Peyton Manning: the 2025 Broncos Are 'Made of the Right Stuff'

A Lot To Be Confident About

Manning was asked about the atmosphere in the team’s facility in Dove Valley under Sean Payton. His response was optimistic and beaming with anticipation.

“Belief and confidence are high in the building… where we are not hoping we are a good team, but knowing we are a good team,” Manning told SI. “That’s the thing, there is a reason to be excited… with Bo [Nix], the pieces they have added, and with all of us expecting Sean to be around for a long time, they have every reason to believe it can result in a lot of wins. But they have to stay healthy.”

(Sports Illustrated)

Broncos Country has endured a decade of quarterback roulette, coaching turnover, and more disappointment than anyone in orange and blue would care to remember. Manning’s words are refreshing. He’s not just blowing smoke; he’s seeing something different in this team’s makeup.

Bo Knows

A big reason for Manning’s rosy outlook is the Broncos’ quarterback situation. After almost a decade of reclamation projects and stopgaps, Denver is all-in on 2nd-year starter Bo Nix. The former Oregon standout’s solid rookie campaign isn’t the sole reason. Manning has been advocating for Nix since he arrived in Denver, and prior to training camp, he made it clear why.

“Bo is made of the right stuff,” Manning said in a conversation shared by the team. “He’s a little bit older, carries himself the right way… I am just happy that Bo is the established starter.”

(Denver Broncos official site)

That “older” comment is a compliment. Nix entered the NFL with more than 60 starts in college, and all of those snaps have translated into a level of confidence the Broncos haven’t seen at quarterback in a while. Manning highlighted how vital continuity is for a young QB, something Denver has sorely missed since his retirement.

“The continuity, more than anything else… Having that same voice and verbiage is so critical,” Manning explained. “Experience is the best teacher. You can’t replace it.”

(Heavy.com)

The Broncos now have stability at quarterback and head coach. That alone is a reason for optimism and anticipation.

Manning Matters

It’s normal for outsiders to ignore preseason optimism. Each and every team in the league thinks it’s better heading into Week 1. But Manning isn’t in the habit of uttering meaningless jargon. When he states that this team has a foundation to build upon, it means exactly that. The Broncos have focused on reinforcing the offensive line over the last two offseasons, adding more playmakers for Nix, and improving a defense that already features 2024 Associated Press NFL Defensive Player of the Year Pat Surtain II. On paper, it’s the most balanced roster Denver has constructed since the Super Bowl 50 title run. There’s also a sense of identity continuously evolving under Sean Payton’s staff. The veteran head coach’s fingerprints are all over the operation, and Manning believes that’s exactly what Denver needs.

The Bottom Line

Manning summarized his thoughts with words that will resonate in Mile High:

“There’s every reason to believe it can result in a lot of wins,” he said, then added the all-important caveat: “But they have to stay healthy.”

Health has derailed Super Bowl contenders plenty of times in the past, but with Bo Nix’s current trajectory, Sean Payton’s pedigree, and one of the best defensive units in football, it’s easy to see the reasons for Manning’s optimism. After a long, long while, Broncomaniacs don’t have to rely on just hope — they can lean on belief. If Peyton Manning thinks this team is “made of the right stuff,” that’s something worth believing in. Main Photo: [Ron Chenoy] – Imagn Images