Bo Nix could’ve been the No.1 pick in the 2024 Draft if Sean Payton had his way. For a franchise wandering in the quarterback desert since Peyton Manning rode into the sunset, Bo Nix’s arrival in Denver is akin to finding the oasis. The rookie from Oregon has filled the Broncos fans with hopes for the future and has also garnered special praise from the three-peat-chasing Chiefs. Not only that, he has also managed to turn around his early skeptics and delivered more than what was expected of him.

Broncos head coach Sean Payton has been a big believer in Nix. After leading the team to their first playoff appearance since 2016, Payton was sure they had found their QB of the future.  “I think we’ve found that player that can lead us and be what we need relative to having the success we’re used to having. I think we’ve found it,” Payton said after their Wild Card round exit at the hands of the Bills. But it turns out, even Payton initially didn’t imagine the impact and the ability that Nix would bring to Denver when they drafted him as the No.12 overall pick.

Even Hall of Famer Terry Bradshaw initially questioned the hype, wary of Nix’s college rollercoaster. Fast-forward to Super Bowl week, and Bradshaw’s tone flipped. A chat with Payton revealed a truth even the coach didn’t see coming. On Thursday morning, Bradshaw cornered Payton in New Orleans. The topic? Bo Nix.

Bradshaw revealed that Nix is more than what Payton thought he would be. “I talked to Sean this morning. He loves him (Nix). He’s faster than he thought he was. Stronger than he thought he was. Bigger than he thought he was. Got an arm strength bigger than he thought it was.”

The rookie’s poise under fire—like nearly toppling Kansas City in Week 10—sealed the deal. Boldly comparing him with other notable quarterbacks, Bradshaw noted, “The key to all these quarterbacks, these young kids is poise. Even when they get their a** knocked off. You look at Daniel (Jayden) at Washington, how cool is that kid? So these young quarterbacks are successful are with good coordinators. They thing they had, Herbert (Justin) had it, Mahomes (Patrick) had it when he got to play, Joe Burrow has it, kid up in Buffalo has it, Josh (Allen). So, they have that special thing where pressure doesn’t bother them. And if you can be calm amongst the storm, then your brain can function. You can see things clearly… And so [does] all these young kids, and Bo Nix.”

Nix’s grit and the hunger to prove himself showed in Week 5 when he clapped back at Payton mid-game. Jay Glazer, Fox’s NFL insider, laughed.

“You have to do it. You gotta do it with Sean… And he respects you.” That fiery exchange? Payton’s dream. The contrast with Russell Wilson stings.

Nix became the 14th starter at QB since Manning for Denver and he proved in his rookie season that he is the quarterback of the present and the future for the franchise. He completed 66.3% of his passes for 29 touchdowns, 12 interceptions, and 3,775 yards and also ran for 430 yards and four touchdowns (along with one TD catch) to total 34 offensive touchdowns — third-most in NFL history for a rookie.

Earlier in the season, Bradshaw had expressed concern that Payton was relying too much on Nix’s arm and needed to establish a more running game. “With Bo Nix, his rookie quarterback, that he has in there… I just think they’re throwing too much right now. They’re over 40 pass attempts a game for a rookie. That’s way too much,” he had said. However, towards the end of the Broncos’ season, his narrative shifted.

He talked about Payton was not going to retain Wilson and go for a new QB and he found his guy in Bo Nix. In December, he said, “This is the guy he wanted. Bo Nix, smart, 24-year-old, played a lot in college. Four-year starter came from Auburn in and up to Oregon…this guy is legitimate.” Under a season, Bo Nix has gone from a rookie to a legitimate one. No wonder the future looks bright for Payton and Nix in Denver.

In guiding the Broncos to their first 10-win season since 2015, Nix proved his big-play ability. He had multiple games with a completion percentage of at least 80 percent and a passer rating of 140.0. Moreover, he also delivered down-the-field shots in big moments against the Browns, Bengals, and Bills.

Then needing a win in Week 18, to confirm their playoff berth for the first time in a decade, Nix ran through the second-string Chiefs’ defense with 26-of-29 passing, four touchdowns, and over 300 yards to thump the defending champions 38-0. But it was the Week 10 performance against the Chiefs that had everyone stand up and take notice.

Payton’s prize, Denver’s future

Denver’s Week 10 heartbreak in Kansas City—a blocked field goal from victory—proved Nix’s mettle. But analyst Peter Schrager cautioned: “They’re not there yet. They’re not… It is a huge gap.” The Chiefs’ dynasty still looms, yet Schrager sees hope.

“Two years away, but Sean’s got them going in the right direction and if you have been following that division for 10 years, I think Broncos fans would sign up for that,” Schrager added. For Broncos fans, that’s progress. After a decade of QB purgatory, Nix’s swagger feels like sunrise. Rewind to April 2024.

Payton, paranoid the Rams would steal Nix, bombarded Glazer with frantic calls as he was “convinced” Sean McVay wanted him. “He was driving me crazy, calling me a million times,” Glazer said. A last-minute assurance from McVay and Glazer—“‘McVay has allowed me to tell you—they’re not trading up. You’re good, you’re golden.'”

Helping his side to reach the playoff reaffirmed Payton’s belief in him and silenced doubters, even if AP voters snubbed him for Rookie of the Year.

Sean Payton gambled on Bo Nix—and hit the jackpot. Bradshaw’s U-turn, Glazer’s anecdotes, and Schrager’s cautious optimism weave a tale of trust redeemed. Nix isn’t just a rebound from Wilson’s mess. He’s Payton’s proof that sometimes, a coach’s gut—and a rookie’s grit—can defy even the highest expectations.

As Bradshaw put it, “So when Sean drafted him, I thought, ‘Oh boy, that’s good. That’s going to be good.’ And it sure enough was.” Hence, for Denver, it’s just the beginning.