The NFL fans need to clear their schedule for Christmas Day! The league has made an official announcement, stating that the Broncos will face Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs on Christmas Day 2025. And Broncos’ QB Bo Nix‘s wife, Izzy Nix, didn’t waste any time flashing the news to the fans. The former Auburn University cheerleader dropped two words to light up NFL fan pages like a Christmas tree.

After the NFL made it official, Izzy took to reposting the league’s game-day promo poster. With Patrick Mahomes and Bo Nix front and center, snow swirling behind them, she penned a two-word caption on her Instagram story. She wrote, “Merry Christmas,” with a halo emoji and a tree emoji. The post was intentional indeed, knowing the temperature in the room. This isn’t just another Week 17 game. It is Arrowhead, prime time with 65 million eyes on it. And the Broncos, finally, aren’t in the background.

This AFC West rivalry game is likely to have significant playoff implications, given that the Chiefs have dominated the division for years. And now, the Broncos are rising as strong contenders under coach Sean Payton and QB Bo Nix. While Mahomes will be leading the Chiefs offense, hopefully, with top receivers like Travis Kelce, Rashee Rice, and Hollywood Brown, it is going to be a high-stakes test for Nix and the Broncos.

And Izzy Nix is now back in action to amp up her husband for what’s coming up. Married since the summer of 2022, she has always cheered him on from the sidelines.

Moving to Denver after he was drafted by the Broncos in 2024, she is indeed a constant supporter throughout his football journey, right from his college days at the University of Oregon. Now, as Bo Nix enters his second NFL season in 2025 after a standout rookie year, she is ready for his next milestone.

NFL’s renewed confidence in the Broncos

The NFL originally made the Christmas matchup post with the caption: “Giving the gift of TNF on Christmas: Broncos vs. Chiefs! NFL Schedule Release — Wednesday, 8 pm ET on NFLN/ESPN2. Stream on #NFLPlus.” After years in the shadows, Denver is finally back in the NFL’s holiday plans.

The Christmas Day prime-time slot on Amazon Prime Video is one of the biggest regular-season showcases. Last year’s NFL Christmas broadcast drew 65 million viewers, even bringing down the NBA’s historic holiday dominance.

Now, the league sees Bo Nix and Sean Payton as part of the AFC West’s future. In the 2024 NFL season, the Broncos and Chiefs split their two matchups. While the Chiefs won a close game 16-14 in Week 10 at Arrowhead Stadium with a solid home record, the Broncos made a psychological breakthrough as they defeated the Chiefs.

With a score of 38-0 in the Week 18 regular-season finale on January 5, 2025, at Empower Field at Mile High, they grabbed the victory, making it their first win over Kansas City since the Peyton Manning era. And, it helped the Broncos clinch their first playoff berth since 2015. Patrick Mahomes was resting during the Week 18 game, while Bo Nix led the Broncos to a victory.

As Bo Nix had a promising rookie year (3,775 yards, 29 touchdowns), the 2025 season could mark the beginning of a true rivalry. Even Sean Payton said recently, “We’re building something that can last.” In 2024, the NFL gave Denver minimal prime-time exposure with only two prime-time games and no Sunday Night Football appearances. Now, with all eyes set on Christmas Day, the NFL is banking on Denver being competitive enough to make this an intense divisional clash.