Bo Nix demonstrated leadership qualities typical of an NFL environment even before Sean Payton named him the team’s Week 1 starting quarterback. He gained the respect of his teammates, not only for his control of the offense but also for how well he integrated into the locker room. He struck a balance between showing respect to veterans and exhibiting a command and presence beyond his rookie status.
Linebacker Alex Singleton joked, “He’s like 30, already. We were in the same high-school class,” though Singleton is actually six years older than Nix.
But behind every joke lies a bit of truth.
“He’s mature. I talk to him a lot and try to understand how he sees things,” Singleton added. “He’s very honest with himself, about his game, and how he views everything.”
Right tackle Mike McGlinchey also praised Nix, saying, “Bo is a great guy to hang out with and have conversations with. He’s fit in incredibly well and has been authentically himself, which is all you can ask for — from him and for us.”
Nix understands the importance of consistency in his presence.
“I believe how you do anything is how you do everything,” he said. “It’s something you have to show all the time. You have a lot of responsibility and need to act accordingly.”
Nix gets it. He’s more focused on actions than words, embodying what a team would expect from a captain.
In today’s NFL, the circumstances seem favorable for him to potentially wear the captain’s “C” patch.
### The Notion of a Rookie QB as Team Captain is a Recent Development
Sean Payton has never started a season with a rookie team captain, especially not at quarterback.
It wasn’t long ago that rookie quarterbacks wearing the “C” patch, introduced by the NFL in 2007, were uncommon. From 2007 to 2019, none of the rookie quarterbacks who started Week 1 were captains.
However, since 2020, this trend has shifted. From 2020 to 2023, six out of seven rookie quarterbacks who started in Week 1 — including current Broncos backup Zach Wilson — were named team captains from the outset. Cincinnati’s Joe Burrow, Jacksonville’s Trevor Lawrence, Indianapolis’ Anthony Richardson, Carolina’s Bryce Young, and Houston’s C.J. Stroud all began their seasons as captains. The only exception during this period was New England’s Mac Jones in 2021.
As of Tuesday night, the Washington Commanders had not yet announced their captains, leaving Jayden Daniels’ status uncertain. However, Chicago has already named Caleb Williams as a team captain, indicating that the trend is likely to continue.
There was a time when naming Bo Nix a captain would have raised eyebrows. But now, in an environment where rookie quarterbacks are expected to find success quickly while learning on the job, it’s becoming more common.
### If Bo Nix Becomes a Captain, It Would Be a Rare Occurrence for the Broncos
If Nix is named captain, it would be a rarity for the Broncos, as it’s believed he would be the first rookie at any position to start the season as a team captain since Floyd Little in 1967.
Like Nix, Little joined a struggling Denver team, one that had endured seven consecutive losing seasons when he arrived. Similarly, the Broncos have experienced seven straight losing seasons as Nix prepares to start. While those Broncos had six more losing seasons before breaking through in 1973, if history repeats itself, neither Nix nor Payton would likely be around to witness the team’s eventual success.
Expectations and timelines have changed since then.
We’ll soon find out if Bo Nix will be a Broncos captain. Based on his actions, leadership, and recent NFL trends, making him a captain, even as a rookie, seems logical.
