Jarrett Stidham shares heartfelt reaction to stepping in for Bo Nix during AFC Championship loss
According to one Denver Bronco, Jarrett Stidham was thrust into an impossible situation when he was called upon to replace Bo Nix in the AFC Championship Game.
Cornerback Patrick Surtain II said Stidham had virtually no realistic chance to thrive against the New England Patriots, especially after spending the entire season behind Nix. The 10–7 defeat, with a Super Bowl LX appearance at stake, only amplified the difficulty.
Surtain told Julian Edelman on the Games With Names podcast that Stidham’s limited reps couldn’t have prepared him to suddenly take over for the quarterback who replaced him at Auburn in 2019 after Surtain was drafted ironically by the Patriots.
“It’s tough for anyone to be in that situation,” Surtain said. “You don’t play all year because Bo’s the guy, then suddenly you’re thrown into an AFC Championship. The game is faster, the tempo is faster. It’s tough all around.”
Broncos couldn’t enjoy their win over the Bills after learning about Nix’s injury
Surtain also recalled how the locker room mood completely shifted after Denver’s dramatic 33–30 overtime victory against the Buffalo Bills in the Divisional Round. The excitement evaporated the moment players learned Nix had suffered a fractured ankle and would miss the conference title game.
“Everyone was ready to celebrate,” Surtain said. “Coming off an emotional overtime win, the energy was sky-high. Then we got the news Bo broke his ankle. It was deflating, like a dagger to the heart. We all felt for him.”
The setback was even more concerning given Nix’s history of ankle issues dating back to the 2021 season, his final year at Auburn, which ended with a 43–34 loss to Mississippi State.
Though Nix is expected to return by Week 1 in September, Broncos fans remain uneasy not only about their starting quarterback’s durability but also about their confidence in Stidham after his difficult showing in the AFC Championship.
