Who is Jarrett Stidham? Broncos backup QB who will take over for Bo Nix

It's an unfortunate call to action for Stidham, but it also is the biggest game of his life. The upcoming AFC Championship game is the biggest game he's ever played as he's stepping in as the Denver Broncos' starting quarterback after Bo Nix suffered a season-ending ankle injury, marking his first-ever playoff start and a huge opportunity in a high-stakes game. 

Who is Jarrett Stidham? The Backup quarterback from Stephenville, TX, is set to take over at the AFC Championship.

The 29-year old quarterback hails from a small town roughly 100 miles west of Dallas, Stephenville, TX. He was a standout in his high school days playing for Stephenville High. He emerged as one of the nation's most sought-after quarterback prospects, earning national attention, transferring south of Stephenville to Baylor in Waco, before later transferring to Auburn.

With Bo Nix out for the season, Denver’s starting QB for next Sunday’s AFC Championship Game will be Jarrett Stidham. His backup now will be Sam Ehlinger. pic.twitter.com/arNI7Xbv8C

While at Auburn, he led the Tigers to memorable moments, including big wins over SEC rivals Alabama and Georgia in 2017. He led the Tigers to an SEC Championship appearance and earned Second-Team All-SEC honors, becoming the SEC Newcomer of the Year. It was his deep-ball accuracy and skillset that earned him an NFL Draft selection in 2019 by the New England Patriots. 

After three seasons with the Patriots, he was traded to the Raiders in 2022. He later signed a two-year deal with the Broncos in 2023 and then resigned in 2025. Stidham has spent much of his career as a dependable backup, occasionally stepping in when needed but never fully seizing a starting role. That all changes Sunday, as the Denver Broncos await their possible opponent tomorrow, with both the Houston Texans and New England Patriots making their case for the AFC Championship. Kick-off is scheduled for 2:00 pm on ESPN.

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