Regarding how his career will begin, rookie Bo Nix and John Elway will now be in the same company. After Wednesday’s practice, Denver Broncos coach Sean Payton announced that Nix will be the team’s starting quarterback.
Nix will be the first Denver rookie to start the regular-season opener since Elway in 1983 when he takes the field in Seattle against the Seahawks on Sept. 8.
Nix stated, “Obviously, that’s great to share with such a great player as John Elway.” “… You just want to go out there and get the first win, ultimately compete at a high level, and give your team the best chance to win.”
When Payton announced the decision to Nix and Jarrett Stidham just before Wednesday’s practice, he did so without much pomp or circumstance. “We didn’t have cake and candles,” Payton joked. Payton said he hadn’t told the rest of the team formally, even in the post-practice huddle.
“We’re not in a hurry to arrive at those type of decisions, we want to see it,” Payton said. “… He’s been outstanding. Obviously, there’s a ton of room for growth, a lot of things he needs to work on … but there is a maturity level with him.”
Last week, Nix had played the majority of the offense’s snaps, including in Friday’s joint practice against the Green Bay Packers.
After that, Nix started the Broncos’ preseason game against the Packers on Sunday. In the 27-2 victory at Empower Field at Mile High, Nix completed 8 of 9 passes for 80 yards and a touchdown. Six of the seven times Nix played in two preseason games, he led the Broncos on scoring drives.
Each of Nix’s drives resulted in multiple first downs for the Broncos, mostly against Packers and Indianapolis Colts defensive reserves.
Nix said Payton quickly informed him before practice that he would be the starter.
“He walked up and said he was going to tell you guys this afternoon so let’s have a good practice,” Nix said with a smile. “… We all attacked every day like we were the starter … so if you go with that mindset, when they tell you, it shouldn’t change much because you’ve been practicing that way and that’s your daily habit.
“… [Stidham and Zach Wilson] have pushed me extremely hard. I’ve learned a lot from those two and wouldn’t be here without them pushing me along. … I’m really thankful for that.”
During the offseason program and the first week of training camp, Nix, Stidham, and Wilson shared equally the work with the starting offense. But only Nix and Stidham have worked with the starters since the second week of training camp started, until Nix got most of the first-team snaps last week.
Nix, the sixth quarterback selected in the first round in April’s draft and the No. 12 pick overall, is the Broncos’ highest-drafted quarterback since selecting Jay Cutler 11th overall in 2006. Additionally, Nix is now the first rookie quarterback to start a season for Payton, who is entering his 18th season as the head coach of the NFL.
Since their victory in Super Bowl 50 at the conclusion of the 2015 season, the Broncos have not made the playoffs for eight consecutive seasons. In Payton’s first year on the team, they went 8-9 last year. Since Denver’s Super Bowl victory, Nix will be Denver’s 13th quarterback and the 14th overall to start behind center.
In December 2023, Payton sat Russell Wilson for the final two weeks of the season, eliminating the position’s last potential long-term solution. Wilson was let go by the Broncos in March, and general manager George Paton said that Nix was one of six quarterbacks the Broncos had grades on in the first round of the draft in April.
Payton has always praised Nix’s maturity, ability to make decisions, accuracy, and composure. Nix played in 61 games in five college seasons at Auburn and Oregon consolidated.
According to ESPN Stats & Information, Nix will become the second rookie quarterback to start with Payton as head coach. Ian Book also started for Payton’s New Orleans Saints in 2021.
Nix had done everything he could to be ready to compete for the starting job before the Broncos started their offseason program in April. Nix had enlisted Philip Rivers’ assistance in his transition to the NFL in addition to his other preparations for the draft.