Cam Newton on Bo Nix: ‘I hate to say I told you so’
Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix passes during an NFL game against the Atlanta Falcons on Nov. 17, 2024, at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver.(AP Photo/Bart Young)
Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix was named the AFC Offensive Player of the Week on Wednesday for Week 11 of the NFL’s 2024 season. That was after Nix won the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Month Award for October.
On his latest “4th and 1” podcast, former NFL MVP Cam Newton had something to say about Nix’s play.
“I hate to say I told you so,” Newton said.
Before the NFL Draft in April, Newton said of Nix: “I think he’ll be a steal in the draft – big steal.”
“I look at Bo as (San Francisco 49ers quarterback) Brock Purdy,” Newton said before the draft. “Brock is extremely skillful. He’s a grinder. …
“When I look at (Nix), he’s extremely talented when things are good. When everything’s going good, I will pick Bo Nix over everybody – listen to me – because I seen it. When I watched Oregon this year, when I watched him even at Auburn, when things were good, there was nobody better than Bo Nix.
“Now this is the kicker: When adversity came into play, there was nobody worser than Bo Nix, too. That’s one thing this game is going to bring to you as a player. You’re going to be faced with adversity – physical adversity or emotional adversity. Can he get out of his own head? …
“Has all the upside. Can make every single throw. I know, and I will say it again, there’s no better quarterback in the draft when in rhythm than Bo Nix. It’s like when he’s hot, he’s hot, but when he’s cold, (expletive), he cold.”
In starting the Broncos’ 11 games, Nix has completed 234-of-357 passes for 2,275 yards with 14 touchdowns and six interceptions and run for 295 yards and four touchdowns on 63 carries.
“Bo Nix is playing in rhythm, he’s playing within himself, and guys around him are making plays,” Newton said last week. “What the coaching staff is asking him to do is well within his capabilities. Hey, take note Chicago. Hey, take note Carolina. This is how you have a plan for your young quarterback. And it’s making sense.
Newton said if he re-drafted the quarterbacks, the order would be Daniels, Nix, Maye and Caleb Williams.
“Just given off what we saw – from what we saw up until this point,” Newton said. “Now upside, that’s different. But only time could tell that.”
Newton and Nix are former Auburn quarterbacks. Newton won the Heisman Trophy with the Tigers’ 2010 undefeated BCS national championship team. Nix worked as Auburn’s starter from 2019 through 2021 before transferring to Oregon.
Before Auburn, Nix led Pinson Valley High School to the AHSAA Class 6A championships in 2017 and 2018. In his senior season, Nix won the Alabama Sports Writers Association’s Mr. Football Award and Class 6A Back of the Year honor.
But Newton also knew Nix before the younger QB came to the Plains. Nix played in Newton’s seven-on-seven youth program.
Nix returns to action when the Broncos play the Las Vegas Raiders at 3:05 p.m. CST Sunday at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.
