As the Denver Broncos gear up for their biggest game in a decade - a shot at the Super Bowl on the line - all eyes are on a quarterback who, until recently, was flying well under the radar. Jarrett Stidham, once a backup, now finds himself at the center of the AFC Championship spotlight. And if you ask quarterback coach and talent evaluator Jordan Palmer, the league is about to find out what Denver’s been quietly believing for some time: Stidham might just be one of the NFL’s best-kept secrets.
“I don’t think anybody knows until this weekend how good Jarrett Stidham is,” Palmer said during a recent appearance on The Rich Eisen Show. That’s not just coach-speak or empty praise. Palmer has worked closely with Stidham and knows his journey inside and out - from backing up Tom Brady in New England to throwing a touchdown to Demaryius Thomas, to now operating within Sean Payton’s offense in Denver for the past three years.
This Sunday’s AFC title game will mark Stidham’s first start in over two years. His last came at the close of the 2023 season when he stepped in for a benched Russell Wilson. That start may have seemed like a footnote at the time, but looking back, it could be the moment that set the stage for what’s now unfolding.
Palmer didn’t hold back when comparing Stidham to one of the top young quarterbacks in the game. “If Drake Maye and Jarrett Stidham both play at their best, I don’t think it’s much different,” he said.
That’s a bold statement - and one that speaks volumes about how highly Palmer regards Stidham’s ceiling. For a player who’s spent most of his career waiting in the wings, that kind of comparison isn't made lightly.
And it turns out, Denver isn’t the only team that’s seen the potential. Palmer revealed that another NFL franchise made a serious push to trade for Stidham last year.
“I can’t say who, but there was a team who offered a pretty good ransom for him... and [Denver] wouldn’t trade him,” Palmer said. That kind of offer - and refusal - tells you everything you need to know about how the Broncos view their quarterback room.
They saw something worth holding onto.
Now, with the season on the line and a Super Bowl berth within reach, the Broncos’ belief in Stidham is about to be tested on the biggest stage he’s ever faced. It’s a massive moment - not just for the team, but for a quarterback who’s been quietly preparing for this shot.
If Stidham delivers, he won’t be a secret much longer.