Jarrett Stidham Steps Into the Spotlight as Broncos Turn to Backup for AFC Title Showdown
With a Super Bowl berth on the line, the Denver Broncos are turning to a quarterback who hasn’t thrown a pass in a regular-season game in two years. Jarrett Stidham, the backup turned starter, will take the reins in Sunday’s AFC Championship Game against the New England Patriots after Bo Nix suffered an ankle injury in the closing moments of last week’s 33-30 overtime win over the Buffalo Bills.
Stidham’s name might not carry the same weight as some of the other quarterbacks still in the playoff picture, but he’s no stranger to the NFL grind. He’s been around since 2019, when the Patriots selected him in the fourth round, and while his on-field opportunities have been limited-just four career starts, the most recent coming on Jan. 7, 2024-he’s been quietly preparing for a moment like this.
And here’s the twist: he’ll be facing the team that drafted him, with a familiar face on the opposing sideline.
Josh McDaniels, now back with the Patriots as part of Mike Vrabel’s staff, was the offensive coordinator in New England during Stidham’s early years. He also brought Stidham to Las Vegas in 2022 when he was head coach of the Raiders, giving him his first two NFL starts after benching Derek Carr. So if anyone knows what Stidham brings to the table, it’s McDaniels.
“Smart, accurate, great human being, worked hard, great teammate,” McDaniels said this week. “You know, just hadn’t had an opportunity based on the situations and those kind of things. But, no, I just enjoyed working with him, enjoyed my time with him, and I’m sure he’ll be ready to go this week.”
That vote of confidence from someone who’s seen Stidham up close carries weight. But Sunday will be a different kind of test-high stakes, high pressure, and a defense that knows how to make life difficult for quarterbacks, especially ones who haven’t played meaningful snaps in a while.
Stidham’s journey has included backing up some big names. As a rookie, he was behind Tom Brady. In his second year, he backed up Cam Newton, who recently shared his thoughts on Stidham’s return to the field during an appearance on ESPN’s First Take.
“Jarrett Stidham was always the one-him and Brian Hoyer-they were always prepared,” Newton said. “Always understanding who the Mike is, understanding the verbalization of the playbook and just riddling off plays, finishing plays before it’s even coming in. He was always the guy that guys would go to to check their answers.”
But Newton also raised a fair question: how does that preparation translate when the bullets are flying?
“The issue was how does it translate to the game?” Newton continued.
“Then you start to say: Hey, how does Jarrett Stidham handle the what-ifs? What if his first option is not there?
What if the pocket collapses? What if it’s not a perfect situation for him to be good?
That’s my biggest question mark.”
It’s a valid concern. Stidham has the tools-arm strength, football IQ, and a solid grasp of the playbook-but Sunday is about more than mechanics. It’s about poise, adaptability, and making the right decisions when the script breaks down.
Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. CST at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, with CBS carrying the broadcast. The winner will punch their ticket to Super Bowl LX, where they’ll face the NFC champion.
That matchup will be decided later Sunday when the Los Angeles Rams visit the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field. That game kicks off at 5:30 p.m. CST and will be televised on FOX.
For now, all eyes in the AFC are on Jarrett Stidham-a quarterback with just 18 regular-season snaps in the past two years, stepping into the biggest game of his career. The Broncos are betting on his readiness. We’re about to find out if that bet pays off.