Bo Nix Still Undervalued by National Media

Despite leading the Broncos to a 14-3 season and the AFC Championship, the young QB continues to be ranked lower than his accomplishments suggest.

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix is still being undervalued by national media outlets, despite a wildly successful 2025 season that saw him lead the team to a 14-3 record and the AFC Championship game. Nix was ranked 18th on NFL.com's list of 63 starting QBs, behind players like Dak Prescott and Joe Burrow who had less impressive seasons. ESPN's Mina Kimes also re-ranked the 2024 QB draft class, placing Nix 4th behind players like Drake Maye and Caleb Williams, despite Nix tying Russell Wilson's record for most wins by a QB in their first two seasons. Broncos fans believe Nix deserves more respect for his accomplishments.

Why it matters

Nix's continued undervaluation by national media outlets is puzzling, given his impressive on-field performance and the Broncos' success last season. As the NFL offseason continues, this narrative could impact Nix's national profile and how he is perceived by fans and analysts around the league.

The details

In the 2025 season, Nix led the Broncos to a 14-3 record and the No. 1 seed in the AFC. He threw for nearly 4,000 yards and 25 touchdowns, helping the team reach the AFC Championship game. However, Nix broke his ankle and was unable to play in that game, which the Broncos lost 10-7 to the New England Patriots. Despite these accomplishments, Nix was ranked 18th on NFL.com's list of 63 starting quarterbacks, behind players like Dak Prescott, Justin Herbert, and Aaron Rodgers. ESPN's Mina Kimes also re-ranked the 2024 QB draft class, placing Nix 4th behind Drake Maye, Caleb Williams, and Jayden Daniels - a ranking that many feel does not properly reflect Nix's success in the NFL so far.

  • In the 2025 NFL season, Bo Nix led the Denver Broncos to a 14-3 record and the No. 1 seed in the AFC.
  • Nix broke his ankle and was unable to play in the AFC Championship game against the New England Patriots, which the Broncos lost 10-7.
  • In February 2026, NFL.com released a ranking of all 63 starting quarterbacks, placing Nix at 18th on the list.
  • Also in February 2026, ESPN's Mina Kimes re-ranked the 2024 QB draft class, placing Nix 4th behind Drake Maye, Caleb Williams, and Jayden Daniels.

The players

Bo Nix

The starting quarterback for the Denver Broncos, who led the team to a 14-3 record and the AFC Championship game in the 2025 season.

Josh Allen

The quarterback for the Buffalo Bills, who the Broncos defeated 33-30 in the divisional round of the 2025 playoffs.

Dak Prescott

The quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys, who was ranked 3rd on the NFL.com list of starting QBs, ahead of Nix.

Justin Herbert

The quarterback for the Los Angeles Chargers, who was ranked 5th on the NFL.com list of starting QBs, ahead of Nix.

Joe Burrow

The quarterback for the Cincinnati Bengals, who was ranked 10th on the NFL.com list of starting QBs, ahead of Nix.

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What they’re saying

“After that, I'm gonna go Bo Nix, he's obviously had a lot of success in the league already.”

— Mina Kimes, ESPN Analyst (ESPN)

What’s next

Nix will look to continue his success and lead the Broncos to a Super Bowl championship in the 2026 season, which could help change the national narrative around his perceived value.

The takeaway

Despite his impressive on-field performance and the Broncos' success, Bo Nix continues to be undervalued by national media outlets. This narrative could impact his national profile and perception around the league, but Nix will have the opportunity to silence his critics by leading the Broncos to a Super Bowl title in the upcoming season.