The Denver Broncos' dream season has been thrown into turmoil following a catastrophic injury to their star quarterback, Bo Nix. The team's hopes of reaching the Super Bowl now rest on the shoulders of backup Jarrett Stidham, who has not taken a single regular-season snap this year.
Devastating Blow for Broncos and Bo Nix
Bo Nix suffered a fractured right ankle in the dying moments of Saturday's dramatic 33-30 overtime victory against the Buffalo Bills. The injury occurred as Nix tried to evade a heavy pass rush and was brought down awkwardly. Head coach Sean Payton confirmed the grim, season-ending news shortly after the final whistle.
Nix's sophomore campaign, which saw him throw for 3,931 yards and 25 touchdowns, is over. He had been the frontrunner for several postseason awards after transforming a Broncos offence that had previously struggled for consistency. His leadership propelled Denver to a historic 14-3 regular-season record, their best in over a decade, igniting the city's passion for a deep playoff run.
Jarrett Stidham: The Man Thrust into the Spotlight
With Nix sidelined, the Broncos will turn to Jarrett Stidham for the AFC Championship Game at Mile High Stadium. The 27-year-old's last competitive action came during the preseason, where he posted an impressive 143.0 passer rating, completing 30 of 38 passes for 376 yards and four touchdowns.
Stidham is no stranger to stepping in during a crisis. He previously led the Broncos to a win against the Los Angeles Chargers in 2023 after the benching of Russell Wilson. Originally a fourth-round pick for the New England Patriots in 2019, he was once viewed as a potential successor to Tom Brady.
His journey to this point has been unconventional. He survived a turbulent college career, starting at Baylor before transferring to Auburn following a campus scandal. Off the field, he is a devoted family man. He and his wife, Kennedy—a former Baylor soccer star and daughter of Philadelphia 76ers CEO Tad Brown—recently welcomed their third child, daughter Nella, in October 2025. The couple are parents to three young children: Lennon Love, Madden, and baby Nella.
History Offers Hope for Backup Quarterbacks
While the task seems monumental, history provides a glimmer of hope for the Broncos and their untested quarterback. Backup signal-callers have famously succeeded on the championship stage before.
Most recently, Nick Foles led the Philadelphia Eagles to a Super Bowl LII victory in 2018, after a stellar NFC Championship performance against the Minnesota Vikings. In the 1972 season, Earl Morrall replaced an injured Bob Griese and guided the Miami Dolphins through the AFC Championship and to a Super Bowl win, completing the only perfect season in NFL history. Furthermore, Jeff Hostetler overcame a leg injury in the 1990 NFC Championship to lead the New York Giants to a Super Bowl victory.
However, unlike Stidham, Foles, Morrall, and Hostetler all saw regular-season action before their playoff heroics. Stidham's challenge is unique, stepping directly into the league's final four without any in-season game time.
The Broncos' defence held firm after Nix's injury to secure the win against Buffalo with a game-winning field goal. Denver will now host the AFC Championship Game, awaiting the winner of the clash between the Houston Texans and the New England Patriots. The city's Super Bowl dream remains alive, but its path has taken a dramatic and unexpected turn.
