KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Denver Broncos rookie quarterback Bo Nix has further cemented his status as the new face of the franchise, not just through his statistical performance, but through a display of grit and historical reverence. During Denver’s 20-13 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs on Christmas Day, Nix went viral for a sequence that saw him risk physical injury to honor Hall of Fame running back Terrell Davis.
The moment occurred in the fourth quarter after Nix scrambled for a critical first down, absorbing a heavy hit from a Chiefs defender in the process. Rather than sliding or heading straight to the sideline, Nix popped up and performed the iconic “Mile High Salute”—the celebration made famous by Davis during the Broncos’ back-to-back Super Bowl runs in the late 1990s.
The gesture resonated deeply with the Broncos’ fan base and former players. While coaches typically prefer their franchise quarterback to avoid unnecessary contact and post-play theatrics that could lead to injury, Nix’s willingness to “play through the whistle” and acknowledge the team’s legacy has been met with widespread acclaim.
“You see a young guy come in and understand the history of this uniform, it means something,” said one NFL analyst during the postgame broadcast. “He’s taking hits, he’s moving the chains, and then he’s saluting the legends who came before him. That’s how you win a locker room.”
Nix’s performance on the field was equally impressive. He finished the day with 215 passing yards and a decisive touchdown pass to R.J. Harvey, outdueling the Chiefs’ patchwork quarterback room and moving Denver (13-3) closer to the AFC’s No. 1 overall seed. The victory marked the Broncos’ first season sweep of the Chiefs in over a decade, a feat not lost on the rookie.
“I grew up watching the greats wear the Orange and Blue,” Nix said in his postgame interview. “Terrell Davis, John Elway—those guys set the standard. In a game like this, on Christmas, I just wanted to show that we’re fighting to bring that standard back to Denver. If I have to take a few hits to show that passion, I’m going to do it every time.”
Terrell Davis himself took to social media to acknowledge the tribute, posting a salute emoji and praising Nix for his “toughness and leadership.”
As the Broncos head into Week 17 with a chance to clinch home-field advantage throughout the playoffs, Nix’s “Mile High Salute” has become the defining image of a resurgent season in Denver. It serves as a symbolic bridge between the glory days of the past and a promising future led by the rookie out of Oregon.
