As the Denver Broncos prepare for the upcoming season, questions continue to swirl around their offense and the fit between head coach Sean Payton and young quarterback Bo Nix.
Former NFL linebacker Manti Te’o, who suited up for the Los Angeles Chargers and played under Payton with the New Orleans Saints, recently offered pointed feedback that places much of the responsibility on Nix’s shoulders.
Te’o appeared on Good Morning Football and didn’t mince words about what he observed from the Broncos’ passing game last season. He argued that the unit’s approach diverged sharply from Payton’s preferred style, which emphasizes stretching defenses vertically rather than horizontally.
“It starts and ends with Bo Nix. When I watched Bo Nix last year, I saw–well, when I watched the Denver Broncos offense in general, I saw a different type of offense run by Sean Payton that I know Sean Payton doesn’t want to do, and that’s an offense that stresses a defense horizontally. Knowing Sean Payton, he wants to throw that ball down the field,” Te’o said.
He emphasized the need for Nix to push the ball deeper downfield, explaining how that would force safeties to respect the vertical threat and create more opportunities underneath. Without that respect, defenses crowded the box and short areas, limiting the offense’s explosiveness.
“Bo Nix needs to throw that thing down the field. Because if he can throw that ball down the field, that forces those safeties, … to respect the deep game and back those boys up. I didn’t see defenses respect the deep ball that much. So, they brought those safeties in,” Te’o continued.
The former linebacker highlighted the talent surrounding Nix, pointing to speedy newcomer Jaylen Waddle and reliable big target Courtland Sutton as weapons capable of thriving in a more aggressive, downfield scheme. He also noted that Nix posted the sixth-highest rate of passes thrown behind the line of scrimmage last season, a statistic that clearly clashes with Payton’s philosophy.
“I am telling you right now, Sean Payton does not want to play football behind the line of scrimmage. He wants to play the football in the end zone. I need Bo Nix to throw that ball down the field,” Te’o added. “That’s what I need, and that’s what I think is the key to the Broncos’ success coming in 2026.”
Te’o drew a natural parallel to Payton’s successful years with Drew Brees in New Orleans, where the Saints consistently attacked down the field. While Nix has drawn comparisons to the Hall of Famer since entering the league, his early numbers reflect a more conservative approach so far.
Brees evolved into one of the league’s most prolific deep passers after modest beginnings in his first couple of seasons, offering a potential roadmap for Nix’s development.
With new offensive coordinator Davis Webb now handling play-calling duties, the Broncos appear poised for schematic adjustments heading into training camp.
Whether Nix can elevate his game to align with Payton’s vision will likely define the team’s offensive ceiling in the season ahead. Te’o’s comments add an extra layer of urgency to the quarterback’s growth as Denver looks to take the next step.
