Ever since Peyton Manning capped off his NFL career with a Super Bowl win for the Broncos, the franchise has been searching for his replacement. For nearly a decade, the Denver faithful have seen more than a dozen names come and go in the QB role. They even went with the Russell Wilson experiment, but he too was unable to end their playoff drought which stretched back to 2015. But that changed this season when Bo Nix came into the fray.

Nix arrived in Denver as the 12th-overall pick of the 2024 NFL Draft and boy has he made an impression. He started all 18 games for the Broncos throwing for 3,775 yards and had 29 touchdowns in the regular season while also rushing for 430 yards. These numbers not only put the Broncos back on the map, they turned heads across the league.

It is one thing being appreciated by your coach and teammates but when the members of the three-peat-chasing Chiefs are heaping praises, you know the player has had an impact.

The Chiefs players and coaches were on-site at Radio Row in New Orleans ahead of Super Bowl LIX and many reporters were keen to get their views on the Broncos’ Nix. Patrick Mahomes, defensive lineman Chris Jones and even DC Steve Spagnuolo had rave reviews for Nix’s rookie season.

Spagnuolo said, “Imma tell you what. He’s the real deal. He grew as a rookie… They [Broncos] got a bright future with him. I’m really impressed him.” When a four-time Super Bowl-winning DC gives you that kind of praise, you’re doing something right. Spagnuolo has shown his approval of Nix during the season and nothing has changed in this regard.

Spagnuolo, was of course a close watcher when Nix carved open the second-string Chiefs defense in Week 18 to confirm a playoff berth for his team. Nix led the way with 26-of-29 passing, four touchdowns, and over 300 yards as the final score read Denver 38, Kansas 0. This might just be a glimpse of what he is capable of.

Though the Broncos fell to the Bills in the playoffs, the future does look bright for them and Nix. Coach Sean Payton is sure that the franchise has found its QB of the present and the future. With Nix looking to improve for the next season, Payton has every reason to believe that he can take the Broncos further than the Wildcard round.

Meanwhile, Chiefs’ Chris Jones, a guy who’s spent his career making quarterbacks miserable, had nothing but admiration for Nix. “I think he had an exceptional year as a young player….I got so much respect for him, hopefully, he continues his journey and continue to get better and better. They got a heck of a team over there. He’s patient, decisive, and he knows how to manage the game. Take a low risk, relies on what he sees, and knows how to make adjustments. He’s a winner.” That’s coming from one of the best defensive linemen in the game.

The Broncos believe in this guy. Head coach Sean Payton knows a thing or two about elite quarterbacks, and he sees something special. Denver isn’t just happy to be in the playoffs—they want more. And with Nix leading the charge, they might just have a shot at challenging Kansas City in the AFC West.

Bo Nix was set to be a Pro Bowl quarterback in his rookie year, but a “routine and minor, cleanup procedure” in an undisclosed body part will prevent him from participating in the Pro Bowl Games.

So yeah, no Pro Bowl appearance for Nix. But does it matter? Not really. The bigger picture is clear—he’s Denver’s guy, and the league is taking notice. Patrick Mahomes also acknowledged that Nix is a great asset for the Broncos and was impressed with his competitive edge.

Patrick Mahomes has his say on Bo Nix ahead of the 2025 season

Patrick Mahomes is busy chasing history. A win on Sunday, and the Chiefs will be the first team ever to three-peat. But even with all that on his plate, he still had time to talk about Bo Nix. And let’s just say he didn’t hold back.

“He’s a competitor… It’s not always about the throwing mechanics, it’s not always about the legs you can run, can you compete? Can you go out there and find ways to win? I saw that from him all season long. Hopefully, he doesn’t win a lot of games against us. But I know he’s going to be a great quarterback in this league. That’s high praise from a three-time SB MVP. And honestly, it checks out.

Meanwhile, Nix didn’t just put up numbers—he battled. He walked into Arrowhead and nearly took down the Chiefs in a thriller. If not for a blocked field goal at the buzzer, Denver might’ve pulled it off.

For years, the Broncos were just another division game for the Chiefs. Now? They’re keeping an eye on Bo Nix and the team building around him. Speaking of building, Denver isn’t sitting back. They’re leaning into this momentum. The front office knows what they have, and they’re making moves. With $52 million in cap space and a solid stash of draft picks, the Broncos are in a prime spot to add talent and push for something bigger.

So, while Mahomes is on the brink of cementing his dynasty, he’s already got an eye on the next wave of competition. And for the first time in a while, the Broncos are firmly in that conversation. The Chiefs may still own the AFC West, but Bo Nix is knocking on the door.