpoint,” Kerr said. “I know for the team, he’s going to make us accountable. Not saying there wasn’t accountability in the past but having a coach like him that is kind of old school and with his coaching style as tenacious as he is, I think it’s going to be a good fit for us and the guys in the locker room. I’m excited to see what he does. I don’t have a crystal ball or anything, but I know the beginning stages are looking pretty well so far, especially in free agency.”

The Broncos have absolutely crushed free agency. And holding the No. 10 pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, rounds 1-3 should help flood the roster with additional difference-makers. There’s an optimistic energy permeating Dove Valley, and Zach Kerr is excited to be a part of it.

“Honestly, I was looking at it and I was like, ‘Yeah, that is definitely something I want to be a part of’”, Kerr said. “Once I saw that we were making those types of moves, I was like, ‘You know what, that is definitely something I want to be a part of.’“