Bo Nix and Sean Payton Build Strong Foundation Through Communication in Denver

Bo Nix was one of the six quarterbacks drafted in the first round of the NFL Draft, selected by the Denver Broncos as the 12th overall pick.

Bo Nix and Sean Payton Build Strong Foundation Through Communication in Denver

Bo Nix, Sean Payton (Image via Predominantly Orange)

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In 2024, the Denver Broncos qualified for their first playoff since the time Peyton Manning was the starter. The Broncos finished third in the tightly contested AFC West with just enough wins to triumph over the Cincinnati Bengals and Miami Dolphins.

The Broncos took a gamble in the past season when they handed the Oregon Ducks QB Bo Nix the starting job right from the beginning. In fact, he was the first-ever rookie to start for the Bengals in Week 1 since John Elway in 1983.

Although his first few weeks weren’t an ideal start, Nix finished with 3,775 passing yards and 29 touchdowns from a 66.3 completion rate. He also rushed for 430 yards and 4 touchdowns while being named as one of the potential candidates for OROY.

The quarterback and the coach had established quite a connection even before selecting him in the draft. The Broncos HC Sean Payton had a leaning towards the young quarterback due to his high completion rate and low negative play differential in college. As the Broncos start their season against the Tennesee Titans on Sunday, Payton and Nix’s connection is stronger than ever.

In an interview with Sports Illustrated on behalf of Mizzen + Main, Bo Nix reflected on his initial meetings with Payton in Oregon and what has followed since. Nix acknowledged that Payton was very listening about his speech about their offensive principles can mesh. He added that Payton’s interest gave him a hope. He later heaped praise on praises about Payton and how he’s nurturing him as a coach.

It’s great. It’s great to play for a coach who is confident in you and feels comfortable with you out there leading the offense… I always feel like I’m learning, always feel like I’m picking up on different things. He’s just seen so much over time, and he’s learned a lot, and as a coach, he’s changed and adapted.

Nix’s comments about Payton has a crucial value considering that one of the main reasons rookies wash out is due to the lack of good connection between them and the coaching personnel. In an atomsphere where failure is not an option, even as a young rookie, Payton’s trust in Nix is a huge reason for his success.

Bo Nix not afraid to push back, even if it’s against his coach

As developing athletes with not even a season of experience, the playing field is quite harsh. They don’t have the assurance many older veteran quarterbacks have. The lack of such assurance often shields them from pointing the finger at the coaches. But, that’s not the case in Denver, or more so that’s not who Bo Nix is.

Bo Nix
Bo Nix (Image via Getty Images)

Nix, rather than being a sounding board of advice, has developed a connection with his coach enough to be able to push back. That included firing back at Sean Payton on the sidelines as well.

He really enjoys a quarterback that’ll be open and honest with him about what plays we’re running, or what plays that I want, what plays I that don’t necessarily like, and he’s open to all of it. He’s been around a lot of quarterbacks, and so he’s run a lot of different plays for a lot of different guys, and he’s not just stuck to a few things just because he likes it.

The relationship between the two is evidently the foundation of Broncos making the playoff last season and they believe that they are far more cemented and advanced than before.

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