Bo Nix

Lore & Background

Nix was born on February 25, 2000, in Arkadelphia, Arkansas. He played under his father Patrick at Pinson Valley High School in Pinson, Alabama, where he accumulated over 12,000 total offensive yards and 161 touchdowns. Previously, Nix played at Scottsboro High School in Scottsboro, Alabama, where he passed for 3,463 yards and threw 40 touchdown passes. Nix won Alabama's Mr. Football Award as a senior in 2018. He was rated the top dual-threat quarterback of his class and committed to play college football at Auburn University. As a true freshman at Auburn, Nix was named the starting quarterback for the 2019 season. He led Auburn to a 27–21 come-back win against the Oregon Ducks at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on August 31, 2019. Nix led Auburn to a 9–4 record in his freshman season, winning the Iron Bowl, 48–45 over Alabama. He was voted the SEC's 2019 Freshman of the Year, finishing the campaign with 16 touchdowns and six interceptions. Nix threw for 12 touchdowns and seven interceptions as a sophomore in 11 games in the pandemic-shortened season in 2020. The year 2021 brought an up-and-down season for Nix, with highlights being leading Auburn to their first win at LSU since 1999 and a win over #10 Ole Miss, while also struggling in certain games and being benched for T. J. Finley in the fourth quarter of a game against Georgia State. Nix suffered a season-ending injury against Mississippi State. He threw for 11 touchdowns and three interceptions in 2021. On December 12, 2021, Nix announced he was entering the transfer portal, describing himself as 'miserable' while playing under Auburn head coach Bryan Harsin, who had been hired in 2021. In 2022, Nix transferred to the University of Oregon with two seasons of eligibility remaining based on the NCAA's COVID-19 eligibility waiver for the 2020 season. Nix led Oregon to a 10–3 record in the 2022 season. The season saw ranked victories over BYU, UCLA, and Utah before culminating in a narrow 28–27 victory over North Carolina in the Holiday Bowl. Nix finished the season with 3,593 passing yards, 29 touchdowns, and seven interceptions to go along with 89 carries for 510 yards and 14 touchdowns. He also had a receiving touchdown on the season. In the 2023 season, Nix led Oregon to a successful season, while primarily being in contention for the College Football Playoff.

Reader's Guide

Nix was selected by the Denver Broncos in the first round (12th overall) of the 2024 NFL draft. He initially drew the interest of head coach Sean Payton due to his high completion rate and low negative play differential in college, in addition to an impressive performance in private workouts. Nix was the last of six quarterbacks taken in the first round, tied with the 1983 draft for the most in NFL history. On May 11, 2024, he signed his four-year rookie contract, worth $18.6 million fully guaranteed. On August 22, Nix was named the Broncos' starting quarterback for the season opener against the Seattle Seahawks, becoming the first Broncos rookie to start since John Elway in 1983. In his NFL debut against Seattle, Nix completed 26 of 42 passes for 138 yards, two interceptions, and a rushing touchdown during a 26–20 loss. His 138 passing yards set an NFL record for the fewest by a quarterback with 25 or more completions in a game. Nix earned his first win in week 3 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, throwing for 216 yards, a rushing touchdown, and no interceptions in a 26–7 victory. In week 4, he recorded his first career passing touchdown and led the Broncos to a 10–9 upset victory over the New York Jets despite ending the first half with negative passing yards and finishing the game with only 60 total passing yards. Additionally, Nix did not allow a turnover or sack for the second consecutive game. Nix had a standout October, beginning with a three-touchdown performance in a week 5 victory against the Las Vegas Raiders, followed by 216 passing yards and two touchdowns in week 6 against the Los Angeles Chargers. In week 7, he led the Broncos to a dominant 33–10 win over the New Orleans Saints, tying the franchise record for rookie quarterback wins. He capped the month with 284 passing yards, four total touchdowns, and a 75.7% completion rate in week 8 against the Carolina Panthers, setting a new franchise record with five wins as a rookie. His performances throughout October earned him NFL Offensive Rookie of the Month honors. In Week 9 against the Baltimore Ravens, Nix caught his first career receiving touchdown on a trick play from receiver Courtland Sutton.

Did You Know?

• He set a franchise record with five wins as a rookie in October 2024.
• Nix finished third in the Heisman Trophy vote in 2023 behind Jayden Daniels and Michael Penix Jr.
• He started 61 games between Auburn and Oregon, the most in NCAA history for a quarterback.