The Denver Broncos reached the AFC Championship in back-to-back years. They lost both times. Their quarterback played an entire playoff game on a broken ankle, before anyone knew the injury and still led Denver to victory.
Now 26 years old and fully healthy, Nix is publicly stating his high ambitions for the future.
Jan 17, 2026; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix (10) celebrates after winning an AFC Divisional Round playoff game against the Buffalo Bills at Empower Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
Bo Nix threw for 3,931 yards and 25 touchdowns in 2025 with 11 interceptions. He added 356 rushing yards and five touchdowns on the ground. Denver went 14-3, won the AFC West, took the No. 1 seed, and knocked out the Buffalo Bills in overtime. He set the NFL record for game-winning drives in a season by a quarterback aged 25 or younger with eight. No quarterback in NFL history has recorded 20-plus wins, 7,500-plus passing yards, and 50-plus touchdowns in their first two seasons. Nix owns that record alone.
Nix said in a recent offseason appearance that he is not setting a ceiling on where his career is headed. “I want to continue to get higher. I’m not going to stop until I at least give it my best try,” he said. He followed that by saying he plans to be the number one player in the league.
Head coach Sean Payton addressed Nix’s recovery at mandatory minicamp on June 16. “He’s doing well. He’s doing really well,”Payton told reporters. “He’ll clearly be ready in time for training camp.” Nix underwent ankle surgery in January after breaking a bone in his right ankle during the Bills win. He was a limited participant at minicamp but is expected to be a full participant by the end of June.
The Broncos made significant offensive upgrades around Nix this offseason. They promoted Davis Webb to offensive coordinator after firing Joe Lombardi in January, and they acquired wide receiver Jaylen Waddle from the Miami Dolphins to add a deep-threat presence Nix lacked in 2025. Payton cited the new pieces specifically when discussing how the offense should evolve around his quarterback in year three.
Bo Nix Enters Year Three with the Most Impressive Two-Year Start by Any Quarterback in NFL History
The ankle injury turned what should have been a smooth offseason into a more challenging recovery period. Dr. Jesse Morse, who analyzed the play publicly, confirmed it was a distal fibula fracture sustained on a low, awkward plant in the final seconds of overtime against the Bills. Nix has now played through a back fracture in his rookie year and an ankle fracture at the end of year two. He played all 17 regular-season starts in both seasons.
The Broncos made major coaching staff changes after the AFC Championship loss. Payton fired Lombardi, the offensive coordinator who built the system around Nix for two years. That decision shocked Broncos fans given the 14-3 record. Webb, who was Nix’s quarterbacks coach for two of his first three seasons, takes over the offense. The bet is that Webb knows how Nix processes defenses better than anyone and can push his ceiling beyond the system Lombardi ran.
Nix is under contract through the 2027 season on his rookie deal. The Broncos are expected to open extension talks this fall. Athlon Sports noted that if Nix and the new system click in 2026, he would enter those negotiations as the most statistically established young quarterback in NFL history. His bold goal of becoming the best player in the league now comes with a clear timeline.
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