In 2006, Drew Brees signed a six-year contract with New Orleans, and from that point on, he would never play for another franchise again. Under then-new coach Sean Payton, Brees became one of the league’s all-time best passers and a Super Bowl champion.

Over time, Payton and Brees became one of the most iconic head coach-quarterback duos in NFL history, but after Brees ultimately retired in 2020, Payton initially performed just as well a year later. However, Payton returned to coaching by taking the Broncos’ job in 2023, and he is now in his second season in Denver.

This year, Payton teamed with first-round pick Bo Nix in Denver’s offense. After working primarily with a veteran in Brees throughout his career, the 60-year-old head coach is now in charge of a 24-year-old starting quarterback.

As Payton’s Broncos take on his former Saints team on “Thursday Night Football” in Week 7, see how Nix’s rookie numbers compare to Brees’ first few games playing under Payton.

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Bo Nix 2024 statistics

Nix was drafted 12th overall in April, the sixth quarterback in the first round. He only joined the Bears’ Caleb Williams and the Commanders’ Jayden Daniels as rookies to start their franchises in Week 1, though the Patriots’ Drake Maye has now also taken on a starting role.

Nix’s early results are a bit back and forth, which is certainly not unheard of for a young quarterback. The Broncos are 3-3 this season behind Nix, who has looked efficient in some weeks but been turnover-prone in others.

Here’s a look at Nix’s first six games as a rookie in 2024, including his play-by-game and total numbers.

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Drew Brees 2006 Stats

By 2006, Brees had been with the Chargers for five years. He was drafted by the team in 2001 and became one of the league’s top quarterbacks in 2004, when he totaled 27 passing touchdowns against just seven interceptions. However, a serious shoulder injury in 2005 made Brees a significant risk for any team willing to sign him, and the Chargers ultimately let him go in favor of Philip Rivers in the first round.

Brees signed with the Saints in 2006, which was also Payton’s first year in New Orleans. Together, they would make the Saints an annual playoff contender for years to come.

When comparing the numbers of Nix and Brees in their first years under Payton, we should be reminded that Brees was in his sixth season of his career in 2006, so he had a much better chance to develop first. That said, here’s a look at how Brees’ first six games under Payton in New Orleans went:

QBs coached by Sean Payton

Because Brees was the Saints’ starting quarterback from 2006 to 2020, Payton hasn’t coached a very broad roster of signal callers. Of course, there have been backups who had to fill in to start for Brees during his time in New Orleans, such as Taysom Hill and Teddy Bridgewater.

However, the only other full-time starters Payton has coached in the NFL were the combination of Jameis Winston and Trevor Siemian with the Saints in 2021, Russell Wilson with the Broncos in 2023 and Nix this season. For a coach with 18 seasons of experience leading a team, Payton has only worked with a few different QB1s.

Brees, of course, was the most notable of that bunch, but Nix is ​​next in line as the Broncos move on with who they hope is their next franchise quarterback.