For about an hour their team beat the Buffalo Bills in Saturday's playoff game, Denver Broncos fans had plenty reasons to be riding high.
As the No. 1 seed in the AFC, the Broncos got their first playoff win in years, coming out on top of an overtime thriller. Rising star quarterback Bo Nix threw for 279 yards and three touchdowns in the win, and he initially appeared set to make another start in next week's AFC Championship Game.
Sean Payton then dropped one of the most shocking bits of news of the entire NFL season: Nix is now considered done for the playoffs after breaking a bone in his ankle. He's set to have surgery on Tuesday in Alabama, per Adam Schefter.
“We felt it was best to tell everyone now,” Payton said.
Out of the blue, Denver will be turning to its backup quarterback, Jarrett Stidham, for the AFC Championship Game, able to advance to the Super Bowl for the first time in a decade.
Here's what to know about Stidham and the Broncos' quarterback room after Nix's injury.
MORE: What to know about Bo Nix's season-ending injury
Broncos QB depth chart
| Rank | Name |
| 1. | Bo Nix (out) |
| 2. | Jarrett Stidham |
| 3. | Sam Ehlinger |
Nix has been the Broncos' starting quarterback since the moment he stepped onto an NFL field as a rookie in 2024 season. And, health permitting, he should be under-center for Denver for years to come.
However, if the Broncos are going to win a Super Bowl in the coming weeks, Nix will be on the sidelines with his ankle injury. That means that Stidham, a journeyman who landed with Denver in 2023, will have the duties of leading the team toward the Lombardi Trophy.
Stidham hasn't made a start since the 2023 season for the Broncos. He's been a backup for his entire NFL career so far.
While Stidham is expected to start, the Broncos also have Sam Ehlinger as further quarterback insurance. The former Texas standout was the Colts’ starter for some time in 2022, but Ehlinger hasn’t attempted a pass since 2023.
Should he start in the AFC Championship Game, Stidham would be the first quarterback to start in the conference championship round or later after not throwing a single pass during the regular season, per OptaSTATS.
Jarrett Stidham would be the first NFL QB to start in the conference championship round or later after not throwing a single pass during the regular season (since QB starts were first tracked in 1950). Pic.twitter.com/Cs5ewLWoJq
— OptaSTATS (@OptaSTATS) January 18, 2026
MORE BILLS-BRONCOS:
- How five turnovers, including four from Josh Allen, doomed Buffalo
- Defensive pass interference calls set up Broncos' game-winning kick
- Ja'Quan McMillian wrestles ball from Brandin Cooks for key OT interception
- Meet the 325-pound offensive lineman who scored a playoff TD for Broncos
- Latest injury updates on hospitalized Bills LB Dorian Williams
- Inside Bills hook-and-ladder play that helped set up overtime
Who is Jarrett Stidham?
Jarrett Stidham is a backup quarterback for the Broncos who has been with the team since 2023. He played at Auburn and Baylor in college, totaling 7,217 passing yards, 48 touchdowns and 13 interceptions over three years, then being selected by the Patriots with the 133rd overall pick in the fourth round of the 2019 NFL Draft.
Stidham was a backup for New England from 2019-21, primarily serving as QB2 to Tom Brady, Cam Newton and Mac Jones.
In 2022, the Patriots traded Stidham and a seventh-round pick to the Raiders for a sixth-round pick. It was in Las Vegas that he made his first NFL starts, taking over for Derek Carr twice in the 2022 season and totaling 656 passing yards, four touchdowns and three interceptions.
Stidham signed a two-year deal with the Broncos in May 2023, and he's been with the team since. After Russell Wilson was benched in the 2023 season, it was Stidham who started Denver's final two games of the season, totaling 496 yards, two touchdowns and one interception.
However, Stidham hasn't started for the Broncos in 2024 or 2025. He appeared in just one game in the past regular season.
Jarrett Stidham contract details
- Years: 2
- Amount: $12 million
Stidham is one of the NFL's most well-compensated backup quarterbacks. In March 2025, he agreed to a two-year, $12 million deal to stay with the Broncos.
Stidham is under contract for Denver through the 2026 season. Per Over the Cap, Stidham's $6 million AAV this season was the same as Tyrod Taylor (Jets) and Zach Wilson (Dolphins) among quarterbacks.
How old is Jarrett Stidham?
Jarrett Stidham is 29 years old. He will turn 30 on Aug. 8, 2026.