The Denver Broncos are preparing to face the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship Game for a spot in Super Bowl 60.
For the first time since the 2023 NFL season, Bonix will no longer be the team’s starting quarterback. The 25-year-old quarterback suffered a broken ankle near the end of Denver’s divisional round win over the Buffalo Bills.
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This will thrust Jarrett Stidham into the starting role in what could easily be the biggest game of the veteran backup’s life.
Here’s what to know about Stidham as he steps into the spotlight and attempts to lead the Broncos to their first AFC title in a decade.
Who is Jarrett Stidham?
Stidham is usually the Broncos’ backup quarterback. After Bonix suffered a season-ending ankle injury against the Bills, he was promoted to the starter in the AFC Championship Game against the New England Patriots.
Stidham, 29, has been with the Broncos since signing a free agent contract with them before the 2023 NFL season. He made two starts in place of Russell Wilson that year but never attempted an NFL pass again, playing just 18 snaps in two seasons behind Nix.
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Now, Stidham is tasked with helping the Broncos make a trip to the Super Bowl.
Where did Jarrett Stidham go to college?
Stidham spent his freshman season at Baylor in 2015 before transferring to Auburn to play for Gus Malzahn.
Stidham was Auburn’s starting quarterback in the 2017 and 2018 seasons. In 2017, he led the team to a 10-4 record and a loss in the Peach Bowl, a season that saw the team finish as high as second overall in the College Football Playoff. He then had a rough junior season, completing just 60.7 percent of his passes and leading the Tigers to an 8-5 record and a Music City Bowl victory.
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Stidham finished his college career with a 64.3% pass completion rate, 7,217 yards, 48 ​​touchdowns and 13 interceptions. While his rocky final season limited the ceiling of his draft stock, his pure passing ability and developmental potential make him an intriguing mid-round selection in the 2019 NFL Draft that has NFL teams taking notice.
When was Jarrett Stidham drafted?
Stidham was ultimately selected by the New England Patriots in the fourth round of the 2019 NFL Draft. He was the 133rd overall pick and the seventh quarterback overall.
Here’s a complete look at the quarterbacks selected in Stidham’s draft year:
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First round, No. 15 pick:Dwayne Haskins, Commander
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Round 4, Pick 104: Ryan Finley, Bengals
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Round 5, Pick 167: Clayton Thorson, Eagles
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Round 6, Pick 197: Trace McSorley, Ravens
Of the 11 quarterbacks drafted in 2019, only Kyler Murray remains with the team that drafted him. Four were left out of the league, including Haskins, who died in 2022 after being struck by a dump truck.
Jarrett Stidham Team
Since being drafted by the Patriots, Stidham has played for three different teams. Here’s a timeline of his career:
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New England Patriots (2019-21)
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Denver Broncos (2023-present)
Stidham spent the first three seasons of his career with the Patriots before being traded to the Raiders before the 2022 season. Stidham is reunited in Las Vegas with Josh McDaniels, who was his offensive coordinator in New England but spent much of his lone season with the team backing up Derek Carr.
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Stidham then signed with the Broncos as a free agent. He originally signed a two-year contract to join the team as Russell Wilson’s backup, but signed a two-year extension just before he became a free agent in 2025.
Jarrett Stidham stats
Stidham has made 20 appearances in his NFL career but only made four starts. He is 1-3 as a starter, with his only win coming in his first start for the Broncos at the end of the 2023 NFL season.
Here are Stidham’s career statistics:
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Compare/Attachment(%):117/197 (59.4%)
Stidham has been more productive as a starter during his NFL career. In his four starts, he completed 62.5 percent of his passes for 1,080 yards, six touchdowns, four interceptions and a passer rating of 89.71. By comparison, Nix has a passer rating of 90.39 in 36 career starts (including playoffs).
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Broncos QB Depth Chart
The Broncos have three healthy quarterbacks with Nix out for the season. Here is the pecking order within the unit:
Ehlinger spent his first four seasons with the Indianapolis Colts and this is his first season with the Broncos. The 27-year-old last attempted a pass in 2022, when he started three games and went 0-3, completing 63.4% of his passes for 573 yards, three touchdowns and three interceptions.
DiNucci, meanwhile, joined Denver’s practice squad after the Knicks were injured. The 29-year-old spent the 2023 season on the Broncos’ practice squad but was originally selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the seventh round of the 2020 NFL Draft.
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DiNucci made his first career start for the Cowboys in 2020, completing 53.5% of his passes for 212 yards in three games. He has not attempted an NFL regular season or playoff pass since the 2020 season.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Who is the Broncos’ starting quarterback? What you need to know about Jarrett Stidham
