Last time we saw the Denver Broncos quarterback, he was finishing off an overtime victory in the divisional round against the Buffalo Bills. Moments after the game ended, head coach Sean Payton revealed Nix had a fractured ankle and his season was over.
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The news wasn’t just shocking. It might’ve altered the course of NFL history.
Denver, starting backup quarterback Jarrett Stidham, would go on to lose to the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship Game. Two weeks later, it was the Patriots that were blown out in Super Bowl 60. Whether Nix would’ve guided Denver to a Super Bowl victory is anyone’s guess, but fans will always wonder what could’ve been.
In the meantime, there was some uncertainty about Nix going into the 2026 season. Would his mobility be impacted? Would he be the same player?
On Friday night, Nix put some minds at ease in his return to the field. Here’s a breakdown of how the third-year quarterback looked in his first game action of the 2026 season.
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From Andy Reid to a 36-year-old rookie, NFL head coaches ranked by age
Joe Brady, Buffalo Bills: Age 36 (Sept. 23, 1989)
(Tina MacIntyre-Yee, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
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From Andy Reid to a 36-year-old rookie, NFL head coaches ranked by age
Joe Brady, Buffalo Bills: Age 36 (Sept. 23, 1989)
(Tina MacIntyre-Yee, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
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From Andy Reid to a 36-year-old rookie, NFL head coaches ranked by age
Kellen Moore, New Orleans Saints: Age 38 (July 5, 1988)
(Matthew Hinton, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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From Andy Reid to a 36-year-old rookie, NFL head coaches ranked by age
Mike Macdonald, Seattle Seahawks: Age 39 (June 26, 1987)
(Steven Bisig, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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From Andy Reid to a 36-year-old rookie, NFL head coaches ranked by age
Mike LaFleur, Arizona Cardinals: Age 39 (March 3, 1987)
(Kirby Lee, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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From Andy Reid to a 36-year-old rookie, NFL head coaches ranked by age
Klint Kubiak, Las Vegas Raiders: Age 39 (Feb. 17, 1987)
(Kirby Lee, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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From Andy Reid to a 36-year-old rookie, NFL head coaches ranked by age
Ben Johnson, Chicago Bears: Age 40 (May 11, 1986)
(Kamil Krzaczynski, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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From Andy Reid to a 36-year-old rookie, NFL head coaches ranked by age
Sean McVay, Los Angeles Rams: Age 40 (Jan. 24, 1986)
(Kiyoshi Mio, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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From Andy Reid to a 36-year-old rookie, NFL head coaches ranked by age
Liam Coen, Jacksonville Jaguars: Age 40 (Nov. 8, 1985)
(Stephen Lew, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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From Andy Reid to a 36-year-old rookie, NFL head coaches ranked by age
Kevin O’Connell, Minnesota Vikings: Age 41 (May 25, 1985)
(Robert Deutsch, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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From Andy Reid to a 36-year-old rookie, NFL head coaches ranked by age
Shane Steichen, Indianapolis Colts: Age 41 (May 11, 1985)
(Christine Tannous, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect)
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From Andy Reid to a 36-year-old rookie, NFL head coaches ranked by age
DeMeco Ryans, Houston Texans: Age 42 (July 28, 1984)
(Troy Taormina, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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From Andy Reid to a 36-year-old rookie, NFL head coaches ranked by age
Zac Taylor, Cincinnati Bengals: Age 43 (May 10, 1983)
(Sam Greene, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
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From Andy Reid to a 36-year-old rookie, NFL head coaches ranked by age
Jesse Minter, Baltimore Ravens: Age 43 (May 9, 1983)
(Lexi Thompson, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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From Andy Reid to a 36-year-old rookie, NFL head coaches ranked by age
Kevin Stefanski, Atlanta Falcons: Age 44 (May 8, 1982)
(Brett Davis, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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From Andy Reid to a 36-year-old rookie, NFL head coaches ranked by age
Nick Sirianni, Philadelphia Eagles: Age 45 (June 15, 1981)
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(Jamie Sabau, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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From Andy Reid to a 36-year-old rookie, NFL head coaches ranked by age
Dave Canales, Carolina Panthers: Age 45 (May 7, 1981)
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(Charles LeClaire, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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From Andy Reid to a 36-year-old rookie, NFL head coaches ranked by age
Kyle Shanahan, San Francisco 49ers: Age 46 (Dec. 14, 1979)
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(Trevor Ruszkowski, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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From Andy Reid to a 36-year-old rookie, NFL head coaches ranked by age
Matt LaFleur, Green Bay Packers: Age 46 (Nov. 3, 1979)
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(Dan Powers USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect)
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From Andy Reid to a 36-year-old rookie, NFL head coaches ranked by age
Jeff Hafley, Miami Dolphins: Age 47 (April 4, 1979)
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(Amber Searls, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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From Andy Reid to a 36-year-old rookie, NFL head coaches ranked by age
Robert Saleh, Tennessee Titans: Age 47 (Jan. 31, 1979)
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(Kyle Terada, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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From Andy Reid to a 36-year-old rookie, NFL head coaches ranked by age
Dan Campbell, Detroit Lions: Age 50 (April 13, 1976)
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(Junfu Han, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
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From Andy Reid to a 36-year-old rookie, NFL head coaches ranked by age
Mike Vrabel, New England Patriots: Age 51 (Aug. 14, 1975)
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(Eric Canha, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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From Andy Reid to a 36-year-old rookie, NFL head coaches ranked by age
Brian Schottenheimer, Dallas Cowboys: Age 52 (Oct. 16, 1973)
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(Kirby Lee, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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From Andy Reid to a 36-year-old rookie, NFL head coaches ranked by age
Aaron Glenn, New York Jets: Age 54 (July 16, 1972)
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(Julian Leshay Guadalupe, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
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From Andy Reid to a 36-year-old rookie, NFL head coaches ranked by age
Dan Quinn, Washington Commanders: Age 55 (Sept. 11, 1970)
(Geoff Burke, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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From Andy Reid to a 36-year-old rookie, NFL head coaches ranked by age
Todd Monken, Cleveland Browns: Age 60 (Feb. 5, 1966)
(Patrick Gorski, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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From Andy Reid to a 36-year-old rookie, NFL head coaches ranked by age
Sean Payton, Denver Broncos: Age 62 (Dec. 29, 1963)
(Ron Chenoy, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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From Andy Reid to a 36-year-old rookie, NFL head coaches ranked by age
Jim Harbaugh, Los Angeles Chargers: Age 62 (Dec. 23, 1963)
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(Kirby Lee, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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From Andy Reid to a 36-year-old rookie, NFL head coaches ranked by age
Todd Bowles, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Age 62 (Nov. 18, 1963)
(Nathan Ray Seebeck, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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From Andy Reid to a 36-year-old rookie, NFL head coaches ranked by age
Mike McCarthy, Pittsburgh Steelers: Age 62 (Nov. 10, 1963)
(Barry Reeger, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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From Andy Reid to a 36-year-old rookie, NFL head coaches ranked by age
John Harbaugh, New York Giants: Age 63 (Sept. 23, 1962)
(Julian Leshay Guadalupe, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
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From Andy Reid to a 36-year-old rookie, NFL head coaches ranked by age
Andy Reid, Kansas City Chiefs: Age 68 (March 19, 1958)
(Jay Biggerstaff, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
