Sean Payton Explains Why Bo Nix Won the Broncos’ Starting QB Job
Rookie Bo Nix will be the Denver Broncos’ starting quarterback for Week 1, having edged out veterans Jarrett Stidham and Zach Wilson. The future for the Broncos begins now.
After practice on Wednesday, Broncos head coach Sean Payton confirmed that Nix emerged victorious in the team’s quarterback competition during training camp. He’ll take the field as Denver’s starter when they face the Seattle Seahawks in the season opener on September 8.
Nix outperformed Stidham and Wilson to secure the role.
“Bo Nix is going to be our starting quarterback,” Payton announced to the media. “As I mentioned a couple of weeks ago, that quarterback room has been outstanding, and Bo has been outstanding. Of course, there’s a lot of room for improvement; he has plenty to work on.”
So, what gave Nix the edge over Stidham and Wilson?
“It was the overall body of work,” Payton explained. “I’d point to his off-schedule throws and his consistency. It’s not a knock on Jarrett or Zach, but rather a reflection of how quickly Bo has excelled—his arm strength, his downfield accuracy, and the things we saw when we evaluated him. We trusted our instincts.”
The Broncos drafted Nix 12th overall in the 2024 NFL Draft, making him the sixth quarterback selected, following Caleb Williams (Bears), Jayden Daniels (Commanders), Drake Maye (Patriots), Michael Penix Jr. (Falcons), and J.J. McCarthy (Vikings).
Stidham started Denver’s first preseason game, but Nix stole the spotlight by passing for 125 yards and a touchdown, completing 15 of 21 attempts. Nix then started the second preseason game, leading two scoring drives and throwing for 80 yards and another touchdown on 8-of-9 passing.
Nix is set to become the first rookie quarterback to start Week 1 for the Broncos since John Elway, who led the team to a 14-10 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers on September 4, 1983.
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