Bo Nix became ‘miserable’ in college and changed his life on the West Coast.But it took a draft-day call from Drew Brees’ former head coach to give Nix a perfect beginning to an NFL career that just keeps getting better.Bo Nix has gone from ‘miserable’ to a Super Bowl threatgettyWhy Broncos chose Nix over Russell Wilson “Russell Wilson wasn’t terrible … (but) he did not run an offense Sean Payton wanted to run,” Denver Post columnist Troy Renck exclusively told talkSPORT.“Russell Wilson’s at his best throwing moon balls and scribbling outside the lines.“Sean Payton wants Drew Brees. He wants a quarterback that plays on time and on target, and that’s what he sees in Bo Nix.”Nix will step onto Empower Field on top of the AFC West, looking down at Patrick Mahomes and Justin Herbert. If the Broncos (7-2) are going to continue on their playoff trajectory, beating the woeful Las Vegas Raiders (2-6) at home is a must.Payton is 17-9 since the start of the 2024 season, which saw the Broncos move on from Wilson and one of the worst contracts ($242 million) in NFL history.Backed by the fourth-best scoring defense in the league, Payton and Nix have combined to overcome the Philadelphia Eagles, Dallas Cowboys and Houston Texans this year.Nix is battling weekly with Caleb Williams and Drake Maye to be the best QB from a loaded 2024 class, and the No. 12 overall pick is proving that five years in college (Auburn, Oregon) can be a difference-maker.“He’s smart, he’s disciplined, he basically has no vices,” said Renck, describing a QB who threw 113 touchdowns in college and is tied-for-third in TD (17) this season. Bo Nix is becoming the new Drew Brees for Sean PaytongettytalkSPORT reacts ... QB and HC are everything“They’re both really special and they’re both obsessed with it,” Broncos defender Zach Allen exclusively told talkSPORT. “When you have at those two positions guys who just love it and are obsessed with being great, that means everything for a franchise.”Allen was referring to the two-year bond between Payton and Nix, who entered Thursday Night Football on top of the AFC West.Patrick Mahomes has Andy Reid, Tom Brady had Bill Belichick and Joe Montana had Bill Walsh.The names and faces change, but the best NFL teams are almost always driven by a strong head coach and elite quarterback. Brian T. Smith, Senior US Sports Reporter “He doesn’t curse. He’s tied to his football, his family and his faith — he keeps everything very simple.”He added: “His teammates will tell you the secret sauce with Bo Nix is discipline, both in a game and outside.“He’s able to blend humility with confidence. He’s not overstepping his role.”Nix’s college precision caught Payton’s NFL eyePayton won Super Bowl XLIV in Miami by getting the best out of Brees and the New Orleans Saints.A head coach with a career 177-107 record watched Nix be on target for 84-of-85 passes during an NFL Draft pro day at Eugene, Oregon, then became fixated on a young QB who called protections and served as a quasi-offensive coordinator as a Duck. An extended training camp battle in 2024 ended with Payton deciding that Nix was on top in Denver.Super Bowl power rankings 3. Denver Broncos (7-2)The Broncos can blow you out and also win tough.Credit to Sean Payton for remaking Denver in his image. talkSPORT ranks all 32 NFL Super Bowl contendersHe became the Broncos’ first starting rookie QB since John Elway, and has developed into one of the most efficient arms in the league. Even when Nix struggled during his first two NFL starts, Payton pushed back hard against the ‘narrative’ already surrounding Nix in the pros.“No, no, no. Stop,” Payton said. “It’s fitting your narrative. This kid’s been confident. This kid has been through Auburn. He’s transferred. He’s one and one and one. And, honestly, I haven’t seen him flinch.“We all get a little bit more confident with the win. But I say that respectfully — he hasn’t flinched.”Broncos brought joy to ‘miserable’ QBSix years ago, he was the SEC Freshman of the Year at Auburn.But the Tigers’ football culture fractured under former coach Bryan Harsin and Nix lost his love for the sport.“I was just kind of over it. Each week it was something else,” Nix told CBS Sports. “There was, quite frankly, nothing I could do about it. I just remember kind of being miserable. It wasn’t fun anymore.”He left behind his father’s school and transferred across the country to Oregon, ending his career with 61 starts at QB, which set an NCAA record.Despite leading Oregon to a 12-2 record and sixth place finish in the final AP poll, Nix was a draft-day question mark.He topped the NCAA in pass completions, completion percentage, and TDs in 2023, yet Williams was a lock to go to Chicago at No. 1 overall.Drew Brees finished his career as one of the NFL’s best all-time passersGettyJayden Daniels and Maye were both off the board by the fourth pick.Winning West just the start for DenverIt took the 2009 Super Bowl winner – who set NFL records in New Orleans and paired with Brees to turn the Saints into an annual contender – taking a shot on Nix for the former Auburn and Oregon QB to find a home in the pros.Hours before Thursday Night Football, Nix and the Broncos hovered above the Chiefs and Chargers, and everything from the AFC West title and a first-round playoff bye to making the Super Bowl was still in sight.“The fact that we’re in a pretty good spot right now is really encouraging,” Denver defender Zach Allen exclusively told talkSPORT.“We’ve just got to keep on stacking wins and winning AFC games and division wins.”Stay up to date with the latest from the NFL across all platforms – follow our dedicated talkSPORT USA Facebook page and subscribe to our talkSPORT USA YouTube channel for all the news, exclusives, interviews and more.