Former Stephenville Star Takes Over as Starting QB for Denver Broncos

DENVER, CO — Jarrett Stidham is no stranger to big games after helping the Stephenville High School football team win the state title in 2012.

He’s now being pushed into the biggest game of his life, however, with a trip to the Super Bowl riding on the outcome.

After Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix broke a bone in his ankle in the team’s 33-30 overtime win over the Buffalo Bills on Saturday, Stidham is suddenly stepping into the starting role.

Denver will host the AFC Championship Game next Sunday, and Stidham — who hasn’t thrown a pass in the NFL since 2023 — will try and lead the Broncos to Super Bowl 60.

Stidham has been the team’s backup QB for the last three years and had encouraging performances during preseason action, but this will be unlike any game he’s ever experienced.

He did start the final two games in 2023 after Russell Wilson was benched and was a solid 40-of-64 passing for 496 yards with two touchdowns and an interception.

He was originally selected in the fourth round of the 2019 NFL Draft by the New England Patriots, where he learned under Tom Brady.

He played collegiately for two years at Auburn, following his freshman year at Baylor and a season at McLennan Community College in Waco.

It all began in Stephenville — about 150 miles northeast of San Angelo — where he was a three-time all-state player.

He was a wide receiver when the Yellow Jackets won the state title in 2012, then led the team as its QB the next two years.

He now has a chance to improbably reach the Super Bowl as a backup QB, though it’s not entirely uncharted territory. Nick Foles was the most recent example, winning the Super Bowl with the Philadelphia Eagles during the 2017 season after starter Carson Wentz was injured late in the year.

Stidham and the Broncos will host the AFC Championship Game at 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 25, against either New England or Houston.