Jarrett Stidham’s Moment Arrives: After Years in Waiting, Broncos’ Backup Steps into the AFC Championship Spotlight
Jarrett Stidham has spent most of his NFL career in the shadows - a backup, a contingency plan, a "maybe next time" guy. But now, with the Broncos one win away from the Super Bowl and Bo Nix sidelined, Stidham steps into the spotlight with the biggest opportunity of his football life.
This isn’t just another backup being thrown into the fire. This is a quarterback who’s been on the cusp multiple times, only to see the door close just as it cracked open. But now, the stakes couldn’t be higher - a trip to Super Bowl 60 is on the line, and Stidham is at the helm.
A Career of Almosts
Stidham’s NFL journey has been defined by near-misses and what-ifs. After Tom Brady left New England in 2020, Stidham was in line to compete for the starting role - until Bill Belichick brought in Cam Newton late in the offseason, pushing Stidham down the depth chart. That was the first major pivot.
Fast forward to 2024, and Stidham found himself in another quarterback competition, this time in Denver. He entered training camp as the in-house favorite to start, but rookie Bo Nix impressed enough to win the job outright. Stidham, once again, was relegated to the No. 2 spot.
But football has a way of circling back.
When Nix suffered a brutal ankle injury in the divisional round, it wasn’t just a blow to the Broncos' playoff hopes - it was a sudden and dramatic turn in Stidham’s career. For the first time in over two years, he’ll be under center in a game that truly matters. And not just any game - the AFC Championship.
The Last Time We Saw Stidham
To find the last time Stidham threw a pass in an NFL game, you’ve got to rewind to January 7, 2024 - Week 18 of the 2023 season. The Broncos were already out of playoff contention, and Stidham was starting in place of a benched Russell Wilson.
That final pass? An interception to Tre’von Moehrig that sealed a meaningless loss to the Raiders.
Since then? Nothing.
Not a single pass thrown in a live NFL game. In fact, over the last two seasons, Stidham has logged 18 snaps without attempting a single throw.
Now, 749 days later, he’ll be asked to lead a team to the Super Bowl.
The Russell Wilson Factor
Stidham’s last start came under unusual circumstances - and they weren’t unfamiliar to him.
In 2023, Wilson was having a respectable season with 26 touchdowns and just eight interceptions. But a Christmas Eve loss to the lowly Patriots effectively ended Denver’s postseason hopes. With little left to play for and a massive contract clause looming, the Broncos benched Wilson to avoid injury guarantees - a business decision dressed as a coaching choice.
Stidham stepped in for the final two games, splitting them 1-1. He beat the Chargers, lost to the Raiders, and showed enough competence to keep the Broncos intrigued.
It was déjà vu for Stidham, who had been in a similar spot the year before in Las Vegas. When the Raiders decided to move on from Derek Carr, they benched him late in the year - and Stidham was the next man up.
A Backup Built for This?
Let’s be clear: Jarrett Stidham isn’t just a guy holding a clipboard. Denver pays him like they believe in him - $6 million a year, one of the highest salaries for a backup in the league. And while his career numbers don’t jump off the page - eight touchdowns, eight interceptions, and a 59.4% completion rate over seven seasons - there’s more to the story.
In his four career starts (two with the Raiders, two with the Broncos), Stidham has looked the part of a capable NFL quarterback. He threw for 656 yards and four touchdowns in two games with Las Vegas in 2022, including a memorable shootout against the 49ers’ top-ranked defense. That performance is part of what drew Sean Payton’s attention in the first place.
Payton saw something in Stidham - enough to make him the first quarterback signing of his Denver tenure. That wasn’t just about depth. It was about belief.
The Unknown Ahead
There’s no sugarcoating it: Stidham is a mystery heading into the AFC title game. He hasn’t thrown a pass in two years.
He has just four career starts. And now, he’s tasked with leading a team into the biggest game of the season.
But the Broncos believe he’s ready. They’ve seen him in practice.
They’ve invested in his development. And now, they’re handing him the keys with everything on the line.
It’s a massive moment for a quarterback who’s spent years waiting for one.
If Jarrett Stidham can rise to the occasion - if he can steady the ship and guide Denver past this final hurdle - he won’t just be a backup anymore. He’ll be a starter in the Super Bowl.
And that’s the kind of story the NFL is built on.