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

Payton and Brees went on to become one of the most recognizable head coach-quarterback duos in NFL history, but after Brees finally retired in 2020, Payton was initially doing just as well just 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 worked 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 rookie quarterback.

As Payton's Broncos take on his former Saints team in Week 7 on “Thursday Night Football,” here's a look at Nix's rookie numbers compared to Brees' first games under Payton.

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Bo Nix 2024 stats

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

Nix's early results have been a little inconsistent, which is certainly not unusual for a young quarterback. The Broncos are 3-3 this season behind Nix, who has looked efficient in some weeks but has been turnover-prone in others.

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

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Drew Brees 2006 Stats

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

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 Nix and Brees' numbers in their first years under Payton, it's important to remember that Brees was in the sixth season of his career in 2006, so he had a much better chance of developing as a starter. Here's a look at Brees' first six games under Payton in New Orleans:

QBs are coached by Sean Payton

Since Brees was the Saints' starting quarterback from 2006 to 2020, Payton didn't coach many signal-callers. Of course, there were backup players who filled in 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 was, of course, the most notable of that group, but Nix is ​​next in line as the Broncos move forward with what they hope will be their next franchise quarterback.