Denver Broncos quarterbacks Jarrett Stidham and Bo Nix (and Zach Wilson) are set to compete for the team’s starting job this summer. The situation puts Stidham in somewhat of an awkward scenario.
Stidham, of course, wants to win the starting job, and he has demonstrated leadership this offseason by organizing workouts with his teammates.
Stidham also wants to be a good teammate, though, and he’s not delusional. He knows the Broncos used a first-round pick on Nix for a reason. Eventually, Nix will take over as the team’s long-term quarterback.
Stidham is willing to be a veteran mentor to the rookie QB, even if that means helping the very person he’s competing against. Perhaps their preexisting relationship is a factor in that dynamic.
Nix followed Stidham to Auburn after high school, and they’ve known each other for years.
“I’ve known Bo since he was 16 or 17 years old,” Stidham said on May 23. “We go way back. I know him and his family really well, and I hosted him on his official visit to Auburn back in the day. I’ve known Bo for a long time.”
Stidham entered the NFL draft following the 2018 season and Nix arrived at Auburn ahead of the 2019 season. They did not overlap with the Tigers, but Nix has always looked up to Stidham.
“I missed [Stidham] by a year, but I was able to be around him during recruitment,” Nix said during a call with reporters on April 25 when asked about following Stidham to Auburn. ”I have a lot of respect for him. I got to watch him my last two years of high school. Really thought he did a good job of putting Auburn back to where it was a place that I wanted to go and be a part of. A lot of that was through his leadership, through his play.
“I’m excited to be with him. I know he’s had a long career in the league and he’s a very smart quarterback, very talented guy. I know he throws the ball really well. I just remember watching him a lot and looking up to him. I’m excited to be his teammate.”
Now together in the NFL, the respect that Nix and Stidham have for each other should have positive effects for the Broncos. Both are competing to win the starting job, but Stidham is willing to help Nix where he can, and both want to help the team win. Whoever starts in Week 1 will have the backing of the other, and they’ll push each other to improve. It’s a healthy dynamic going into training camp.
