The Denver Broncos are back in the AFC Championship game for the first time since 2015, when they won the Super Bowl, and have had a long few years until Bo Nix came along. Unfortunately, Nix is out for the season, and the Broncos are stuck playing their biggest game in over 10 years without their franchise guy. If it’s time to live in fantasy land, how about Tom Brady returning for one last Super Bowl run?
Find out whether Brady could even return on such short notice to add some more silverware.
Details on Tom Brady’s Availability
Pump the brakes on Brady because it ain’t happening. In fact, the legendary quarterback isn’t even allowed to play for the Broncos even if he wanted to. He owns a minority stake in the Las Vegas Raiders, and this prevents Brady from signing with Denver.
So, it’s going to be Jarrett Stidham for Denver. Stidham will replace Nix, the 14th-ranked quarterback in the league according to PFSN’s QB Impact Metric.
Stidham has started four games in six years in the NFL. He has just eight touchdowns and eight interceptions in his limited action. Now, he’s got a chance to lead his team to the Super Bowl.
Head coach Sean Payton is ready to rock with Stidham. It’s so hard to learn an offense and playbook in a short period of time. The AFC Championship isn’t the time to be playing around at the quarterback position. Payton trusts his guy and will do everything he can to get him ready.
There are only scraps left in the quarterback market. There is no one on the market who would be instilling more hope in Broncos fans than just rocking with Stidham.
Current Free Agent QBs
Ryan Tannehill, 37, hasn’t taken an NFL snap since 2023. In November, he told reporters he believes “that chapter is closed.” Colin Kaepernick, 38, last played in 2016 and spent nearly nine years waiting for a call that never came. Jake Fromm, 27, was released by Detroit last April and remains unsigned. Taylor Heinicke, 32, was released by the Chargers in August and hasn’t found a roster since.
The rest of the free agent quarterback market is equally uninspiring. Tim Boyle signed with Tennessee last March, was waived in August after a disastrous preseason outing, and remains unsigned.
MORE: Broncos QB Depth Chart: Who Will Step Up After Bo Nix’s Shocking Season-Ending Injury?
Dorian Thompson-Robinson bounced from Cleveland to Philadelphia to the UFL’s Orlando Storm. Clayton Tune was cut by both Arizona and Green Bay this season.
Bryce Perkins won UFL MVP last spring, got a brief Panthers audition in August, was waived within a week, and ended up in the Canadian Football League.
The Texans and Patriots will be gearing up for their matchup tomorrow with one eye looking at the opportunity to take on the Broncos, led by Stidham. Both of these defenses will relish the chance to make the Super Bowl, with the Broncos’ offense weakened.
Luckily for these teams, Brady can’t come back to try to get his eighth Super Bowl. If you’re doubting that Brady could do it, come on. He did it with the Buccaneers on the wrong side of 40; if there’s anyone who could, it’s the seven-time Super Bowl champion.
But it’s all for nothing, and fans can gear up for Brady on Championship Sunday, but only for him to be on the microphone calling the NFC Championship game.
Man bummer of news! Broncs played against KC 3rd string QB week 17…chargers backup QB week 18…Probably would have struggled to keep #1 seed if different scenarios were in play…just sayin
manning