ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — “You want to win a Super Bowl?”
Those were some of the first words Bo Nix told the Denver Broncos’ brass when they called him on Thursday night to tell him they were selecting him with the 12th pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
“Right there around pick 12, I get a phone call,” the newest Denver Bronco said at his introductory press conference on Friday, explaining the moment that changed his life the night before.
“I’m just extremely excited and honored for it to be the Denver Broncos. Truly can tell you this, if I could pick where I wanted to go, I was going to pick Denver because of the relationships that we had built through the process,” the 24-year old humbly said, donning a blue tie and Bronco pin on his chest on Friday. “I just felt like it was a great fit for me and just excited to get that phone call.”
The city of Denver showed out for Nix with a beautiful 70 degree day as he arrived to his new home from Arkansas on a private chartered flight on Friday morning.
“Love the city,” Nix said. “It’s a pretty day outside. Just excited to be here.”
Growing up, the gunslinger watched Sean Payton and Drew Brees slice up opposing defenses in New Orleans on their way to winning Super Bowl XLIV.
“It’s very surreal,” Nix said, when asked what it means to be chosen by Payton. “I knew the efficient offenses [Brees and Payton] had and how well they worked together. Honestly, in college you learn, you’re with so many different coaches, that relationship is so important. It’s one that every quarterback and play caller, and head coach need to have together. I’m excited to be around him. I’m excited to learn from him.”
Now, Payton has identified Nix to be his next Brees.
“Whenever you’re comped to a guy like Drew Brees, it’s an honor just because the success he had, the career he had,” the 6-foot-2 quarterback said, before transitioning back to business. “All it is is just talk. I have to go out there and continue to do things just for the respect of that comparison. I think that’s what excites me the most. I’m excited to just play football. I’m excited to go out there and compete.”
Throughout the draft process, many pundits pointed to the Broncos as a prime landing spot for a rookie quarterback because they would get to work with Sean Payton. Many of the quarterback prospects also echoed that sentiment as well.
“First and foremost, it’s a huge honor. He could have picked anybody else in this draft, but he picked me,” Nix said about Payton selecting him. “With that comes great responsibility and one that I can’t take lightly and I won’t take for granted… Just excited to be his guy. That’s not lightly said. Again, I don’t just want to be a draft pick. I want to be able to show my improvements and show that I can do what he picked me to do and that’s go out there and win games. Or help win games. Do whatever I can to put his team in a better situation.”
“It starts with the next best thing that I can do,” Nix continued, explaining how he plans to live up to Payton and the Broncos’ expectations. “I’m about to finish this press conference, finish out the tour, have a few weeks before the rookie minicamps and have a lot to learn before then. I’m glad there are two weeks before buffer time.”
After a record-breaking college career, Nix enters the NFL with an opportunity to hit the ground running. With Zach Wilson, Jarrett Stidham and Ben DiNucci rounding out the quarterback room, Nix has a chance to start as a rookie.
“My goal for this year is to do whatever I can, quite simply, to help this franchise and organization succeed at a high level and win games,” Nix said, talking about his goals for his rookie season. “I think that’s all — that’s our job. We show up each and every day to win games. We have a great opportunity here. It’s an unreal organization. Fans are incredible. They put so much effort into watching us succeed. And everyone that is a part of the organization, that’s what our goal is. For me, I just got to start from somewhere and grow each and every day to be the best player I can possibly be for my teammates for my coaches.”
Bo Nix hasn’t played a snap in the NFL yet. And he already has his eyes set on a much bigger prize than just making it to the NFL.
“I knew I was going to go to the right spot and the right spot is here,” Nix stated, making it clear he wanted to land in the Mile High City.
