The Denver Broncos have been rocked by a devastating season-ending injury to star quarterback Bo Nix, leaving their Super Bowl dreams in the hands of Jarrett Stidham.
Nix, who led Denver to a historic 14-3 record this season, suffered a fractured right ankle during the final moments of Saturday’s 33-30 victory against the Buffalo Bills.
Head coach Sean Payton confirmed the grim news shortly after the game, announcing that Stidham will lead the Broncos into the AFC Championship Game -despite having not played a single snap of regular-season football this year.
His last competitive appearance came in the preseason, where he posted a massive 143.0 passer rating, completing 30-of-38 passes for 376 yards and four touchdowns.
The Texas native was originally a fourth-round pick for the New England Patriots in 2019, once viewed as a potential successor to the legendary Tom Brady.
Stidham previously stepped in for the Broncos in 2023 after the benching of Russell Wilson, earning a win against the Los Angeles Chargers.
Jarrett Stidham will be tasked with leading the Denver Broncos in the AFC Championship game
Denver Broncos starting quarterback Bo Nix suffered a season-ending injury on Saturday
Stidham, pictured with wife Kennedy and their children, has not played a game this season
Before his professional journey, Stidham survived a turbulent college career that saw him start at Baylor before transferring to Auburn following a campus scandal.
Off the field, Stidham is supported by his wife, Kennedy Stidham, a former Baylor soccer star and the daughter of Tad Brown, the CEO of Blitzer Sports & Entertainment – the ownership group behind the Philadelphia 76ers and the New Jersey Devils.
The couple met as students at Baylor in 2015 and dated for three years before Stidham proposed on a Texas lake in 2018.
They tied the knot in June 2019, just months after he was drafted into the NFL, and have since built a family of five in Denver.
The couple recently welcomed their third child, a daughter named Nella, on October 6, 2025 and took to Instagram to share a heartfelt post at the time.
Stidham is a devoted father to three young children: eldest daughter Lennon Love, born in April 2022, son Madden and baby Nella.
Kennedy is a regular fixture at Mile High Stadium and frequently shares ‘cinematic’ looks at their busy life behind the scenes via her Instagram.
While Nix’s sophomore season – featuring 3,931 yards and 25 touchdowns – is over, the Broncos locker room is rallying behind their new signal caller.
The couple recently welcomed their third child, a daughter named Nella, on October 6, 2025
Stidham is a father to three young children: eldest daughter Lennon Love, born in April 2022, son Madden and baby Nella
Stidham’s last competitive appearance came in the preseason, where he posted a massive 143.0 passer rating, completing 30-of-38 passes for 376 yards and four touchdowns
Surprisingly, backups have fared well in conference championships.
Most recently, the Philadelphia Eagles’ Nick Foles tossed for 352 yards and three touchdowns to beat the Minnesota Vikings in the 2018 NFC Championship en route to a Super Bowl win over the Patriots in February of 2019.
Earl Morrall famously replaced injured Miami Dolphins starter Bob Griese during the 1972 season before beating the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC Championship and Washington Redskins in the Super Bowl to complete the only perfect season in NFL history.
Giants backup Jeff Hostetler overcame his own leg injury in the 1990 NFC Championship against the San Francisco 49ers to advance to the Super Bowl, where he’d lead New York over the Buffalo Bills in the absence of injured starter Phil Simms.
But unlike Stidham, predecessors Foles, Morrall and Hostetler all saw action before stepping in for the conference championship.
Nix’s injury, meanwhile, occurred during a dramatic overtime period against Buffalo, as the second-year starter was taken down by the Bills pass rush.
Stidham previously stepped in for the Broncos in 2023 after the benching of Russell Wilson
Giants backup Jeff Hostetler overcame a leg injury in the 1990 NFC Championship against the San Francisco 49ers to advance to the Super Bowl
Earl Morrall (15) famously replaced injured Miami Dolphins starter Bob Griese during the 1972 season before beating the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC Championship
Despite the loss of their star, the Broncos’ defense held firm to allow a game-winning field goal, securing their place in the final four.
Nix had been the frontrunner for several awards after transforming a Denver offense that had struggled for consistency in previous years.
The Broncos’ 14-3 record marks their best regular-season performance in over a decade, igniting a city that has been desperate for a deep playoff run.
Denver will play the AFC Championship at home, hosting the winner of the clash between the Houston Texans and the New England Patriots.
