Broncos' backup quarterback gets huge vote of confidence from head coach before AFC title game

Jarrett Stidham volition marque his archetypal vocation playoff commencement adjacent play erstwhile the Denver Broncos vie for the AFC Championship and a berth successful Super Bowl LX.

Stidham was thrust into the starting relation astir instantly aft the team’s triumph implicit the Buffalo Bills connected Saturday nighttime erstwhile it was revealed that Bo Nix suffered a fractured ankle and volition miss the remainder of the playoffs.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

Denver Broncos backmost Jarrett Stidham (8) anterior to a crippled against the Kansas City Chiefs astatine GEHA Field astatine Arrowhead Stadium connected Dec. 25, 2025. (Jay Biggerstaff/Imagn Images)

The seasoned quarterback, who astatine 1 constituent was considered to beryllium the heir to the New England Patriots’ starting occupation erstwhile Tom Brady departed for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, received a immense boost of assurance from Broncos caput manager Sean Payton.

"It started with our valuation successful New Orleans of him," Payton said erstwhile asked wherefore helium believed Stidham was acceptable for the challenge. "He was a people for america successful the draft. That doesn’t truly mean thing different than we liked this subordinate coming out. I cognize however helium was coached successful New England. I cognize precisely however helium was coached successful New England. Then I cognize however [Patriots violative coordinator Josh] McDaniels felt astir him erstwhile helium brought him from New England to Vegas. Then I cognize reports connected however helium played, and past we saw him play existent time.

"But ultimately, to reply your question, it’s our 3 years here. In our 3 years, watching him day-in and day-out that you guys don’t person entree to. He volition beryllium acceptable to spell and acceptable for the moment."

Denver Broncos backmost Jarrett Stidham warms up earlier an NFL divisional circular playoff shot crippled against the Buffalo Bills, Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026, successful Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)

SUPER BOWL CHAMP ISSUES BLUNT WARNING TO NFL OFFICIALS AHEAD OF RAMS-BEARS PLAYOFF GAME

Payton made wide that Stidham volition beryllium acceptable to spell for the game, comparing the concern to erstwhile Nick Foles took implicit for Carson Wentz and led the Philadelphia Eagles to a Super Bowl rubric and Jeff Hostetler coming successful for Phil Simms to stun the Buffalo Bills successful a Super Bowl win.

"Historically speaking, each bets weren’t disconnected with [former Giants backmost Jeff] Hostetler. They weren’t disconnected successful Philly [with erstwhile Eagles backmost Nick Foles]. We mislaid [former Saints backmost Drew] Brees midseason against the Rams, and [Buccaneers backmost Teddy] Bridgewater won 5 successful a row. All bets tin beryllium off. They weren’t disconnected for Houston this twelvemonth erstwhile [Texans backmost Davis] Mills came in," Payton said.

"The program ever has to beryllium built astir the benignant and the accomplishment acceptable of the players you’re playing with. So are determination definite things that Bo does otherwise than ‘Stiddy’? Absolutely. That’s wherever the enactment begins tonight."

If Stidham wins the crippled for Denver, helium volition beryllium the 2nd backmost to marque their archetypal of the play successful the playoffs and win. Frank Reich did it for the Bills against the Houston Oilers successful a melodramatic comeback.

Denver Broncos backmost Jarrett Stidham (8) practices earlier the crippled astatine Empower Field astatine Mile High connected Nov. 6, 2025. (Isaiah J. Downing/Imagn Images)

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Stidham has 1,422 passing yards and 8 touchdown passes successful 20 regular-season games.

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports sum connected X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.