Denver’s unusual quarterback competition ended Wednesday with a surprising twist. Broncos coach Sean Payton approached his quarterbacks during warmups and told them that rookie Bo Nix had won the starting job.
“He smiled,” Payton said about Nix, the 12th overall pick from Oregon and the sixth quarterback selected in the 2024 NFL draft. “We were getting ready to practice, and that was it. There were no celebrations or anything.”
Payton didn’t even announce the news to the rest of the team after practice.
“I haven’t told the rest of the team yet,” Payton said. “I’m not going to discuss every position change with the entire team.”
He added that the team had probably already anticipated the decision.
Nix, who started a record 61 games in college at Oregon and Auburn, has led the Broncos to scores on six out of seven drives he’s directed during the preseason. He has also been one of the top passers in the league this month.
Payton, aiming to improve his relationship with local media, kept the news from national outlets. However, he did inform about 50 local military members attending “USAA’s Salute to Service NFL Boot Camp” before announcing Nix as the starter.
Payton didn’t reveal his plans for the quarterback position in Sunday’s exhibition finale against Arizona but hinted that the two veterans he beat out might share the playing time.
Nix, who is not known for being flashy, didn’t mind the low-key way he was informed that he would be the first rookie quarterback for the Broncos since Hall of Famer John Elway in 1983.
Nix shared that Payton approached him and said he would inform the media later that day. Nix then focused on having a strong practice.
“We treated every day like we were the starter,” Nix said. “So, when they told you (you’re the starter), it shouldn’t be a big change because you’ve been practicing that way.”
Nix expressed his gratitude to the two veterans he competed against: Zach Wilson, the 2021 second overall draft pick by the Jets, and Jarrett Stidham, who was a backup but had played for Denver at the end of last season when Payton benched Russell Wilson.
In his second year with Payton’s system, Stidham started off strong in the competition, and Wilson showed the best arm strength. But Nix quickly improved and performed well in exhibition games against the Colts and Packers and in a joint practice with Green Bay.
Nix has completed 77% of his passes for 205 yards, two touchdowns, no interceptions, and a 116.7 passer rating during the preseason.
Payton said he was impressed with Nix’s quick decision-making and his ability to handle a “dirty pocket” when under pressure, skills that will make him the 14th different quarterback to start for Denver since Peyton Manning retired in 2016 after the Super Bowl 50 win.
“You saw in every game he played (at Oregon) that he could handle a tough situation, make quick decisions, and throw accurately. Some players need a clean pocket and a full stride, but he got the ball out quickly,” Payton said.
