Former Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning was in Orlando last week to coach the AFC squad at the 2025 Pro Bowl.
While speaking to media members at the Pro Bowl, Manning gave his take on rookie quarterback Bo Nix’s first season with Sean Payton.
“Bo played great,” Manning said, via DenverSports.com’s Andrew Mason. “He and Sean — Sean being the play caller — like I said, good continuity. Same system all year. Some of these rookie quarterbacks had two different play-callers in their first years. So, Bo benefited from a good system with Sean and good rapport with his receivers and played at a real high level.”
Nix, a fourth alternate, had a chance to be added to the AFC’s Pro Bowl roster but he declined due to a pre-planned surgery.
“[He] had a chance to be down here,” Manning said, via Mason. “I wish he could have come down here. I think it would have benefited him to be around pros like Joe Burrow. So, anyway, he’s — great first year and sky’s the limit, I think, for him.”
With upcoming surgery, Bo Nix declined to attend the Pro Bowl as an alternate — which would have had him playing for “coach” Peyton Manning & being around other standouts: “I wish he could have come down here,” Manning said. “I think it would have benefited him to be around pros… pic.twitter.com/0wLZBlK6ng
— Andrew Mason (@MaseDenver) February 1, 2025
Nix had one of the best rookie seasons in NFL history, finishing the year with a 66.3% completion rate, totaling 3,775 passing yards and 29 touchdowns while adding 430 rushing yards and four scores on the ground. Nix appears to have a bright future in the NFL, and he’ll likely join Manning at a future Pro Bowl.
