Broncos quarterback Bo Nix was one of six players named a team captain Wednesday, becoming the first Denver rookie to earn the honor since Hall of Famer Floyd Little in 1967.

The Broncos players voted for the team captains, and coach Sean Payton said Nix getting the nod speaks volumes.

“That’s not something that happens that often,” Payton said. “I think it’s something you earn. These guys — all of them voted on these guys. It’s probably as clean a result as I’d seen in a while relative to those players that were all selected. It’s unusual for a rookie to get made captain, and yet by nature that position to some degree is leading. That was something that organically takes place throughout the spring and training camp and goes from there.”

Nix, who will become the first rookie quarterback to start a Broncos season opener since Hall of Famer John Elway in 1983, was officially named a starter days before the team’s preseason finale against the Arizona Cardinals.

Payton said a rookie getting chosen as a captain has never happened on the teams he’s coached.

“It’s a first for me,” Payton said. “Just say rookie, period, in fairness to the process. I think it is what it is. I think it’s a credit to him, and I think his teammates felt that he belonged in that position.”

Wide receiver Courtland Sutton, guard Quinn Meinerz, cornerback Pat Surtain II, linebacker Alex Singleton and kicker Wil Lutz were also named Broncos captains.

Denver selected Nix, 24, with the 12th pick in this year’s NFL Draft out of Oregon. He completed 23 of 30 attempts for 205 yards and two touchdowns in two preseason games.

The Broncos open the season on the road against the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday.

–Field Level Media