Sunday will be the 12th day in NFL history that two Auburn alumni will start at quarterback.
Bo Nix is set to make his second career start when the Denver Broncos play the Pittsburgh Steelers at 3:25 p.m. CDT Sunday. The former Pinson Valley High School standout won the starting spot after joining Denver as the 12th pick in the NFL Draft on April 25.
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Malik Willis is set to make his fourth career start when the Green Bay Packers play the Indianapolis Colts at noon Sunday. Willis joined Green Bay from the Tennessee Titans in a trade after the preseason and practiced for the first time with the Packers on Aug. 28. He ascended to the starting spot when Jordan Love sustained a knee injury in Green Bay’s season-opening game.
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Nix played at Auburn in the 2019, 2020 and 2021 seasons before transferring to Oregon. Willis played at Auburn in the 2017 and 2018 seasons before transferring to Liberty.
The other 11 instances of Auburn alumni starting at quarterback in the NFL on the same day involved Jason Campbell and Cam Newton in the 2011 and 2013 seasons.
Nix and Willis also will try to do something that’s happened only two times. Campbell and Newton started in victories on the same day twice.
On Sept. 25, 2011, Campbell and the Oakland Raiders defeated the New York Jets 34-24, and Newton and the Carolina Panthers defeated the Jacksonville Jaguars 16-10.
On Nov. 3, 2013, Newton and the Panthers defeated the Atlanta Falcons 34-10, and Campbell and the Cleveland Browns defeated the Baltimore Ravens 24-18.
Five other Auburn alumni have started at quarterback in AFL/NFL regular-season games – Travis Tidwell, Dick Wood, Pat Sullivan, Dieter Brock and Jarrett Stidham. Stidham is currently Nix’s backup with the Broncos.
Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix scrambles for a touchdown during an NFL game against the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday, Sept. 8, 2024, at Lumen Field in Seattle.(AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.
