Jarrett Stidham’s path to the AFC Championship Game was never supposed to look like this, but with Bo Nix sidelined by a fractured ankle, the spotlight is now on him.
As fans and media members across the NFL debate whether the inexperienced quarterback can rise to the occasion, his former Auburn coach offered reassurance.
Former Auburn head coach Gus Malzahn told Fox Sports, Stidham is unfazed by the moment.
“He’ll be ready for the moment, I’ll tell you that,” Malzahn said.
“He’s a great competitor and he’s been waiting on this moment. I expect him to seize it.”
That confidence echoes across Stidham’s college roots and his current NFL locker room as the Denver Broncos prepare to face the New England Patriots with a Super Bowl berth on the line.
Jarrett Stidham’s Auburn Career Shows a History of Big Moments
Stidham’s résumé at Auburn offers a clear blueprint for why his former coaches show major confidence in him.
Over two seasons at Auburn (2017-18), Stidham appeared in 27 games.
He completed 470 of 739 passes (63.6%) for 5,952 yards, 36 touchdowns, and only 11 interceptions.
His efficiency stood out in the tough SEC, averaging 8.1 yards per attempt, 8.36 adjusted yards per attempt, and a 144.4 passer rating.
Across his full college career, including a year at Baylor, Stidham totaled 7,217 passing yards, 48 touchdowns, and just 13 interceptions.
His strong touchdown-to-interception ratio stands out, as protecting the football will be essential Sunday against the Patriots.
Stidham also proved that he can show up in big time games.
In November 2017, Stidham led Auburn to back-to-back wins over No. 1 Georgia and No. 1 Alabama in a 15-day span.
This led the Tigers to an SEC Championship game appearance.
Malzahn has long credited Stidham’s leadership for those wins, noting his command at the end of close games.
Malzahn’s confidence in Stidham is nothing new, as famously called him the “steal of the draft” back in 2019.
Old and New Coaches Believe in Stidham
That same belief carries over to this week.
Broncos head coach Sean Payton has also made it clear that the organization has strong confidence in Jarrett Stidham.
“Watch out. Just watch. He’s experienced. He’s played in games,” Payton said.
He added that he believes Stidham is “capable of starting for a number of teams.”
After observing him daily for three seasons, Payton said Stidham “will be ready to go, and ready for the moment.”
He pointed to his consistent accuracy and command in practice.
Payton even recalled moments when Stidham frustrated Denver’s defense, noting there were practices where defensive coordinator Vance Joseph was “getting pissed off because Stiddy’s making our defense look bad.”
Former Auburn offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey echoed that sentiment to Fox Sports.
He called Stidham “built for this kind of stuff.”
Now, after all the praise and confidence in the QB, Stidham’s years of preparation meet a defining moment.
Can Stidham follow an NFL lineage of backups rising to the occasion like Jeff Hostetler and Nick Foles and lead his team to a Super Bowl.
Or will the loss of Bo Nix be too much for the Broncos to overcome?
Jarrett Stidham’s Former Auburn Coaches Display Major Confidence Ahead of AFC Championship