Peyton Manning doesn’t hold back with blunt assessment of Bo Nix heading into his sophomore season
Some strong words from The Sheriff.
The Denver Broncos believe they’ve found their franchise quarterback in Bo Nix. After a rocky start, Nix silenced the critics and let his play do the talking. Heading into his second NFL season, he’s trying to avoid the sophomore slump, and Peyton Manning wants the world to know that he doesn’t see regression happening from the talented quarterback.
In fact, Peyton showered Nix with praise and is all-in on the Bo hype train. Manning is a legend in Denver, and rightfully so — his comments about Nix have quickly gone viral for all the right reasons. If you weren’t already pumped to see what Nix has in store in 2025, you’ll be ready after hearing what “The Sheriff” had to say. The Hall of Fame quarterback shared his thoughts in an exclusive interview with The Denver Post.
“I just don’t see that as being a big factor for him,” Manning said. “Rookie quarterbacks are supposed to struggle, and then the game slows down. But it sure looked like it slowed down a lot for him last year. Like with C.J. Stroud, Bo didn’t play like a rookie [. . .] I believe experience is the best teacher, and he got great experience last year.”
When asked what makes Nix tick, he provided an inside look at the intangibles that’ll allow Bo to thrive in the NFL. Not only that, he left no doubt in his belief that Denver has found its next franchise quarterback. One thing is for certain — he’s a big fan of Nix’s game.
“Bo is made of the right stuff,” Manning offered. “He’s a little bit older, carries himself the right way. And all of it should help as he moves forward in his career. I am just happy that Bo is the established starter. For a number of years, they had quarterback competitions. That’s hard on the receivers, the coaches, the play-caller, and the quarterback. Now, they’ve got their guy.”
Manning’s first season in the league
Peyton was no stranger to criticism upon entering the league. We are all familiar with his multiple Super Bowls by now. Still, during his rookie season, he set a record with 28 interceptions and followed it up by finishing second in MVP voting at the end of his second season. Manning pointed to another eventual Hall of Fame legend, Drew Brees, noting how Nix is looking to history in an attempt to continue molding his game.
“For him to spend time with Brees makes a lot of sense as far as learning Sean’s offense and the mental side of things,” Manning said. “That is an example of him not being satisfied.”
Wrapping it all up, he praised the city of Denver while talking about how his own journey has differed from Nix’s. He was a free-agent acquisition, while Nix became the first Denver quarterback since 2016 to start in back-to-back seasons.
“I signed in Denver as a free agent after playing for 14 years. Being drafted here, that’s an even different kind of pressure,” Manning said. “I was certainly aware of the responsibility that comes with it, and I believe Bo is as well. It is important. People care so much, and you feel that. That’s the kind of environment you want, where they talk about your team during the season, free agency, and the draft. It’s an unbelievable place to play. I believe Bo understands it and embraces it. I only see him getting better.”
Bo Nix vs. the world
It’ll all come down to what Nix does on the football field when it counts. But from the looks of it, everyone surrounding the second-year quarterback has nothing but high praise and high hopes for 2025. If Manning is a fan of his work, surely Broncos Country will follow.
For the team to get back to its Super Bowl-winning ways, a large part of that will fall on Nix’s shoulders. (Side note: Here was my favorite touchdown Nix had last season, a lot to choose from.)
He’s ready for the challenge, and we can’t wait to see what he does during the regular season.