History was made Thursday night in Detroit in the first round of the NFL draft, as a record six quarterbacks were selected within the first 12 picks. Only the 1983 quarterback class starring Dan Marino, Jim Kelly and John Elway matched the 2024 group with six first-rounders.
Elway was the No. 1 pick in that ’83 draft, taken by the Baltimore Colts. But days later they traded him to the Denver Broncos, where he spent his entire 16-year Hall-of-Fame career, winning an NFL MVP award (1987) and two Super Bowls (XXXII, XXXIII), and cementing his name forever in Denver sports lore.
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The Broncos are now hoping Bo Nix can follow suit. The team took the former Oregon/Auburn QB with the 12th overall selection.
Pick No. 12.
Welcome to #BroncosCountry, @BoNix10! pic.twitter.com/WCOBcrIrFm
— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) April 26, 2024
“I would say that probably early into the process, shortly after these workouts, [Nix] stood out in a lot of areas,” Broncos head coach Sean Payton said in a press conference after drafting the 6-foot-2, 216-pounder. “You pay close attention to all the film study. Obviously, he’s played a lot of football, but [he stood out in] sack differential, turnover differential, accuracy, third-down passing. … I would say his arm strength was — we saw it at the pro day — but even in the private workout, was very good. He’s super smart.”
Nix is now set to join a competitive quarterback room with Zach Wilson, Jarrett Stidham and Ben DiNucci after 2023 starter Russell Wilson was released and later signed by the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Broncos haven’t named a starting QB for 2024, but with Zach Wilson (the No. 2 overall pick in 2021) coming over in a trade with the New York Jets before the draft last week, Nix may be freed up to learn his way in the NFL without the pressure to start right away.
Nix took to Instagram in the hours after getting drafted to thank the Broncos, and to thank the Lord.
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“I’m so excited to be a Denver Bronco,” Nix said at his introductory press conference in Denver a day after being drafted. “I’m excited for Day 1, can’t wait to get around my teammates.”
Later in the press conference, he was asked about how he dealt with the adversity he faced during his struggles at the beginning of his college career with Auburn.
“For me, it’s really easy,” Nix said. “My faith is really important to me. I’ve always been a faith-based person. I believe that God has a plan for me and my life. I truly believe that He has set this path in front of me, and He put me here in Denver for a reason. That’s why honestly, through the process, I wasn’t nervous or anxious about it one bit. I knew that I was going to go to the right spot, and the right spot is here.
“… You just have to trust and believe that His plans are higher than your ways. So that’s what I truly believe. I’m a perfect example of that. If you haven’t seen it already, you can look at my story and know that He has an individual plan for each one of our lives. He sets it out in front of us, and all we have to do is follow.”
Nix lists his favorite Bible verse, Colossians 3:23, in his X and Instagram bios. The verse reads, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.”
The new Broncos QB has spoken about his faith in God for years, even since high school in 2018 when he and his father, Patrick, were guests on the Sports Spectrum Podcast.
“Whether it’s leading them on the field or off the field, just setting that example, being that role model that they would look up to,” Nix said on the podcast about his position of leadership as a starting quarterback. “Trying to do the right thing all the time when I’m around them and help them to know that it’s not weird or different to be different and do what’s right and be a Christ-follower.”
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Nix gave glory to God in a postgame interview after his first-ever college game, and he usually incorporates faith in Christ into his game-day uniform. Noticeably, he wears an armband with a cross drawn on his left wrist, a bracelet that says “In Jesus’ Name I Play” on his right wrist, and a right thigh pad displaying the shape of a cross.
In his announcement that he would be transferring from Auburn, Nix made sure to express his complete trust in God.
“I don’t know what the next chapter of my life looks like,” Nix said in the announcement video, “but I do know that whatever it is, God has ordered my steps and He has a plan for me like He does for everyone else.”
Nix knows that whatever is in his NFL future, God is orchestrating it all for His glory and for Nix’s ultimate good.
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