Head coach Sean Payton of the Denver Broncos talks with quarterbacks Jarrett Stidham #8 and Bo Nix #10 (Photo by Tyler Schank/Getty Images)
Patrick Surtain II loves the dynamic between his quarterback Bo Nix and head coach Sean Payton.
The duo had immediate success together in their first season, leading the Denver Broncos to a 10-7 record and their first playoff appearance since 2015, when the franchise last won the Super Bowl. The Broncos are already on the fast track to success despite entering the 2024 season with low expectations—odds had pegged them at an over/under win total of 5.5 wins.
Surtain explains why the connection between Nix and Payton works so well.
“They get along so well because they both understand the common theme, and that’s winning,” says Surtain in a one-on-one interview with RG. “They both want to win, and they both want to get the best out of each other, and I think they respect each other in that way, in that nature.”
Rookie Breakout, Sideline Fire
They certainly brought the best out of each other, as Nix posted one of the best rookie seasons of all time by a quarterback. The 25-year-old threw 29 touchdown passes—sixth-best in the NFL—along with four rushing scores and just 12 interceptions. His 29 passing touchdowns are the second-most by a rookie in NFL history, and he did it without a Pro Bowl or All-Pro offensive teammate (Marvin Mims Jr. made it as a returner).
Heading into the draft, many viewed Nix and Payton as a perfect match. Their shared competitive nature helps drive their success.
That fire was on display early in the season, when cameras caught Nix and Payton in a heated exchange on the sideline during a win over the Las Vegas Raiders. Both men downplayed the moment in the postgame press conference, and Surtain offered further context.
“Obviously, everybody was talking about that little confrontation on the sideline—but I wouldn’t call it a confrontation,” says Surtain.
“Two guys who want to do what’s best for the team. They both have their different views of things, but when you have two guys like that, it just brings respect upon both of them and it makes the team better.”
Mutual Push Toward Success
The reigning Defensive Player of the Year says moments like that reflect mutual accountability.
“At the end of the day, we realize as a player that’s pushing the coach towards success, and as a coach pushing the player towards success,” says Surtain. “That brings the utmost confidence in the team and the utmost confidence in themselves.”
Payton is widely considered one of the best coaches of his generation. The 61-year-old won a Super Bowl with the New Orleans Saints during the 2009 season and is one of just seven active head coaches to do so. He guided the Saints to nine division titles and nine playoff wins in 16 seasons—transforming a historically unsuccessful franchise that had only one postseason win in its first 39 years.
The Broncos will look to take the next step in 2025 under the continued leadership of Payton and Nix as they aim to win their first playoff game in a decade.
DJ Siddiqi
