The Denver Broncos are coming off a huge victory over the Green Bay Packers in Week 15. Denver defeated the Packers 34-26. Although the Broncos entered the game 11-2, many still question if they were legitimate Super Bowl contenders with quarterback Bo Nix. Nix has had some terrible games this year and some really great games, too. Sunday was the latter. This led one well-known NFL analyst to make some bold comparisons on Nix’s behalf.
Colin Cowherd Presents Lofty Comparison for Bo Nix
On Monday’s episode of The Herd with Colin Cowherd, he spoke about why people need to start believing in the Broncos.
Cowherd said, “There are certain teams that are good all year, but people don’t have the right feel or look that they are winning a lot of close games… You may want to stop doubting the Denver Broncos. This Green Bay defense, elite. Jeff Hafley, defensive coordinator, elite. And Bo Nix and Sean Peyton carved up this Green Bay defense.”
He continued, “He’s athletic, he’s clever, he’s deceptive and doesn’t get sacked… He reminds me of a right-handed Steve Young. He is WAY, WAY more athletic than anybody gives him credit for.”
While Cowherd makes a fair point about Nix’s athleticism and composure, the comparison to Young feels premature. One strong performance — or even a small stretch of solid games — is not enough to place Nix in the same conversation as a three-time Super Bowl champion.
There are also major differences between the two situations. Young spent multiple seasons in San Francisco developing behind Joe Montana and within an established championship infrastructure before becoming the full-time starter. That level of patience and stability is rarely afforded to quarterbacks in today’s NFL.
Nix, on the other hand, was drafted to be Denver’s immediate answer at the position in 2024. In the modern era, franchises expect quick returns, especially from older rookies. At 24 years old with five collegiate seasons under his belt, Nix entered the league with heightened expectations to produce right away.
Since entering the league, he has completed 65% of his passes for 7,031 yards, 52 touchdowns, and 21 interceptions. Nix has also added 684 rushing yards on 154 attempts and scored eight touchdowns.
In 2025, Nix has completed 63.5% of his passes (320 of 504) for 3,256 yards, 23 touchdowns, and nine interceptions. He also has 254 rushing yards on 62 attempts and four touchdowns. This production has earned him an impact score of 77.4, according to PFSN’s QB impact metric. His score is lower than expected, likely due to the game in which the Broncos’ offense failed to move the ball this season.
All in all, Nix has shown encouraging signs and clear athletic upside, especially in Denver’s win over Green Bay. However, comparing him to Steve Young at this stage of his career feels lofty. If Nix continues to build on performances like Sunday’s, those conversations may eventually become more reasonable, just not yet.
