Those who know Denver Broncos coach Sean Payton well say that few things frustrate him more than a sense of entitlement in football. However, the recent flood of questions about when rookie Bo Nix would be named the team’s starting quarterback might have come close. Payton managed to put both issues to rest on Wednesday by officially naming Nix the starter.
Payton made the announcement in the most understated way possible, informing each of the team’s three quarterbacks — Nix, Jarrett Stidham, and Zach Wilson — individually just before practice that Nix had earned the starting role.
“Right out here on the practice field, I pulled each one of them aside,” Payton explained. “… [Nix] smiled and was ready to get to work. No cake or candles, just business as usual.”
Virtually from the moment the Broncos selected Nix as the 12th overall pick in April’s draft, Payton made it clear that the team had a plan for the quarterback position. Nix was high on their draft board not because of a need to start a rookie, but because they believed he embodied the qualities they were seeking.
They wanted a quarterback who brought maturity, composure, and pinpoint accuracy to the field. They were looking for a rhythm passer who could keep the offense moving on time and avoid unnecessary sacks. Above all, they wanted someone with a tireless work ethic.
What kind of NFL quarterback Nix will become and where he will take the Broncos is still uncertain. But there’s no doubt that the 24-year-old, who started 61 college games at Auburn and Oregon, checked every box Payton had in mind. The pieces began to fall into place on the night of April 25, just after the Broncos chose him.
“Early on in the process, he stood out in many areas,” Payton recalled that evening. “When you break down the film, you see he’s played a lot of football. He was first in this class for sack avoidance, turnover differential, accuracy, and third-down performance.
“… His arm strength really impressed us — we saw it at the pro day and again in the private workout. Plus, he’s incredibly smart.”
Many of the Broncos’ defenders share Payton’s confidence, with more than one noting that Nix has a knack for disguising his intentions. Rather than locking onto his primary target, he skillfully manipulates defenders with his eyes before returning to his intended receiver.
“He’s super, super efficient,” said safety P.J. Locke. “Man, he plays like a seasoned rookie … the way he carries himself, the confidence he exudes.”
Still, Payton remains grounded in the coaching philosophy he developed under Hall of Fame coach Bill Parcells, which is rooted in tough love. Despite his early impressions of Nix, those familiar with Payton know that he wouldn’t have handed the starting job to Nix just because he was a first-round pick.
Payton didn’t hold Nix out of the Broncos’ first two preseason games to protect him from hits. The entire process — practices, camp, competition, and evaluations — was designed to ensure that Nix truly earned the starting role.
“That’s part of what we’re talking about in this process,” Payton said. “In this league, everything has to be earned. If someone gets something they haven’t earned, it can disrupt the locker room … there’s always that element of proving yourself.”
The real competition between Nix and Stidham likely concluded last week when Nix took the majority of snaps with the starting offense during three consecutive practices, including Friday’s joint session with the Green Bay Packers. Nix then started Sunday’s preseason game against the Packers, finishing 8-of-9 for 80 yards and a touchdown in the Broncos’ 27-2 win at Empower Field at Mile High.
In two preseason games, Nix led the Broncos to scores on six of the seven drives he played. The team moved the chains consistently on every possession, albeit primarily against backups from both the Colts and Packers.
By Sunday, Payton was speaking about Nix as though he had already made the decision, even though he hadn’t officially announced it yet.
“Well, listen, he’s performed well,” Payton said after the game when asked if Nix had done enough to secure the starting job. “I’m not making any announcements right now … I’ll let you know when the time is right.”
That time came on Wednesday, and now, everyone involved will need to stay composed. Not just Nix, but also Payton, who is starting a rookie quarterback for the first time in his head-coaching career that began in 2006, and the Broncos fan base, which is on its 13th starting quarterback since Peyton Manning retired after leading the team to a Super Bowl 50 victory at the end of the 2015 season.
Nix will likely believe he’s prepared for the challenges that await him in Denver and against the defenses on the Broncos’ schedule, but only time will tell.
Whether ready or not, he now holds the job the Broncos selected him to take on.