When Brock Osweiler left the Broncos as a free agent in March 2016, no one could have expected the roller coaster he would ride for 18 months before finding his way back to Denver. And certainly no one could have expected the one he would continue to ride in the following three months.

But when the season ends Sunday and the Broncos begin to look ahead to 2018, Osweiler, a soon-to-be unrestricted free agent, hopes to continue the ride.

“Absolutely. I would love the opportunity to be a Denver Bronco until I retire,” he said. “I love this city. I love this organization and I would love to be a part of getting this team back to the standard that I know John (Elway) wants.”

Osweiler signed a one-year deal with the Broncos in September with a $16 million salary that was footed primarily by the Browns, who acquired him in a trade with Houston six months earlier. The Broncos were on the hook for only $775,000 of his salary this year, pennies for a veteran they knew well and who had spent four years learning behind Peyton Manning.

Osweiler’s signing in September was a surprise to many, given the seemingly bittersweet ending to his first stint in Denver. But when he returned to Dove Valley, he made it clear he was “beyond thankful” to be back and that Denver “is home.” Related Articles Broncos Briefs: Phillip Lindsay doubtful to play Sunday, but progressing from toe injury

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Since that day, Osweiler has been one of three quarterbacks on the Broncos’ carousel to serve as a backup, starter and inactive player on game days, each twice this year. Along the way, they swapped offensive coordinators when Mike McCoy was fired, tweaked the offensive scheme and dealt with multiple shifts on the offensive line.

“I think any time quarterbacks constantly are playing in different offensive schemes, having their personnel change on them, having verbiage change on them, pass protection rules change on them — I think you see very few quarterbacks just adapt to that overnight and have success,” Osweiler said. “I think that takes time. I think the quarterbacks that have long-term success in this league have the same offensive system year in and year out. It’s tough going from system to system.”

In Sunday’s game against the Chiefs, Osweiler, who has started 11 games in five seasons with the Broncos, will serve as a backup quarterback once more as Paxton Lynch takes the reins in the team’s final outing. When the final whistle blows, reflection will ensue and thoughts to the next step will begin soon after.

“Right away. Monday we’ll meet with the coaches. I’ll meet with Bill Musgrave, Klint Kubiak, (Vance Joseph), and I think the reflection starts right then and there in those meetings,” Osweiler said. “I think you talk about some of the good things from the season, I think you’re going to talk about some of the things you can improve upon, some of the things the team can improve upon. Then you definitely have to have a deep personal reflection if you want to get better right away. That takes place in the first month when the season wraps up so that you can make a plan for how you’re going to attack the offseason and how you’re going to get better.”