Former teammate warns Patriots about what Jarrett Stidham will offer Broncos in AFC Championship

Current NBC NFL analyst Devin McCourty and Denver Broncos backup quarterback Jarrett Stidham were teammates with the New England Patriots from 2019 through the 2021 season. 

Denver starting signal-caller Bo Nix is sidelined with a broken bone in his ankle, meaning Stidham is on track to start when the Broncos host the Patriots in the AFC Championship Game this coming Sunday. While many expect New England will clinch a spot in Super Bowl LX with ease, McCourty warned the Patriots to not take Stidham lightly.

Jarrett Stidham is "what every team wants in a backup quarterback"

"He’s what every team wants in a backup quarterback," McCourty said about Stidham, per Karen Guregian of MassLive. "He’s a smart guy, very similar to how [former Tom Brady backup Brian Hoyer] was. He knows everything, where everyone’s supposed to go. The guys love him. I think that’s how it was when he was in New England. I think it’s obvious that’s what it is in Denver. It’s one of the first moves Sean Payton did, was sign Stidham back and keep him there. I think that speaks volumes."

Shortly after Payton became the head coach of the Broncos in early 2023, the club signed Stidham to a two-year, $10M deal with $5M guaranteed and $4M more in incentives. Payton later insisted he believed Stidham could "become an NFL starter," but such a development hasn't played out. 

Specifically, Stidham hasn't attempted a regular-season pass since he last made a start during the 2023 campaign. Stidham's teammates have nevertheless expressed confidence in his abilities, and McCourty shared that Stidham developed a reputation for "killing" the Denver defense during practice sessions.

Jarrett Stidham doesn't need to be elite for the Broncos to beat the Patriots

"I think Stidham can keep them in the game, and then hope the defense makes a play, or somebody makes a play for them to win the game. I think that’s still possible for Denver without Bo Nix," McCourty added. 

Certain NFL insiders clearly disagree with McCourty. As of Wednesday morning, DraftKings Sportsbook had the Broncos as 5.5-point home underdogs against the Patriots.