{"id":847940,"date":"2026-04-01T21:24:24","date_gmt":"2026-04-01T21:24:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/847940\/"},"modified":"2026-04-01T21:24:24","modified_gmt":"2026-04-01T21:24:24","slug":"polarizing-new-broncos-rumor-sparks-significant-backlash","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/847940\/","title":{"rendered":"Polarizing New Broncos Rumor Sparks Significant Backlash"},"content":{"rendered":"

\t\t\t\t\"Sean\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tGetty\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

Sean Payton of the Founders FFC takes the field during the Fanatics Flag Football Classic.<\/p>\n

Sean Payton<\/a> and the Denver Broncos<\/a> have made the postseason in back-to-back seasons with Bo Nix<\/a>, and they were less than a touchdown away from the Super Bowl despite not having him in the AFC Championship Game.<\/p>\n

And yet, on April Fool\u2019s Day of all possible days, Pro Football Talk\u2019s Mike Florio reported on the Broncos\u2019 potential interest<\/a> in Aaron Rodgers<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Reactions to the apparent news flowed in fast and furiously, including from the Broncos.<\/p>\n

Broncos Rumor Ripped on Social Media\"Aaron<\/p>\n

GettyAaron Rodgers #8 of the Pittsburgh Steelers<\/a> looks on after defeating the Baltimore Ravens<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Florio attempted to cull the calls of his report being a prank, which the supposed revelation was sure to drum up, noting that the Broncos had interest in Rodgers before, that this was still in preliminary stages, and that brass in Denver espoused faith in Nix\u2019s recovery.<\/p>\n

That did not stop the flood of attacks on the report<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cUnfortunately even April Fools has little credibility anymore on here. There are a glut of accounts out there specifically dedicated to spreading misinformation and triggering aggregation (OK yeah it\u2019s funny sometimes),\u201d The Denver Post\u2019s Luca Evans posted<\/a> on X in reaction to the initial reporting. \u201cIDK man. Media literacy needs to be taught in schools.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThere is \u2018less than a zero percent chance\u2019 Aaron Rodgers will visit with the Broncos, per source,\u201d DNVR\u2019s Zac Stevens posted<\/a> on X. \u201cIt\u2019s April Fools and that story is completely false.\u201d<\/p>\n

KOA\u2019s Benjamin Allbright corroborated<\/a> Stevens\u2019 report with one of his own, posting, \u201cThe Broncos are not lurking. They don\u2019t have an eye on it. It is, per source \u2018made up.\u2019 It is April 1, so that\u2019s the theory on its origins, from Broncos brass.\u201d<\/p>\n

Allbright doubled down on his stance as Florio\u2019s report, which Florio doubled down on<\/a>, made the rounds in Steelers social media circles.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs I said earlier\u2026 there is no talk,\u201d Allbright said, quoting the aggregation and adding that he heard \u201cdirect from the team\u201d that they \u201cthought it was an April Fools joke\u201d and that is a \u201ccompletely made up\u201d story.<\/p>\n

Moreover, Stevens asserted that \u201cNix will be 100%\u201d for the offseason program and beyond.<\/p>\n

Broncos Country Not Buying Rumored Aaron Rodgers Interest\"Pittsburgh<\/p>\n

GettyAaron Rodgers #8 of the Pittsburgh Steelers looks on before a game against the Cleveland Browns<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The reactions jibe with what the Broncos have said<\/a>,\u00a0 including since Nix underwent surgery to repair a broken bone in his ankle. They added during the owners meetings in recent days that he is ahead of schedule.<\/p>\n

Predominantly Orange\u2019s Sayre Bedinger poked<\/a> fun at it all, calling the narrative about the Broncos\u2019 lack of outside free agents \u201ctired.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cRuining their future for one year of Aaron Rodgers\u201d is now \u201cwired.\u201d<\/p>\n

Evans recapped<\/a> the end of the NFL<\/a> business day by posting that \u201cThe Broncos officially did *not* bring in Aaron Rodgers for a visit today, per the wire, adding that the notice was \u201cJust in case you were wondering.\u201d<\/p>\n

Bo Nix Injury Never Threatened 2026 Season\"Bo<\/p>\n

GettyBo Nix #10 of the Denver Broncos scrambles against the Buffalo Bills<\/a> during the AFC Divisional Playoffs.<\/p>\n

Nix is Payton\u2019s hand-picked QB<\/a> and was the 12th overall pick in 2024. He has set numerous records<\/a> over his first two seasons in the NFL with the Broncos. He suffered his injury on an otherwise innocuous play during the AFC Divisional Playoffs.<\/p>\n

The Brocos have no reason to believe<\/a> that there will be any lingering issues going forward. That is despite Nix\u2019s previous injury history, a polarizing talking point<\/a> earlier this offseason.<\/p>\n

Denver also has a trusted backup in Jarrett Stidham<\/a> and has Sam Ehlinger<\/a> for emergencies.<\/p>\n

There would need to be a significant shift for the Broncos to pursue Rodgers with Nix on hand and expected to be healthy. It would also require the four-time MVP to accept such a precarious, certainly short-term role.<\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tJosh Buckhalter<\/a> covers the NBA and NFL for Heavy.com. He has covered both leagues since 2016, including bylines at FanSided, Last Word on Sports and Clocker Sports. He’s based in Villa Park, Illinois. Follow Josh on Twitter and Instagram: @JoshGBuck More about Josh Buckhalter<\/a>\t\t<\/p>\n

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