After the Denver Broncos’ thrilling overtime win against the Buffalo Bills, the joy didn’t last very long.
Following Bo Nix’s broken ankle on one of the final plays of the game, the Broncos were forced to turn to backup quarterback Jarrett Stidham in the AFC Championship game against the Patriots.
While the Broncos fell short to the Patriots, and thus of the Super Bowl, Stidham was not one of the main reasons why. Now, heading into an important offseason for Denver, Broncos fans are likely wondering whether or not Stidham is worthy of the backup spot.
Stidham Stepped Up When it Mattered Most
Though he has primarily been a backup most of his career, Stidham has had real-game experience in the past for the Patriots, Raiders, and Broncos. In the AFC Championship game, though, it had been two years since he played meaningful football, so many fans were worried about how he’d perform against one of his former teams in New England.
In a game that was impacted by the snowy weather in the second half, Stidham played well enough to win. But the Broncos came up just short, falling by a score of 10-7.
If it weren’t for a questionable coaching decision by Sean Payton to go for a 4th-and-1 instead of kicking a field goal while up 7-0, the Broncos could have been playing in the Super Bowl. A 10-0 lead in that type of game could have made the difference. Kicker Will Lutz also missed both of his field goal tries, leaving six points that could have also helped the Broncos take a commanding lead off the board.
Outside of a bad fumble late in the first half, Stidham managed the game well and found open receivers when dropping back. He was able to find wide receiver Marvin Mims downfield early in the first quarter, and he followed it by finding a wide-open Courtland Sutton for the first and only Broncos touchdown of the game.
His game-sealing interception late in the fourth quarter to Christian Gonzalez was his only real mistake.
All-in-all, Stidham showed out on the biggest stage and proved he can step up when called upon. His high IQ, ability to stay composed, and overall swagger could find him traded to a QB-needy team this offseason.
Stidham’s Success Prior to the NFL
A top prospect in the 2015 class according to 247sports, Stidham ranked No. 1 among all dual-threat QBs, including above proven starters like Sam Darnold, Joe Burrow, and Lamar Jackson.
Stidham initially committed to Baylor, where he started 10 games as a freshman, before transferring to Auburn. In his sophomore season, Stidham led the conference in completion percentage en route to a 10-4 record, including an upset win against No. 1 seed Alabama in the Iron Bowl.
An Afterthought in New England
Going into the 2019 NFL Draft, Stidham was ranked as a top 10 QB prospect. Ultimately, the New England Patriots made Stidham the seventh QB drafted, using a fourth rounder on Tom Brady’s potential successor. Though Stidham only played in three games in his rookie season, many Patriots fans were excited to see what he could prove in his sophomore season following the departure of Brady.
That year, Stidham played in five games and tossed his first career touchdown pass to fellow draftee N’Keal Harry against the Chiefs. He received limited action due to the signing of former league MVP Cam Newton, but the experiment went poorly, as Belichick was not the coach to bring his game to life. Instead, the offense looked stagnant and really only moved the ball when Newton used his legs.
When Stidham was on the field, however, he provided something the Newton-led offense lacked that year: pocket presence and accuracy. Because of this, fans wanted Stidham to play more games, but he never got the opportunity. After drafting Mac Jones the following season and signing free agent Brian Hoyer, the need for Stidham was no longer, so they shipped him to the Raiders for future draft compensation.
Post-Patriots Era
With Las Vegas, Stidham had his best opportunity for starts. As the Raiders put a close on an underwhelming season with Derek Carr at the helm, the team benched their longtime starter in favor of Stidham. In his first career start, Stidham played exceptionally, throwing for over 300 yards and three touchdowns and showing the talent that made him a top prospect coming out of college.
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After his brief stint in Las Vegas, Stidham signed a two-year deal with the Broncos in 2023 to be the backup for Russell Wilson. Although Stidham has not played in many games in Denver, he has clearly proven his worth as a quality backup.
Importance of a Quality Backup
NFL fans know how important it is to have a strong backup quarterback. Nick Foles leading the Eagles to the Super Bowl in 2018 is perhaps the most relevant example of this, but let’s not forget Tom Brady was also called off the bench to kickstart his career after starter Drew Bledsoe was severely injured.
Head coach Payton clearly sees a great quarterback in Stidham, as the Broncos re-signed him in 2025 to another two-year deal. When someone that high up in the organization goes to great lengths to keep a player, it speaks volumes about their productivity.
“’You know, I said this at the start of the season, I felt like our two [quarterbacks] were inside the best 32,’” Payton said when asked about bringing Stidham back. “’I think everyone feels that way, but that’s why signing him was important.”
Stidham has garnered the respect of one of the league’s best coaches. If not for the weather impacting the second half of the AFC Championship, Stidham could very well have been playing in the Super Bowl for the chance to bring Denver their first Lombardi since 2016.
Instead, he will return next season, potentially as the short-term starter for a hobbled Nix. It’s hard to look into the future and project what the rest of Stidham’s career could be like, but he proved that he can step in and play well when called upon, which is all you can ask for from a backup QB.
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