Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

Peyton Manning's Reaction to Broncos' QB Announcement

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Parker Johnson | Last updated Jan 18, 2026 1:17 PM ET

With their 33-30 overtime win against the Buffalo Bills on Saturday, the Denver Broncos advanced to the AFC Championship Game for the first time since former quarterback Peyton Manning defeated Tom Brady's New England Patriots 20-18 in the 2015 NFL playoffs.

After watching quarterback Bo Nix and the Broncos gut out the win over Josh Allen and the Bills, Manning was as happy as anybody. The Pro Football Hall of Famer was captured on video celebrating the win inside a suite at Empower Field at Mile High and looking forward to next Sunday's AFC championship against either the Patriots or the Houston Texans.

"Right here baby, next Sunday," Manning told a group of prominent Broncos alumni in the suite, including Shannon Sharpe, Demarcus Ware and Terrell Davis.

Former NFL quarterback Peyton Manning before the game between the Pittsburgh Steelers against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High.Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

What came next for Manning was the same shock that hit Broncos and NFL fans across the country. Amid the high of the celebrating the win, news broke that Nix had broken his ankle during the final drive of overtime.

Broncos head coach Sean Payton announced shortly after the game that Nix would have surgery on Tuesday and miss the rest of the playoffs. Payton named backup quarterback Jarrett Stidham as the starter for the AFC Championship Game, assuring, "Stiddy is ready to go."

HC Sean Payton announced that QB Bo Nix fractured a bone in his ankle on the second-to-last play of the game and will miss the rest of the season.

We got your back, . pic.twitter.com/zOGVjxAV5r
— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) January 18, 2026

On Sunday, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport revealed Manning's immediate reaction to the news that Nix had been injured. The two-time Super Bowl champion refused to believe that it was true.

“Peyton Manning texted a team official, ‘Is this a hoax?’ He saw it online, saw nothing after the game, could not believe it was real,” Rapoport said.

From @NFLGameDay Morning: The #Broncos lost Bo Nix for the playoffs, news so crazy that Peyton Manning initially wondered if it was a hoax. pic.twitter.com/JiHtbepAII
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 18, 2026

Unfortunately for Manning and the Broncos, the news was not a hoax. While it is a big setback for Payton's team, the veteran head coach remained confident that Denver can rally around Stidham and win two more games.

"He's ready, he's ready," Payton said of Stidham. "I feel like I've got a two who's capable of starting for a number of teams, and I know he feels the same way. Watch out, just watch."

Nix finished the game through the injury, completing 26 of his 46 passes for 279 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. He was also the Broncos' leading rusher against the Bills with 12 carries for 29 yards.

Denver will host the AFC Championship Game against either the Texans or the Patriots next Sunday at 3 p.m. ET on CBS. It will be the first postseason start of Stidham's NFL career.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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