Will Jarrett Stidham Hold On to the Broncos’ Backup Quarterback Job?
The Denver Broncos enter the 2026 season with no questions about who will be under center.
Bo Nix is firmly entrenched as the franchise quarterback after leading Denver to the 2025 AFC Championship Game in just his second NFL season. Barring injury, Nix will take every meaningful snap for the Broncos this fall.
But as Denver learned the hard way last postseason, having a reliable backup quarterback can be the difference between extending a Super Bowl run and watching it come to an abrupt end.
When Nix suffered a broken ankle late in the Broncos’ victory over the Buffalo Bills in the 2025 Divisional Round, Jarrett Stidham was suddenly thrust into the biggest start of his career. With a trip to Super Bowl LX on the line, the veteran was asked to lead Denver against the New England Patriots after not attempting a regular-season pass since the 2023 season.
The Broncos ultimately fell 10-7, ending their Super Bowl hopes.
Now, with Nix healthy once again, one of Denver’s most intriguing training camp battles isn’t for the starting quarterback job – it’s whether Stidham can fend off Sam Ehlinger for the backup role.
Jarrett Stidham’s Experience Gives Him the Edge
Jarrett Stidham has been a trusted presence in the Broncos’ quarterback room since joining the team in 2023.
When called upon that season, he completed 40 of 66 passes for 496 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception while making two starts. He led Denver to a victory over the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 17 before falling to the Las Vegas Raiders in the season finale, finishing with a 1-1 record as a starter.
Although he didn't attempt a regular-season pass in either 2024 or 2025, the Broncos continued to value his experience and strong grasp of the playbook. Few backup quarterbacks spend three seasons in the same system, and that familiarity carries significant value when they’re suddenly forced into action.
That experience also extends beyond game days. Bo Nix has repeatedly credited Stidham for helping him transition from a first-round rookie in 2024 into the leader of a playoff-caliber offense. The veteran is also well-liked and respected throughout Denver’s locker room.
The 2025 AFC Championship Game Raised Legitimate Questions
At the same time, the 2025 AFC Championship Game served as a reminder of Jarrett Stidham’s limitations.
To his credit, he looked composed from the opening snap.
On the Broncos’ second offensive possession, Stidham connected with Marvin Mims Jr. for a 52-yard completion that moved Denver deep into New England territory. According to Next Gen Stats, Stidham’s throw traveled 41 yards before coming down into Mims’ hands – the longest completion by air yards by a Broncos quarterback during the 2025 season. Two plays later, he connected with Courtland Sutton for a touchdown to cap an impressive drive and give Denver an early 7-0 lead.
Unfortunately for the Broncos, that proved to be the high point offensively.
Later in the second quarter, Stidham lost a fumble deep in Denver territory, handing the Patriots excellent field position. New England capitalized with its only touchdown of the afternoon, a sequence that ultimately proved to be the difference in a three-point game.
Then, trailing 10-7 in the fourth quarter, Stidham attempted to force the ball downfield on a desperation throw that was intercepted, effectively ending the Broncos’ comeback hopes.
Still, it’s important to remember the circumstances.
By the time Stidham took the field in the 2025 AFC Championship Game, he hadn’t attempted a regular-season pass in more than two years. He was also without starting running back J.K. Dobbins, placing even more pressure on the passing game against one of the AFC’s best defenses.
That’s an incredibly difficult situation for any backup quarterback, regardless of experience.
Instead, the performance reinforced what Stidham has been throughout most of his NFL career: a veteran capable of keeping a team competitive but not someone you want carrying the offense for an extended period.
Sam Ehlinger Could Make Things Interesting
If anyone is going to challenge Jarrett Stidham this summer, it’s Sam Ehlinger.
The former Indianapolis Colts quarterback joined Denver in 2025 but didn’t appear in a regular-season or playoff game. His last meaningful NFL action came in 2022, when he completed 64 of 101 passes for 573 yards, three touchdowns, and three interceptions while adding 87 rushing yards on 17 carries across four contests.
Although Indianapolis went 0-3 in the three games Ehlinger started, he showed the athleticism that made him one of college football’s more productive dual-threat quarterbacks during his time with Texas Longhorns.
That mobility is where he differs most from Stidham.
Ehlinger is more capable of extending plays outside the pocket and creating with his legs, traits that fit well in today’s NFL. While he isn’t the passer that Bo Nix is, his ability to improvise gives the Broncos a different option if forced to turn to its backup quarterback.
There’s also the financial side of the equation.
Stidham is one of the highest-paid backup quarterbacks in the league, as Denver re-signed him to a two-year, $12 million deal prior to the 2025 campaign. If the Broncos believe the gap between Ehlinger and Stidham is smaller than the difference in their salaries, they’ll have a legitimate decision to make.
Prediction
Jarrett Stidham should still enter training camp as the favorite to win the backup quarterback job.
His familiarity with Denver’s offensive system and personnel gives him a meaningful advantage over Sam Ehlinger. While Ehlinger offers greater mobility and comes at a lower cost, he also hasn’t attempted a regular-season pass since 2022 and lacks Stidham’s experience within the Broncos’ offense.
Unless Ehlinger clearly outplays Stidham throughout training camp and the preseason, Denver is unlikely to make a change at such an important position. Experience matters at backup quarterback, especially for a team with Super Bowl aspirations, and Stidham has earned the trust of the coaching staff over the past three seasons.
Stidham should enter Week 1 as the Broncos’ backup quarterback. However, this feels like the closest he’s come to facing legitimate competition since arriving in Denver, and he’ll need a strong summer to ensure that remains the case.
