{“title”:”Brady Denied Broncos Return Over Raiders Ownership”,”body”:”At a Glance
– Bo Nix fractured his right ankle on Jan. 17, ending his season
– NFL rules bar Tom Brady from playing because he owns a stake in the Raiders
– Backup Jarrett Stidham will start the AFC championship game
– Why it matters: Fans lose a dream storyline as Denver chases a Super Bowl without its top two quarterbacks
Tom Brady’s comeback buzz lasted less than 24 hours. After Denver Broncos starter Bo Nix broke his ankle in an overtime win over Buffalo, social media lit up with pleas for the seven-time Super Bowl champ to rescue the franchise. League bylates quickly extinguished the fantasy.
## The Injury That Started It All
Nix, 25, sustained the fracture during the 33-30 victory on Jan. 17. The injury knocks him out of the AFC conference championship against the New England Patriots on Sunday, Jan. 25.
Denver’s options looked bleak:
– Backup QB Jarrett Stidham has not thrown a pass in two seasons
– Practice-squad arms lack playoff experience
– The Broncos have never reached a Super Bowl without a future Hall of Fame quarterback under center
The vacuum fed the rumor mill. NFLMemes posted a viral clip-more than 15,000 likes-of a car crashing into a building with the caption, “Tom Brady pulling up to the Broncos facility this morning.” Fantasy analyst Luke Sawhook added a mock-up of Brady in Broncos orange with the plea, “make it happen Broncos.”
## Ownership Clause Ends the Dream
Brady’s path back to the field ends at a paperwork wall. The Fox Sports analyst owns a minority stake in the Las Vegas Raiders, purchased in October 2024. NFL regulations prohibit an owner from playing for any team.
League history on the issue:
| Year | Stance | Details |
|——|——–|———|
| 2023 | Conditional | Could play for Raiders if ¾ of owners approved |
| Sept. 2024 | Absolute | No vote allowed; ownership and playing status mutually exclusive |
Sources told News Of Los Angeles that the rule change closed even the narrow loophole that once existed.
## Stidham Gets the Call
Head coach Sean Payton wasted no time naming his starter. “In our three years, watching him day-in and day-out that you guys don’t have access to,” Payton told reporters, “he will be ready to go and ready for the moment.”
Stidham’s résumé:
– Entered the league as a fourth-round pick in 2019
– Has four career touchdowns against three interceptions
– Spent the past three seasons learning Payton’s system
Denver will tailor the attack around a run-first approach, relying on its top-five defense to contain Patriots rookie Drake Maye.
## Brady’s Next Snap
While the NFL door is shut, Brady will see game action in March at the Fanatics Flag Football Classic. Talking exclusively to News Of Los Angeles on Jan. 13, he joked, “I’ve probably been in the gym too much.”
Brady’s prep plan:
– Increase on-field throwing sessions
– Simulate contact for the first time since retiring
– Build timing with new teammates
“I haven’t got hit in a long time,” he admitted, “so I gotta get out there and throw a little bit more to get my arm ready to go, but I think it’s going to go pretty good.”
## Key Takeaways
1. Bo Nix’s season ends with a fractured ankle, thrusting unproven backup Jarrett Stidham into the spotlight
2. Tom Brady’s ownership stake in the Raiders legally blocks any NFL return
3. Jarrett Stidham will lead Denver against the Patriots with a trip to the Super Bowl on the line
4. Brady’s competitive fix comes in March via a flag-football exhibition, not an NFL playoff run”,”meta_description”:”Tom Brady can’t save the Broncos after Bo Nix’s injury-NFL rules bar him from playing due to Raiders ownership.”,”categories”:[“Breaking News”,”Sports News”]}
