With four regular-season games remaining, Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix has a chance to be the 2024 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year. He’ll have to hold off some worthy candidates, but he may bring some hardware to Denver.
Earlier this season, it seemed that Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels had the award wrapped up after the way he burst out of the gate, but Nix has closed ground and many think he could be ahead of Daniels right now. But you also have to consider Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers, who set a rookie record for receptions by a rookie tight end on Sunday.
If Nix were to go on and win the award, he would become the first Broncos quarterback to ever do it. But he wouldn’t be the first Broncos player to win the award. In fact, that has happened two other times.
Broncos players to win Offensive Rookie of the Year
Mike Anderson, RB, 2000
One of the most unlikely winners of the award in history, Mike Anderson was drafted in the sixth round of the 2000 draft out of Utah. Not expected to be much of a factor in Denver, he was thrust into a starting role when Terrell Davis had still not recovered from the devastating knee injury he suffered the year before.
That season, he rushed for 1,487 yards and 15 touchdowns. He became the first rookie in NFL history to rush for 175+ yards in at least three games and his 251-yard performance on December 3, 2000 against the New Orleans Saints still stands as the Broncos’ single-game record.
Clinton Portis, RB, 2002
Just two seasons later, another Broncos running back earned the award.
He had a massive rookie season, rushing for 1,508 yards and 15 touchdowns. That allowed him to edge out New York Giants tight end Jeremy Shockey for the award.
But Portis played just two seasons in Denver before being part of one of the biggest trades in NFL history. The Broncos sent him to the Washington Redskins in exchange for defensive back Champ Bailey. That worked out pretty well for Denver.
Broncos players who have received Offensive Rookie of the Year votes
| Player | Year | Position | Place | Winner |
| Rick Upchurch | 1975 | Wide Receiver | 6th | Mike Thomas, Washington |
| Mark Jackson | 1986 | Wide Receiver | 3rd | Rueben Mayes, New Orleans |
| Ricky Nattiel | 1987 | Wide Receiver | 6th | Troy Stradford, Miami |
| Terrell Davis | 1995 | Running Back | 2nd | Curtis Martin, New England |
| Ryan Clady | 2008 | Left Tackle | 3rd | Matt Ryan, Atlanta |
| Knowshon Moreno | 2009 | Running Back | 4th | Percy Harvin, Minnesota |
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