Sean Payton Had a Specific Reason for Revealing Bo Nix’s Injury So Quickly after Broncos’ Win.

Sean Payton’s postgame press conference following the Denver Broncos’ overtime victory against the Buffalo Bills was expected to be celebratory, as the win secured the team’s spot in the AFC Championship Game. Instead, the tone shifted dramatically when Payton announced that quarterback Bo Nix would miss the remainder of the season due to a broken ankle. Unlike the typical approach—where coaches often delay confirming injuries until test results are finalized—Payton disclosed the severity of Nix’s injury immediately after the game and stated that the quarterback would undergo surgery early the following week. Payton explained that his decision to reveal the injury quickly was motivated by respect for his players. “I wasn’t trying to send you guys cakes or flowers,” Payton told reporters. He continued, noting that many players had already left the locker room, and he wanted to ensure the team heard the news directly from him rather than through media outlets. Payton emphasized that telling the story himself was “the smartest and easiest thing to do, and just be straightforward with it.” The timing of Nix’s injury added to the unusual circumstances. The quarterback sustained the broken ankle just three plays before the Broncos’ game-winning field goal in overtime.

As a result, several teammates were unaware of the severity of his condition at the end of the game. Jarrett Stidham is set to start in Nix’s place for Denver’s next matchup against the winner of the Texans-Patriots game, with a Super Bowl berth on the line.