Peyton Manning said on April 22 that he believes the Denver Broncos and quarterback Bo Nix can use their recent postseason defeat as motivation for the upcoming 2026 season. Manning, who won two Super Bowls during his Hall of Fame career, spoke about overcoming difficult losses while attending Omaha Productions’ “Night of Champions,” where he and former teammates honored their Super Bowl 50 win.
Manning’s comments highlight how setbacks in high-stakes games can serve as valuable learning experiences for teams aiming to reach the top. He compared losing in an AFC Championship Game to finishing a regular season without making the playoffs, saying that being close to victory provides more motivation.
“Look, I’ve always said, ‘Which would you rather do: Would you rather have your heart ripped out by the Patriots in the AFC Championship?’ ‘Or win your last game of the regular season and finish 7-10 and be so far removed, but it doesn’t hurt quite as much? It doesn’t sting quite as much.’ I’d rather have my heart ripped out, because that means you’re knocking on the door,” Manning said.
He also praised Head Coach Sean Payton and General Manager George Paton for assembling a team with unselfish players focused on collective success. “I think this team has it figured out,” Manning said. “[Head Coach] Sean [Payton] knows what they need to do. I think they’ve also got a bunch of unselfish guys, who all kind of look at themselves in the mirror and say, ‘Hey, what can I do to get better this offseason to help the team?’ I think it’s pretty unique from that standpoint. And it’s not by accident. Sean and [General Manager] George [Paton] have drafted and signed guys that are unselfish, that are team-oriented. That’s the way you’ve got to have it to win.”
Manning noted that players like Nix and wide receiver Courtland Sutton likely share his view about using disappointment as fuel for improvement. “I’m sure Bo would tell you that and Courtland and all the guys that were disappointed because they got so close,” Manning said. “It makes you hungrier for the next year. It means you’re doing something right, and I know Sean and that bunch will rebound and … I think, be even better this year.”
Looking ahead to next season, Nix is expected to return after recovering from an ankle injury suffered during Denver’s Divisional Round victory over Buffalo. Manning reported seeing Nix recently at The Masters golf tournament: “He’s a competitive guy, and he’s a team guy,” Manning said of Nix. “He wants to be out there. His teammates are out there for him, he wants to answer the bell for them [on] Sunday… But I think that will push him even harder and make him even hungrier this year.”
