Quinn Meinerz: From D3 to an $80 Million NFL Contract
How a former D3 lineman made his name in the NFL
“I love the offseason”
For most, the Summer is a time for rest and relaxation.
Not for Quinn Meinerz.
The former D3 Student-Athlete turned Denver Broncos lineman has consistently used his time away from his team to get better - and it has paid dividends. He is not only one of the highest D3 draft picks of all time, but recently signed a lucrative extension worth ~$80 million dollars 💰
So, how did a guy from a D3 school end up signing an $80 million contract in the NFL?
Like all great stories, it all started in a farming town of 14,000 people on the outer edge of Milwaukee…
…And we teamed up with our friends over at Joker Mag to bring you the full story - including more insight into Quinn’s journey so far and how he’s made his name in the NFL.
We present, Quinn Meinerz: From D3 Underdog to the NFL 👇
Quinn Meinerz: From D3 Underdog to the NFL
Born and raised in Hartford, Wisconsin, Quinn Meinerz wasn’t the kind of high school athlete who drew the attention of major college scouts.
At Hartford Union High School, he was bigger than the other kids but didn’t quite fit the mold of a future NFL star.
“I wanted to play quarterback,” Quinn said in an interview. “But my body type changed and made me into an offensive lineman. I was always overweight.”
His coaches did what you’d expect. They stuck him on the line.
“When I got into freshman year, I was expected to move up and play on JV. But I actually got sent down to the freshmen,” Quinn said.
“That was actually one of the first times I actually sat on the bench for an entire game and didn’t play. That motivated me a lot.”
Fueled by a diet of meat, spaghetti, and gallons of milk, Quinn packed on 80 pounds between his freshman and sophomore seasons.
Yes, 80 pounds.
“I came back the next year, and was starting right tackle for the Varsity football team at 6’2” 260.”
His high school football teammates starting calling him “The Gut”, a nickname he learned to embrace.
Quinn excelled across a number of sports including football, wrestling, and track and field.
His interests were so varied that his MaxPreps homepage still has a wrestling highlight instead of football.
He earned honorable mention all-state for his work on both sides of the ball, playing offensive line and defensive tackle.
“When I got to my senior year, I thought I was finally, like, the prototype D1 guy. I’m 6’3”, I’m 315 pounds. I’m, almost every snap, pancaking somebody.”
But playing in the smaller, less scrutinized circles of Wisconsin high school football, he remained under the radar.
When it came time for college, Meinerz made a decision that many aspiring college athletes might shy away from: he committed to the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, an NCAA D3 school.
Known more for its academic rigor and Division III athletic prowess than for producing NFL talent, UW-Whitewater was an unconventional choice for someone with pro football aspirations.
But Meinerz saw an opportunity to grow and play immediately, rather than ride the bench at a larger school.
Like many D3 athletes, he thought beyond his sport and chose UW-Whitewater because of its strong business program alongside the football pedigree.
Despite how much the coaches loved him, Quinn barely played his freshman year.
After only appearing in two games in his first season, he was determined to become a force on the offensive line.
His work ethic, raw strength, and tenacity set him apart.
But it wasn’t just his on-field performance that caught attention—it was his offseason dedication.
“I love the offseason,” Quinn told FOX Sports.
“That’s when you get to see people who really do love the game…how much you’re willing to work out every single day, be disciplined, and come into the next season really ready to go.”
He became known for his unconventional training methods.
At his uncle’s cabin in the remote wilderness of Canada, Quinn chopped wood, flipped tires, and power-cleaned 100-pound propane tanks. Here’s the full video.
These Rocky-esque training routines became legendary on social media, showcasing a commitment to physical conditioning and mental toughness.
“It taught me…how motivated I am inside to just work harder than anybody else.”
After the 2019 season, Meinerz was named a first team D3 football All-American.
Then, his senior season of D3 football was cancelled due to COVID.
With no actual games left and no senior year highlight tape to show, Quinn’s NFL dream seemed near-impossible.
“There was a lot of stress happening.”
“Without having a season in [2020]...I had to control what I can control and that was training a lot and lifting a lot of weights, getting my body composition better. When gyms opened up that’s all I was doing, going to the gym and training every single morning.”
Ultimately, he decided his best chance to reach the next level was to learn how to play center.
So he taught himself, studying technique and setting up creative drills in his backyard. One of which included shotgun snapping footballs into garbage cans.
“I’d [video] myself snapping…and watch myself and critique my film, like, ‘Hey, why is the ball going more to the right when I’m trying to go left?’”
Despite his dominance at the D3 level, Meinerz’s big break came when he received an invitation to the 2021 Senior Bowl—a prestigious event that typically features the top talent from Division I schools.
“The easy writeoff for a small school player is level of competition,” Quinn said.
“And I was like, “You know what? Screw those guys. They don’t know anything about me. I’m gonna go out there and I’m gonna show it, even more so, that the level of competition wasn’t gonna be an issue for me.’”
Unlike the other players from bigger programs, this was the first time all year that Quinn got to run out of a tunnel onto the field.
“That was so cool…I think a lot of people take that moment for granted, and it was special to have that.”
With the eyes of NFL scouts and coaches on him, Quinn seized the moment.
His performance drew praise from pundits who said he “made it look easy” playing against the top talent in the country.
His standout play in practices and the Senior Bowl itself turned heads and altered perceptions about his draft stock league wide.
No longer was he just a small-school player; he was a legitimate NFL prospect. He went from a guy who’d be lucky to sign as an undrafted free agent, to having a chance of being drafted in the middle rounds.
Quinn’s improbable journey reached a climax when he was selected 98th overall in the third round of the 2021 NFL Draft by the Denver Broncos.
He entered the NFL as the highest draft pick in the history of Wisconsin-Whitewater, following in the footsteps of other alums like Jake Kumerow, a wide receiver who played for the Bengals, Packers, and Bills during a five-year career.
In his rookie season, Quinn saw significant playing time, earning praise for his versatility and tenacity in the trenches.
Altogether, he played in 15 games in the 2021 campaign, starting 9 of them.
Then in 2022, he became the Broncos’ starting right guard. He allowed just three sacks in a total of 752 offensive snaps.
The improvement continued in 2023, where he started all 17 regular season games and played 96.7% of Denver's offensive snaps.
According to Pro Football Focus, his run-blocking grade ranked second in the league as he’s “quietly taken his place as one of the better guards in the NFL”.
In July of 2024, the Denver Broncos locked him down with a 4-year, $80 million contract extension. Unprecedented money for a Division III alum up to this point in NFL history.
When speaking to the media after the deal was announced, Quinn thanked everyone who’s supported him from the beginning.
His wife, for believing in him more than he believed in himself. (And for letting him bring his weight bench into her apartment during COVID.)
His dad, for supporting him financially as he chased his dream. (And for supplying him with 70 pounds of ground beef during their meetups in a Best Buy parking lot every few weeks.)
His agent, for being one of the first to recognize his talent way back in 2019, before anyone knew his name.
“I kept it small this whole ride…What do I have to do today? What do I have to do tomorrow? And keeping it more present and in the moment.”
“Living by the phrase ‘Hard work pays off.’ I know it’s a cliché, but when you actually live by those types of things, great things like this can happen.”
Thanks for reading!
We hope you enjoyed this special collaboration with Joker Mag. If you want more of the best underdog stories in sports, make sure to check out their website and throw them a follow on Twitter.
Fun fact - their founder is a former D3 Student-Athlete. Just one more reason to love what they’re doing!