Sean Payton is pleased with Bo Nix as training camp kicks off for the 2026 season.

Not only is he happy that Nix is healthy, but where he’s at in his career to this point.

If the Denver Broncos are going to win a Super Bowl, which Payton said this team can do, they have to have good quarterback play.

Sean Payton pleased with Bo Nix’s progress as training camp gets underway

We’re now three days into the 2026 Denver Broncos training camp, and the head coach is happy with where his rising star quarterback is at.

Health-wise, it’s been a long offseason.

Nix’s season ended in the Divisional Round win over the Buffalo Bills where he was electric. Unfortunately, his ankle broke on the third-to-last play of the game and the Broncos lost to the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship Game. He immediately had a surgery to repair the ankle, and then had clean-up surgery in April.

The good news is, he’s been fully cleared to be a full participant in training camp.

So from that perspective, Payton is happy with where Nix is at health-wise. He also think’s he’s in a good place in terms of playing the toughest position in American sports, quarterback.

“The next step is kind of cliché,” Payton explained when asked if Nix is ready to take the next step. “He just finished winning 14 games and having a really good season. Do I think he’s going to continue to improve? Yes. I’m pleased with the shape he’s in. The timeline relative to everything we’ve discussed injury-wise is falling into place. It’s good to have him back out there in the team periods. I think there are certain areas for us offensively that can help with the quarterback, a consistent run game throughout the year. There are some things that we can do to help him, so we’re off and getting started.”

That last point from Payton is important. He wants more from the run game to help his passer. That should happen this year, with J.K. Dobbins back to full strength, RJ Harvey in his second season and newcomer Jonah Coleman bringing his talents to Denver too.

Payton sees some similarities between Nix and Drew Brees

Next week, the Professional Football Hall of Fame inducts its 2026 class. Drew Brees headlines a group that includes Luke Kuechly, Roger Craig, Larry Fitzgerald, and Adam Vinatieri.

Payton will be there for Brees’ induction, leading to Broncos press asking about that and how Nix and Brees are similar.

“I think that No. 1, they were high-volume college players,” Payton started. “He [Pro Football Hall of Fame QB Drew Brees] played a lot of snaps at Purdue. I would say the immediate, just analytical statistical number would be the accuracy numbers. From an NFL perspective, he’ll go down as the most accurate passer in the history of the league, and collegiately he was at Purdue. I think historically speaking, [QB] Bo [Nix] was the most-accurate college passer when you look at a lot of numbers, so that would be the first. [It’s] a tough comparison for anybody in their fourth year, but that would just be the beginning. Their personalities are different, of course, but their accuracy and their positioning of the ball is certainly noticed.”

There, it seems Payton again sheds some light on why he wanted Nix in the 2024 NFL Draft. He’s a high-volume passer, which is exactly what he’s been for Denver, too. He led the NFL in pass attempts last year and was sixth as a rookie.

But beyond simply slinging the rock a lot, a Super Bowl contending team needs a great quarterback.

“Yeah, this is one of them,” Payton said on Wednesday when asked if the 2026 Broncos can win a Super Bowl. “I think you have to play good defense to be one of those teams. You have to get good quarterback play, to be good on the offensive and defensive lines. You have to be well coached. I think we’re all of the above.”

Later today, it’s the “first” day of training camp. That is, the first practice with fans.

They’ll continue to get right under the hot morning sun in Dove Valley in an effort to become the best team in the NFL this year.