Bo Nix’s drive comes from a place Broncos fans will love

To a man, nearly every Denver Bronco will tell you: This is Bo Nix’s team now — and that is one motivator for the young quarterback

BY JAKE SHAPIRO

Jul 26, 2025, 1:30 PM Updated: 5:08 pm

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To a man, nearly every Denver Bronco will tell you: This is Bo Nix’s team now. The 24-year-old quarterback doesn’t deny it — he just deflects. As Nix enters his second NFL season, he’ll admit to you he wants to climb the league’s top-100 player rankings, but the reason isn’t the number next to his name.

The reason he wants to rise to be the best it’s so he’s not letting anyone down.

That fear — of failing his teammates, of being unprepared, of not being enough — is what drives the former Oregon Ducks star. And that mindset might be what separates him from the long list of quarterbacks who’ve had a sophomore slump.

“I know I got a lot of growth left, a lot to be done,” Nix said after Saturday’s Broncos training camp practice. “But these guys are going to help me get there… I think just being the quarterback of a team like this, it’s what you look for, what you practice for, work for your whole time.”

The NFL’s Steep Learning Curve

The history of second-year quarterbacks is mixed. Some of the highlights include Peyton Manning going from leading the league in interceptions as a rookie to throwing 26 touchdowns and a playoff berth in his second season. Josh Allen made modest strides, while Patrick Mahomes sat out most of his rookie season before winning MVP in Year 2.

Nix’s path is likely between the flameouts and legends. After winning the starting job last fall as a rookie and helping stabilize a chaotic Broncos offense left in Russell Wilson’s wake, Nix enters this year not only with a firm grasp of Sean Payton’s playbook but the locker room in his corner.

“Just been there, done that,” Nix said. “I don’t have to worry about what certain looks are, or where we’re going for the locker room… Now I can focus on the next-level things and the details. A lot of times, as a rookie, you just don’t want to look like an idiot. Now you can go out there and look a lot better than the idiots.”

The Offseason Reset

Nix’s biggest offseason gain didn’t come in the weight room or film room — it came in how he used his time off.

Last year, like most rookies, Nix went straight from a grueling college season into the pre-draft process, then through OTAs, training camp, and the full 18-week NFL grind. There was no mental break. And when he finally came up for air this offseason, he felt something unfamiliar: fear.

“Sometimes I think we’re so focused and in rhythm in college — just work, work, work, year-round. Then we get to the NFL and go through the draft, and you’re drowning,” Nix said. “You get time off, and it’s like, How do I handle this? For me, it’s more the fear of not being ready, not being enough for the team.”

Nix did decompress, but not too much. He worked on his mechanics with a famed coach, met with Drew Brees, and spent a ton of time in Denver training and bonding with his teammates.

“It was nice to catch up and kind of get back to where I want to be physically, get back to where I want to be mentally, and make strides,” Nix said. “I don’t think the challenges will change. I think I’m just different.”

Ready for the Leap

Second-year quarterbacks are expected to leap. But for Nix, it’s not about proving pundits right or wrong — it’s about becoming the quarterback he knows his team already believes he can be.

“I just want to continue to show these guys that I’m willing to work and find every which way we can to find wins… We’re just out here kind of sharpening each other, going best on best,” Nix said. “It’s fun.”

The Broncos have found their quarterback. Now Nix’s job is to take the team back to glory, and he’s already started by winning over the locker room.