Quarterback Bo Nix has exceeded expectations this season, leading the Denver Broncos to a league-best 9-2 record. While Nix may not be the favorite for the MVP this year, he has already become a darling in Denver, so much so that the Broncos’ defensive coordinator Vance Joseph compared him to legendary John Elway. But the 25-year-old quarterback quickly shut down that comparison.

“That’s quite something coming from a coach like that. I appreciate that statement, but definitely working things behind the scenes that are gonna keep that, put some power to that statement,” Nix said on Wednesday, November 26. “Let’s definitely slow down, compare me to John Elway for now.“

Bo Nix doesn’t want such a huge comparison to sway him from his mission of taking the team into the playoffs. Obviously, he has to win a lot to register his name next to Elway in the Broncos’ record books. The bare minimum is two Super Bowls. Yet, he displayed courage and skill when the team required him.

The best example was their Week 7 game against the New York Giants, when Denver scored 33 points in the 4th quarter and won the game. What sets Nix apart from other QBs in the league is grit and determination when things aren’t going their way. But future Elway?

The Hall of Famer has won back-to-back Super Bowls, been Super Bowl MVP, been the league MVP and was selected to nine Pro Bowls. He was a legendary player, leaving his impact on the game. But Broncos Country loved Elway even more when he was back as their general manager in 2011. He signed quarterback Peyton Manning, who won Super Bowl 50 in 2015. So, Bo Nix rightly said that he has a long way to go before any comparisons to the legend.

Joseph, though, watched Elway closely as a player when they played together in 1997. He also saw other quarterbacks in the Broncos as their head coach in 2017 and 2018. Something must have forced him to make this huge comparison. The coach revealed all those Nix’s qualities.

Broncos DC reveals his reasons behind Bo Nix comparison

Joseph was with the team during those summer practice sessions when Nix made plays. That’s when he saw the spark of greatness in his game. There are two reasons.

“I’ll say two things about Bo, okay? I think Bo Nix is the Broncos’ future John Elway. He’s gonna be here for a long time. Because he’s built for it,” Joseph said on the Big Al & CJ Show on November 24. “And No. 2 about Bo Nix. On game day, he gonna make a play, right? Because we watch it in practice all summer, all spring. His skill set, he’s gonna make a play eventually.”

This year, they have emerged as the fourth-quarter kings with a 7-1 record in one-score games. The credit obviously goes to the head coach, Sean Payton. When the legend spoke about the comparisons, he gave credit where it was due.

“Sean Payton’s done such a great job. The good thing about Bo, he played 62 college football games. That is huge, right?” Elway said. “It’s proven this year that they’re making the plays when they have to make it.”

That has made the difference in their results this year. Bo Nix is carrying the Broncos Country on his shoulder. With coaches praising him, his stock in the league will rise by leaps and bounds.