‘He’s going to be one of the top four or five quarterbacks in the league’: Sean Payton praises Bo Nix’s rapid rise

Tom Gorski

 ‘He’s going to be one of the top four or five quarterbacks in the league’: Sean Payton praises Bo Nix’s rapid rise image

Bo Nix is coming off one of the most productive rookie seasons in recent memory with the Denver Broncos. Even after such a strong season, head coach Sean Payton thinks the sky is the limit and has even higher expectations.

In Payton’s eyes, Nix isn’t just ahead of the curve — he’s redefining it. The former Oregon star quickly earned the trust of his teammates and coaching staff with his poise, decision-making, and rare ability to extend plays without making costly mistakes.

“He’s going to be one of the top four or five quarterbacks in the league the next two years,” Payton said. “That’s what we’re seeing right now. He doesn’t take sacks. He’s got exceptional arm strength. ... He threw the longest ball — [67] air yards against Cincinnati. He can run. He can throw in funny body angles.”

Nix didn’t just look good — the numbers tell the story, too. From day one, he played with a confidence you don’t often see in a rookie.

He completed 66% of his passes for 3,775 yards and 29 touchdowns, with 12 interceptions. On the ground, he rushed for 430 yards and four scores, showing off his athleticism.

More than anything, Nix looked like he belonged. 

He ran Payton’s offense with poise, got the ball out quickly, and minimized mistakes — qualities the Broncos have been missing at quarterback for years. He also led Denver to their first playoff appearance since 2014.

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If his rookie season was any indication, Nix isn’t just Denver’s quarterback of the future — he’s already looking like one of the league’s rising stars.

Tom Gorski

Tom Gorski is a freelance writer with The Sporting News. He is pursuing a master’s degree in sports media at Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism. Tom earned his bachelor’s degree in Sports Communications from DePaul University, where he spent two years reporting on the Big East for The DePaulia, the university’s award-winning student newspaper. His background in sports journalism includes positions with 247Sports, the Region Sports Network and Fans First Sports Network, where he covered high school, college and professional sports.