Jarrett Stidham Steps Into the Spotlight - And Sean Payton’s Got No Doubts
On Sunday, Jarrett Stidham will take the reins of the Denver Broncos’ offense in a game that couldn’t be bigger - a shot at the Super Bowl on the line, facing off against a Patriots team that’s no stranger to postseason pressure. For Stidham, it’s his first meaningful snap in over two years.
But don’t mistake that layoff for rust. This moment isn’t about stats or reps - it’s about confidence.
And according to those around him, Stidham’s got it. So does his head coach.
Sean Payton, who signed Stidham shortly after taking over in Denver three years ago, has made it clear: he believes in “Stiddy.” And not just in a generic, coach-speak kind of way. Payton’s confidence is rooted in preparation, continuity, and a deep understanding of what it takes to keep an offense humming when the starter goes down.
“I told the team this,” Payton said earlier this week. “‘I’m not worried about Stiddy in this game.
I’m worried about everyone else, alright, and how we play.’ That really is the truth.”
That’s not lip service - that’s a coach who’s been here before. In New Orleans, Payton had to navigate stretches without Drew Brees in both 2019 and 2020.
The Saints went 5-0 and 3-1 in those stretches, respectively. Those wins didn’t happen by accident.
They happened because Payton had backups who were prepared, who fit the system, and who could execute without forcing the other 10 guys on the field to change everything they’d been doing all season.
That’s the model in Denver now. When Bo Nix went down with a broken ankle just over a week ago, the Broncos didn’t panic - they pivoted.
Stidham’s been in this system longer than Nix. He knows the reads, the timing, the cadence.
And yes, cadence matters. Payton emphasized that this week, pointing out how important it is for a backup to replicate the starter’s rhythm at the line of scrimmage.
Stidham checked that box in practice.
The goal isn’t for Stidham to be Bo Nix. It’s for him to keep the offense operating like Bo Nix is still under center. That means keeping the timing sharp, the tempo familiar, and the trust intact - especially for the guys around him who’ve gone through 18 games of this season with a certain flow.
That’s where confidence becomes contagious. Former Bills quarterback Frank Reich knows a thing or two about that.
Back in 1993, he led one of the greatest comebacks in NFL history, rallying Buffalo from a 35-3 deficit to beat the Oilers in the playoffs. He hadn’t started a regular-season game that year.
But he believed in himself - and just as importantly, his teammates believed in him.
That’s the blueprint. And it’s one the Broncos are hoping to follow.
As for the Patriots having film on Stidham? Payton isn’t losing sleep over it.
“They’re going to defend the offense,” he said. “Maybe there are certain things, but you don’t go to this whole different playbook.”
That’s a subtle but important point. The offense doesn’t change.
The identity doesn’t shift. This isn’t 2010, when Denver had to overhaul its entire approach after Tim Tebow took over midseason.
This is a case of next man up - and that man has been groomed for this moment.
So now, it’s on Stidham. It’s been a long road back to the field, but the stage is set.
The coaching staff trusts him. His teammates are ready to rally around him.
And if he can play with the same poise and confidence he’s shown behind the scenes, the Broncos might just find themselves one win away from a Lombardi shot.
No gimmicks. No panic. Just a quarterback who’s prepared - and a team that believes.