As a true freshman at Auburn, Nix was named the starting quarterback for the 2019 season.[5] He led Auburn to a 27–21 come-back win against the Oregon Ducks at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on August 31, 2019.[6] Nix led Auburn to a 9–4 record in his freshman season, winning the Iron Bowl, 48–45 over Alabama.[7] He was voted the SEC's 2019 Freshman of the Year,[8] finishing the campaign with 16 touchdowns and six interceptions.[9] He threw for 12 touchdowns and seven interceptions as a sophomore in 11 games in the pandemic-shortened season in 2020.[10][11]
2021 was an up-and-down season for Nix, with highlights being leading Auburn to their first win at LSU since 1999 and a win over #10 Ole Miss, while also struggling in certain games and being benched for T. J. Finley in the fourth quarter of a game against Georgia State.[12][13] Nix suffered a season-ending injury against Mississippi State.[14][15] He threw for 11 touchdowns and three interceptions in 2021.[16] On December 12, 2021, Nix announced he was entering the transfer portal, describing himself as "miserable" while playing under Auburn head coach Bryan Harsin who had been hired in 2021.[17][18]
In 2022, Nix transferred to the University of Oregon with two seasons of eligibility remaining based on the NCAA's COVID-19 eligibility waiver for the 2020 season.[19][20][21] Nix led Oregon to a 10–3 record in the 2022 season.[22] The season saw ranked victories over BYU, UCLA, and Utah before culminating in a 28–27 win over North Carolina in the Holiday Bowl.[23] Nix finished the season with 3,593 passing yards, 29 passing touchdowns, and seven interceptions to end with 89 carries for 510 rushing yards and fourteen rushing touchdowns. In addition, he had a receiving touchdown on the season.[24]
In the 2023 season, Nix led Oregon to a successful season, while primarily being in contention for the College Football Playoff. He helped lead the team to a 5–0 start before their first setback against #7 Washington. The team reeled off six consecutive wins to set up a rematch with #3 Washington in the Pac-12 Championship Game.[25] The Ducks fell to the Huskies once again to fall out of contention for the College Football Playoff.[26] Nix passed for 4,508 yards, 45 touchdowns, and three interceptions to go with six rushing touchdowns on the year.[27] Nix finished third place in the Heisman Trophy vote behind Jayden Daniels and Michael Penix Jr..[28] Following his final collegiate game in the Fiesta Bowl against Liberty, he broke Mac Jones's previous record for the highest single season completion percentage at 77.45%.[29] He led the NCAA in pass completions, completion percentage, and passing touchdowns in 2023.[29] He started 61 games between Auburn and Oregon, the most in NCAA history for a quarterback.[30]
Nix was selected by the Denver Broncos in the first round (12th overall) of the 2024 NFL draft.[33] He was the last of six quarterbacks taken in the first round, tied with the 1983 draft for the most in NFL history.[34] Nix signed his four-year rookie contract, worth $18.6 million fully guaranteed, on May 11, 2024.[35]
On August 22, Nix was named the Broncos' starting quarterback for the season opener against the Seattle Seahawks, becoming the first Broncos rookie to start since John Elway in 1983.[36] In his NFL debut against Seattle, Nix completed 26 of 42 passes for 138 yards, two interceptions, and a rushing touchdown in a 26–20 loss.[37] His 138 passing yards set an NFL record for the fewest by a quarterback with 25 or more completions in a game.[38] Nix earned his first win in Week 3 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, throwing for 216 yards, a rushing touchdown, and no interceptions in a 26–7 victory.[39] In Week 4, he recorded his first career passing touchdown and led the Broncos to a 10–9 upset victory of the New York Jets, with Nix not allowing a turnover or sack for the second consecutive game.[40]
Nix had a standout October, beginning with a three-touchdown performance in a Week 5 victory against the Las Vegas Raiders, followed by 216 passing yards and two touchdowns in Week 6 against the Los Angeles Chargers.[41] In Week 7, he led the Broncos to a dominant 33–10 win over the New Orleans Saints, tying the franchise record for rookie quarterback wins.[42] He capped the month with 284 passing yards, four total touchdowns, and a 75.7% completion rate in Week 8 against the Carolina Panthers, setting a new franchise record with five wins as a rookie. His performances throughout October earned him NFL Offensive Rookie of the Month honors.[43]
In Week 9 against the Baltimore Ravens, Nix caught his first career receiving touchdown on a trick play from receiver Courtland Sutton.[44] Nix was named NFL Rookie of the Week in Week 10 after throwing for 215 yards, two touchdowns, and orchestrating a late drive that ended with a potential game-winning field goal being blocked in a loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.[45] The following week against the Atlanta Falcons, Nix went 28-of-33 for a career-high 307 yards and four touchdowns as the Broncos won 38–6. He became the first rookie quarterback in NFL history to complete over 80% of his passes while throwing for at least four touchdowns and 300 yards.[46] Following the game, he was named AFC Offensive Player of the Week and Rookie of the Week.[47][48] Nix led the Broncos to victories in their next three games to reach 9–5, but losses to the Los Angeles Chargers and Cincinnati Bengals put their playoff hopes in jeopardy.[49][50] Needing a win in the final week, Nix went 26-of-29 with 321 yards and four touchdowns in a 38–0 victory over the Chiefs to clinch the Broncos' first playoff berth since 2015.[51]
In the Wild Card round, Nix was held in check, finishing 13-for-22 with 144 yards passing and one touchdown with 43 rushing yards as the Broncos fell 31–7 to the Buffalo Bills.[52] Nix's sole touchdown, a 43-yard pass to Troy Franklin, was the first rookie-to-rookie touchdown pass in NFL playoff history.[53] Following the Broncos' elimination, Nix revealed that he had played with transverse process fractures in his back since Week 12.[54]
He was originally the 4th alternate AFC Quarterback in the Pro Bowl, but was invited to play due to opt-outs. However, due to a previously scheduled minor postseason cleanup procedure, he also had to decline.[55] He would have been the first Broncos quarterback since Peyton Manning to make the Pro Bowl.
Nix is the son of football coach and former Auburn quarterback Patrick Nix.[56] Nix's younger brother Caleb plays safety for the Clemson Tigers and adopted brother Tez Johnson plays wide receiver at Oregon.[57][58] He is married to Izzy Smoke, a former Auburn cheerleader.[59][60] Nix is a Christian.[61]
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