Facing an uphill battle, Broncos quarterback Jarrett Stidham has a unique opportunity ahead of him. He's stepping into the spotlight, aiming to achieve something truly rare in football history.
If Stidham can lead his team to victory in the AFC Championship, he'll join an exclusive club: quarterbacks who have secured their first start of the season in the playoffs and emerged victorious. This is a feat only one other player has accomplished in the modern era.
Stidham's chance comes as he replaces Bo Nix, the Broncos' starting quarterback, who suffered a broken ankle during a recent game.
Since 1950, only six quarterbacks have started a postseason game after sitting out the entire regular season. Of these, only one managed to win: Frank Reich. Reich stepped in for Jim Kelly in the epic 1992 wild-card game against the Oilers. In that game, the Bills pulled off an incredible comeback, erasing a 35-3 deficit to win 41-38 in overtime. Reich continued his winning streak the following week, leading the team to a 24-3 victory against the Steelers.
But here's where it gets controversial... Reich had some playing time during the regular season, throwing 47 passes in 5 appearances. Stidham, however, didn't throw a single pass during the 2024 or 2025 regular seasons.
Stidham will be only the second quarterback to start his first game of the season in the conference title game or later. Roger Staubach did it in 1972, but his team, the Cowboys, lost to Washington.
Stidham's recent experience includes playing in the final weeks of the 2023 season after Russell Wilson was benched. He also started two games at the end of the 2022 season with the Raiders. Those are his only four career starts.
In the upcoming game, Stidham will face either the New England Patriots, the team that drafted him in 2019, or the Houston Texans, the successors to the Oilers, who fell to Frank Reich 33 years ago.
What do you think? Can Stidham defy the odds and make history? Do you believe his lack of regular-season play will be a significant disadvantage? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
