Bo Nix after the divisional game win against the Buffalo Bills. photo by Jack Dempsey
Bo Nix’s sudden injury abruptly halted the Denver Broncos Super Bowl Run.
The Denver Bronco’s 2025-2026 season likely would have ended very differently if quarterback Bo Nix had not suffered a season ending ankle injury during the playoffs. After a franchise best consisting of a 14-3 regular season record, the Broncos had high hopes for the future, until Nix’s luck ran out.
Nix has been the Broncos’ starting quarterback for the past two seasons. In 2024, he led Denver to a 10-7 record and a first round playoff appearance against the Buffalo Bills. It wasn’t until the 2025 season that Nix took a major leap. Under head coach Sean Payton, Nix finished the regular season with over 4,200 passing yards, 31 touchdowns, and just nine interceptions, posting a quarterback ranking among the top five in the league.
The Broncos entered the postseason with momentum following their 14-3 regular season, again paired up with the Buffalo Bills in the playoffs. The Broncos walked away with the divisional round after winning 33-30 in overtime. Despite the win, not all good was to be gained that night. In a postgame conference, head coach Sean Payton confirmed that Nix had fractured a bone in his ankle and would be out the remainder of the season. Nix had started all 17 regular season games, and led the team to a 15-3 record overall including their divisional win over the Bills. Going into the AFC championship without their starting quarterback was devastating for the team and fans alike.
Following the injury, the Broncos turned to backup quarterback Jarrett Stidham. Stidham was a fourth round pick out of Auburn who previously played for New England and Las Vegas before joining Denver. Across his career, he was a reserve quarterback and spot starter. During the 2025 regular season he did not start in a single game and saw very limited playing time.
His transition to starting came at a difficult and crucial time in the season. Denver’s offense has been built around Nix and his capabilities and plays. With little opportunity to adjust plays and get into a rhythm before the AFC championship game, Stidham was thrown into a massive role.
Statistically, the contrast between the two quarterbacks is significant. With Nix starting the past two seasons, the Broncos averaged 27 points per game, and overall finished the season with 4,200 passing yards, 31 touchdowns and nine interceptions. While Stidham, over his NFL career entering the AFC championship game, had thrown for just over 1,400 passing yards, with six touchdown passes and seven interceptions.
This alone led to mixed reactions from fans and analysts. Many believed the Broncos postseason outcome was directly impacted by the timing of Nix’s injury, arguing that Stidham had been placed in an unfavorable position rather than being the cause of the team’s struggles.
What remained clear was the effect of losing a starting quarterback after a franchise best regular season. The shift from Nix to Stidham changed how the offense operated and overall the team’s dynamic, especially at the most critical point of the year. After a 14-3 season that positioned Denver as a legitimate contender, the sudden loss left fans, analysts, and players questioning what might have been and ultimately asking, “what if?”
