Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix partners with the Denver Rescue Mission, donating all profits from “Overdog” t-shirts to aid Denver’s homeless community.

DENVER — Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix launched a partnership with the Denver Rescue Mission the day after his viral Dec. 14 post-game interview, selling “Overdogs” t-shirts on his website with 100% of profits benefiting people experiencing homelessness in Denver.

The partnership stems from Nix’s now-viral response when asked what his team showed against the Green Bay Packers. When questioned about the Broncos being underdogs, Nix replied: “That we’re the overdogs.”

Brad Jessen, vice president of development at the Denver Rescue Mission, said the team at the mission received a call from Nix’s representatives the day after the interview. The quarterback wanted to sell “Overdog” merchandise but pass along all profits to the mission rather than keep them for himself.

“To hear Bo use that term, “overdogs” absolutely kind of clicked in my mind,” Jessen said. “We are seeing underdogs on the field overperform and overcome a lot of obstacles, and I know that translates into the work that we do here at the mission.”

More than 1,000 shirts have already been ordered, according to Jessen. He said he ordered his own shirt and is still waiting for it to arrive.

“Yeah, absolutely, the magic is still there, it means so much more for what Bo did the very next day in terms of launching this,” Jessen said.

The partnership comes as the Broncos are experiencing their most successful season in years. Jessen noted that Nix “is the starting quarterback for the best team in the NFL right now,” and said the partnership is boosted by the team’s success.

“For him to pull in a fan base that is raving right now because of how well the Broncos are doing, and pull them into our work, it really feels awesome,” Jessen said.

The Denver Rescue Mission serves men, women and families experiencing homelessness. Jessen said those individuals “have had a lot stacked against them over the course of their lives.”

“For Bo to come out and really shine a light on this issue of homelessness in the community here in Denver, and to do it in a way that is playful,” Jessen said, describing how the mission’s guests “overcome so many obstacles to be overdogs, finally.”

Jessen said the partnership means a great deal to staff members who work at the mission daily.

“Our staff feels it, I mean, we are working day in and day out,” Jessen said. “For him to turn around and make us feel like he is cheering us on and the work we are doing, that’s an incredible feeling.”

The timing of the campaign coincides with winter weather moving into Denver. Jessen said he and Nix share a core value.

“I think we share in that core value that no one should go homeless, especially in the winter,” Jessen said.

Looking ahead, Jessen expressed hope that the partnership could create lasting change for those currently in the mission’s shelters.

“Maybe by next football season, all of these fans that are in our shelters right now, maybe they will be in their own apartment, watching Bo and cheering him on,” Jessen said.

The mission’s dream, according to Jessen, is “to see an entire Empower Field at Mile High filled with people wearing the “Overdog” merch.”