Jarrett Stidham Steps In, but Keeps the Spotlight on Bo Nix Ahead of AFC Title Clash
Jarrett Stidham is the Denver Broncos’ starting quarterback in the AFC Championship Game. That’s not a sentence many expected to read this season, but here we are. With Bo Nix sidelined due to a fractured ankle, Stidham is next man up-and he’s stepping into the biggest moment of his NFL career.
But when Stidham met with the media on Wednesday, he didn’t start by talking about the game plan or his preparation. He started by talking about Bo Nix.
“This is not about myself,” Stidham said, opening his press conference with a message that was more about brotherhood than football. “First of all, obviously my thoughts and prayers have been with Bo since Saturday night. It’s crushing because he’s one of my best friends.”
This wasn’t just lip service. Stidham and Nix have spent countless hours together in meeting rooms, on the practice field, and in the locker room. Quarterbacks often form tight bonds, and in Denver’s QB room, that connection runs deep.
“Sam [Ehlinger] and I were talking about this-Sam and I probably spend more time with [Bo] than his wife does right now,” Stidham said. “And that’s just the nature of the business that we’re in.”
That’s the reality of life in the NFL. During the grind of the season, players spend more time with teammates than with family. And when one of them goes down, it hits hard.
“When training camp starts, that’s just how it is,” Stidham continued. “I see Bo more than I see my kids.
It’s just one of those things-you spend so much time with someone, you see how hard they work, how good of a teammate they are. And then that happens, and you feel crushed for him.”
It was a moment of perspective in a week that’s otherwise all about football. The Broncos are one win away from the Super Bowl, and Stidham is now the man tasked with helping them get there. But he made it clear: this moment isn’t just about him.
That said, the game is coming. And Stidham knows exactly how he needs to approach it.
“I’m gonna be myself,” he said. “Not gonna try to be somebody I’m not.”
And that’s exactly what the Broncos need from him. With one of the league’s top defenses behind him, Denver doesn’t need Stidham to play superhero.
They need him to protect the football, make smart reads, and keep the offense on schedule. If the defense continues to play at an elite level and the offense avoids mistakes, Denver has every reason to believe they can punch their ticket to the Super Bowl.
But before any of that, Stidham made sure to acknowledge the guy who got them this far.
Bo Nix may not be on the field Sunday, but his presence is still very much felt in Denver’s locker room. And thanks to Jarrett Stidham’s words-and his actions-it’s clear that this team isn’t just rallying around a new quarterback. They’re rallying for each other.