Boise State quarterback Maddux Madsen has heard the noise for years. The numbers say one thing - back-to-back conference titles, a trip to the College Football Playoff in 2024, a 23-7 record as a starter and 7,400 career passing yards - but plenty of Broncos fans still fixate on what he isn’t.
He’s too short, they say. Not explosive enough.
Not sharp enough downfield. Too many missed throws.
Doug Pederson doesn’t see it that way.
The Super Bowl-winning coach, who will call Boise State’s game against Utah State this weekend for CBS Sports, made it clear Wednesday that he views Madsen as exactly the right quarterback for this team.
“I don’t know what more people want to see out of this kid, because he’s doing everything that they’re asking him to do,” Pederson told the Idaho Statesman on Wednesday. “... I’ve been impressed with him watching him this year.”
Pederson’s opinion carries weight beyond the booth. He spent years as Brett Favre’s backup with the Green Bay Packers before winning a Super Bowl there in 1996, then later coached the Philadelphia Eagles and Jacksonville Jaguars, winning another title with the Eagles in 2017. So when he says a quarterback fits, he’s speaking from a long memory of what winning looks like.
And with Madsen, Pederson says the win column matters most.
“This is me as a head coach, and if I had a guy like Maddux, all he does is win football games,” Pederson said. “I don’t care about the backyard (football), the completions, the downfield targets.”
That doesn’t mean Pederson ignores the appeal of the deep shot. Fans want the 40-yard strike.
They want the highlight throw. But he said those plays are “rare” for most college quarterbacks, and Boise State has built around what Madsen does well: a strong offensive line, play-action, and high-percentage passing.
Pederson pointed to junior running back Sire Gaines’ 38-yard touchdown on a screen pass against Oregon in Week 1 as a clean example of how Madsen can help create explosive plays without needing to overpower defenses.
The results back up that approach. Boise State is averaging 33.8 points per game, and its 440.5 yards per game rank 37th nationally, even after facing defenses like Oregon and Western Michigan.
Madsen has done it without giving the ball away. Through four games, he has not committed a turnover, while throwing for 814 yards and nine touchdowns. He’s also on pace for a career-best season.
Pederson knows not everyone will be satisfied. He shrugged that off with a veteran’s perspective.
“I chuckle a little bit from the big picture outside looking in when I hear stuff like (this), because not everybody’s going to be Tom Brady or Joe Montana,” Pederson said. “I just think he’s the perfect quarterback for the situation and for that team right now.”
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