Honestly, if you watched Bo Nix during his final year at Oregon, you probably expected him to be a pure point-guard style distributor in the NFL. He was the king of the "get the ball out fast" offense. Then he got to Denver. Suddenly, the guy who was famous for a 77.4% completion rate started tucking the ball and sprinting for the pylon like he was prime Cam Newton. Okay, maybe not Cam, but the Bo Nix rushing TDs tally has become a genuine weapon for Sean Payton’s offense in a way few experts predicted.
It’s kinda wild when you look at the raw production. Most rookie quarterbacks struggle just to find the right receiver on a slant route. Nix? He spent 2024 carving out a niche as one of the most effective goal-line runners at the position. We aren't just talking about accidental scrambles here. We are talking about designed leverage.
The Reality of Bo Nix Rushing TDs in the NFL
When Nix landed in Denver, the narrative was all about his "processing" and "maturity." But the athleticism is what actually kept the Broncos' chains moving during those gritty early-season games. In his rookie campaign, Nix didn't just dink and dunk; he finished the 2024 regular season with 4 rushing touchdowns. That might not sound like a massive number compared to a running back, but for a rookie QB in Sean Payton's system, it’s a statement.
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By the time the 2025 season rolled around, the league had a better book on him. Yet, he actually increased his efficiency on the ground. Through 17 games in 2025, Nix notched 5 rushing touchdowns.
Think about that.
That is 9 rushing scores in his first two regular seasons. If you add in his postseason production—where he famously added more yards on the ground during the Divisional Round—you’re looking at a dual-threat component that most draft scouts labeled as "secondary" at best. He isn't Lamar Jackson, but he’s basically become a bigger, faster version of the "scrappy" runner that coaches love in the red zone.
Breaking Down the 2024-2025 Rushing Stats
To understand why the Bo Nix rushing TDs matter, you have to look at the yardage and the context of the plays.
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- 2024 Season: 92 carries for 430 yards. That’s a 4.7 average. He wasn't just sliding; he was gaining chunks.
- 2025 Season: 83 carries for 356 yards. The yardage dipped slightly, but the scores went up to 5.
- Career High: He had a 32-yard long run in 2024, proving he has the straight-line speed to punish a man-coverage look if the safeties turn their backs.
Most of these touchdowns happen in the "low red zone." You've seen the play: the Broncos line up, the defense over-commits to Courtland Sutton or the tight end, and Nix just keeps it on a zone read. It's simple. It’s effective. And honestly, it’s frustrating as heck for opposing defensive coordinators who thought they only had to worry about his quick release.
Why Sean Payton Loves the QB Keeper
Payton has always had a thing for quarterbacks who can contribute in the run game. Remember Taysom Hill in New Orleans? While Nix is a significantly better pure passer than Hill, Payton uses Nix’s legs in a similar "mathematical advantage" way. By making the defense account for Bo Nix rushing TDs, the Broncos effectively play 11-on-11 football in the run game instead of 10-on-11.
There’s this misconception that Nix only runs when the play breaks down. That’s just not true. PFF data from 2025 shows he had 83 designed runs. That is a deliberate coaching choice. It’s not a panic move. It’s a strategy to soften the mid-level of the defense.
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When Nix is a threat to run, linebackers have to freeze for a split second. That split second is the difference between a completion to Evan Engram and a pass breakup. Honestly, the rushing touchdowns are almost a "bonus" for Denver; the real value is the fear they put into the defense.
College vs. NFL: The Scoring Evolution
It’s interesting to look back at his time at Oregon and Auburn. In 2022, Nix had a staggering 14 rushing touchdowns for the Ducks. People thought that was just a product of the Pac-12 or a specific scheme. Then he went to the NFL and proved the "nose for the end zone" wasn't a fluke.
At Auburn, he was more of a "wildcard" runner—lots of spinning, lots of chaos. At Oregon and now in Denver, he’s much more surgical. He knows when to take the hit and when to get out of bounds. He’s basically learned how to be a professional runner without sacrificing his health, which is a rare skill for a young QB.
What This Means for Your Fantasy Team (and the Broncos)
If you’re looking at Nix for fantasy or just trying to understand the Broncos' ceiling, the rushing floor is everything. A quarterback who gives you 20–30 yards a game and a touchdown every three weeks is a gold mine.
But for the Broncos, it's about wins. In 2025, Denver went 14-3. You don't get to 14 wins in the NFL without a quarterback who can create something out of nothing. Nix’s ability to convert a 3rd-and-Goal from the 4-yard line with his legs instead of a risky pass into a tight window is why they won the AFC West.
Actionable Insights for Following Bo Nix
If you want to track how Nix is being used, stop looking at just the total rushing yards. That's a "trap" stat. Instead, watch these three things:
- Red Zone Carry Share: Is Nix getting the ball on 1st and Goal? If he is, the rushing TD upside remains elite.
- Third Down Scrambles: Watch for when he escapes the pocket. In 2025, he was among the league leaders in "scramble yards per attempt," which shows he’s getting more comfortable with NFL speed.
- Personnel Groupings: If the Broncos are in "12 personnel" (two tight ends), they are often setting up a power run where Nix has a "keep" option.
The Bo Nix rushing TDs trend isn't slowing down. As long as Sean Payton is calling the plays and Nix has the green light to use his legs, he’ll remain one of the most dangerous dual-threat options in the league, even if he doesn't "look" like a traditional running quarterback. Keep an eye on the weekly matchup—teams with slow linebackers are basically an invitation for Nix to add another six points to his season total.