Inside the moment Sean Payton identified Bo Nix as the Denver Broncos’ next quarterback

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Sean Payton has his franchise quarterback.

On Thursday night, less than two hours into the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft, Bo Nix got the call he has been dreaming of. Sean Payton was on the other end.

“I was very excited, almost speechless when I got that call,” the 24-year-old quarterback told the Denver media minutes after receiving the call from the Broncos that he would be their pick at 12. “Just very excited. Very happy to be a Bronco.”

On April 25, Bo Nix officially became a Denver Bronco.

But Nix became the Broncos’ guy just over a month before.

A day after Nix’s Pro Day, Payton led a large contingent of Broncos personnel to the University of Oregon to hold a private workout with the 6-foot-2, 217-pound quarterback.

“I had great meetings with them. Between meetings, workouts, throwing, I was able to build a great connection with them,” Nix said about his meeting with the team. “Always loved being around the coaches, the guys making the decisions and all of that.”

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Broncos sent three packets of offensive play installation to Nix the night before the private workout. Nix went on to “crush” the classroom meeting. At that moment, according to Schefter, that’s when the Broncos knew they had their quarterback.

“We talked a lot of football,” Nix stated about his meeting with Payton. “We talked a lot about his scheme and what he’s done for so many years and how he’s been so successful. It was a blast talking football, to be honest with you. It was a blast being in there with him and the coaches.”

“They brought a lot of guys up there to the private (workout),” he continued. “I was very honored to have them around. I know it’s tough to get to Eugene, but I was super excited, super thrilled to work with them. Had a blast. I definitely saw a great relationship there at that moment. Just happy to be part of their team now.”

While Nix was the sixth quarterback selected in the draft, he became the highest-drafted quarterback in Payton’s tenure as a head coach and the first quarterback Payton has ever selected in the first round. Nix also became the second-highest drafted signal caller in Broncos history, only coming in one draft spot behind Jay Cutler.

On top of all of that, Nix has been identified as the quarterback to help the Broncos escape a disastrous eight-year playoff drought. Nix said it means “a lot” to be selected as the quarterback to help the Broncos get back to the playoffs.

“I can’t thank them enough for taking me and for putting their beliefs in me,” he said, with pure joy in his voice. “Like I said, there’s a lot in the future that’s going to need to be done. A lot of work to be done. A lot of growing and a lot of getting better. I appreciate the value that they had in me.”

Payton and Nix bonded during their meeting in Eugene over offensive scheme.

“I think when you look at their offense, when you look at their scheme, a lot of really fun concepts that I’ve run in the past, a lot of things that I’ve been able to do and have success in and we were able to just talk over those and communicate those,” Nix explained. “I believe just talking football is one of the best things you can do in the process and that’s what we did a lot of.”

Nix doesn’t expect to be handed the starting job and he hasn’t been given any initial guarantees that he will be the starter.

“I know everybody has to compete. I know everybody has to go to work,” Nix said. “We haven’t had any conversations thus far past just draft prep and obviously the recent draft pick. Other than that, I just can’t wait to get around the locker room, can’t wait to get around the guys, meet all my new teammates, meet coaches and get to work.”

After having one of the most outstanding college careers, Nix officially became a Bronco on Thursday night. But Nix set the stage for that a month earlier.

“I can’t say how excited I am to be a part of this organization,” Nix said, minutes after becoming Sean Payton’s next quarterback.