Bo Nix is the Broncos’ first rookie to earn this honor since 1967

The Denver Broncos named their 2024 captains from offense, defense and special teams on Wednesday. Of those leaders voted on by the players, quarterback Bo Nix made history by becoming the club’s first rookie captain to hold that title since Hall of Fame running back Floyd Little in 1967.

“[A rookie being elected captain is] not something that happens that often,” coach Sean Payton said. “I think it’s something you earn. These guys — all of them voted on these guys. It’s probably as clean a result as I’d seen in a while relative to those players that were all selected.

“It’s unusual for a rookie to get made captain, and yet by nature that position to some degree is leading. That was something that organically takes place throughout the spring and training camp and goes from there.”

Nix’s rookie captaincy is also a first for Payton in his coaching career.

“It’s an honor,” Nix said. “It’s a privilege. I’m excited to be with this group and [I’m] excited to be a captain. I don’t take it lightly. I know it’s a big deal. It hasn’t happened often, but I’m not going to take it for granted.

“I have to come into work every single day and just prove that you can be a captain. I’m excited to work with these other guys, and I think it’s good that we can get out there and set the tone. It’s always good to be a captain.”

Nix appreciates having the backing of his teammates.

“It’s a huge honor and a privilege,” the QB continued. “I understand that it’s been a long time, and I’m just very thankful. Very thankful for the guys to trust me in this opportunity. I think that’s a huge statement for our team. I think it says a lot [about] where we are. We’re excited to get going and excited for the future. Definitely it’s going to be one of those things that becomes more and more real as time goes on. It’s a huge honor and a lot of privilege, but it brings a lot of responsibility, too.”

Even before being named captain, Nix was one of the team’s key leaders.

“He’s one of those guys that [has] the ‘C’ on his chest and he carries himself like that,” wide receiver Courtland Sutton said. “He carries himself like a leader. He doesn’t look at any stage as it being too big for him. That’s all we can ask for out of our quarterback and out of our leader.”

The future for Denver and Nix will begin on Sunday, when they kick off the 2024 regular season on the road against the Seattle Seahawks.