Bo Nix says the ankle that ended his 2025 playoff run is no longer a concern heading into training camp.
The Denver Broncos quarterback fractured his right ankle late in overtime of Denver’s 33-30 divisional-round win over the Buffalo Bills last January, an injury that knocked him out for the rest of the postseason. According to ESPN, Nix broke the bone on a kneel-down play after Denver had already sealed the win, and head coach Sean Payton confirmed the diagnosis to reporters that night. Nix had surgery days later and missed the AFC Championship Game, which Denver lost 10-7 to the New England Patriots, according to Yardbarker.
Now, with training camp on the horizon, Nix says the rehab is behind him. “I’m pleased with my progress, and it’s been a quite eventful off season, but it’s been well worth the journey,” Nix said in an interview with WWD. “I think this season is going to be very enjoyable because of what we’ve been able to go through this off season.”
Denver’s Super Bowl bid ended without him. Backup Jarrett Stidham started the AFC title game in Nix’s place and the Broncos couldn’t get past New England. Nix isn’t dwelling on it. “I go into every season thinking we’ve got a chance to win a Super Bowl,” he said. “The day I think we can’t get it done anymore is probably the time I’ll start calling it quits. But right now I feel really good about our team and our chances.”
That competitive streak is part of why Mizzen+Main, the performance menswear brand, signed Nix as an ambassador at the start of his rookie season in 2024. He’s stayed with the company through his rise from first-round pick to one of the league’s more efficient young quarterbacks, and he says the relationship goes back further than the contract. “Growing up, I was always into dressing up,” Nix said. “When I got to college, I started dressing up more for media days and game days, so I started wearing Mizzen+Main shirts that I would buy at the store.” He described the shirts as comfortable enough to wear under a jacket or suit, which is what first pulled him toward the brand before the partnership existed.
Nix has built out a broader endorsement portfolio since turning pro, including deals with 7-Eleven, Celsius, Raising Cane’s, Old Spice and Google Shopping. He said his NIL earning power was modest in college and picked up fast once he reached the NFL. Still, he singled out Mizzen+Main as the partnership he values most. “We’ve both grown a little bit,” he said. “I know I’ve grown with them, and hopefully I’ve allowed them to grow as well. It’s been cool to be seen as a somebody when you wear the clothes.”
Fatherhood and a Changing Wardrobe
Nix’s personal life shifted this year too. He and his wife, Izzy, welcomed their first child in February, and Nix said that’s changed what he reaches for in the closet as much as anything else has. “Style is always evolving and always changing, and you’re always finding new ideas,” he said. “Mizzen allows me to expand on that creativity. We’ve been able to partner on a few custom suits that will launch this fall.”
Practicality matters more now too. “You can just wash and dry it, you don’t have to take it to a cleaner,” Nix said of the brand’s fabrics. “It’s very easy and stretches, so when they go pulling at your clothes and spitting up everywhere, it’s not going to mess anything up.” He said he still leans on Nike for athletic wear, splitting his rotation between performance gear and business-casual pieces depending on the day. “I am one of those guys that likes many different things,” he said. “I won’t discriminate against any brand. If it’s comfortable and I like the look of it, I’ll buy it.”
A League Paying More Attention to Style
Nix’s interest in fashion lines up with a broader shift across the NFL, which has brought on a fashion editor to work with players as the league leans into the tunnel-walk culture the NBA popularized. “As professional athletes, any time we can dress to impress, and get ready for a game-day atmosphere, we find joy in that,” Nix said. “Some would say, how you do anything is how you do everything. So if you look sharp and prepared, you’ll set your mind right, and go out there and perform better.”
Asked which teammate has the boldest style, Nix pointed to All-Pro cornerback Pat Surtain II. “He never fails to have something nice on,” Nix said. “I think if I tried certain things like he did, I would look crazy, but he definitely gets away with it. He looks natural, and I think he really enjoys it. But I think as a team we do a good job of dressing up. We always look sharp going into games, and that may have something to do with our on-field success.”
Locked In for Camp
Nix said he reports to training camp on July 26, and once he’s back in Denver, the outside projects go quiet. “Once I get back to Denver and get settled, the season is here, and my head’s in the sand for a while,” he said. Until then, his Mizzen+Main campaign is rolling out across the brand’s digital channels, cable television, newsletters and select out-of-home placements ahead of kickoff.
Mizzen+Main CEO Ryan Kent said the fit with Nix goes beyond his profile as a starting NFL quarterback. “We look for people whose approach to their craft reflects the standards we build into our products — discipline, preparation, consistency and the ability to perform under pressure,” Kent said. “Bo has demonstrated those qualities throughout his career. He represents forward progress rather than arrival.” Kent added that the brand’s customers aren’t buying clothes to make a statement, but to get through demanding careers and family life — something he said Nix embodies. “He’s someone who prepares relentlessly, values substance over flash, and understands that performance comes from doing the little things well.”
