NEED TO KNOW
\nDenver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix has two brothers, Caleb Nix and Tez JohnsonCaleb began his football career playing for Clemson University and later joined Jacksonville State University’s teamTez became part of the family when Bo’s father, Patrick Nix, was his coach<\/p>\n
Bo Nix<\/a>‘s brothers, Caleb Nix and Tez Johnson, have been there since the start of his NFL career.\n<\/p>\n Bo was drafted in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft<\/a> by the Denver Broncos<\/a>. This came after being named the 2019 SEC Freshman of the Year at Auburn University before transferring to the University of Oregon, where he led the 2023 NCAA season in touchdowns, among other achievements.\n<\/p>\n Bo’s brother Caleb also went on to play college football, but at Clemson as a safety. Not only did Tez play college football, too, but he became Bo\u2019s teammate at Oregon as a wide receiver, catching touchdown passes from his brother.\n<\/p>\n Caleb was born to former football player and coach, Patrick Nix and nurse, Krista Nix on Feb. 28, 2003, just over three years after Bo, who arrived on Feb. 25, 2000. Tez was born on May 18, 2002, but became a part of the Nix family while Patrick was coaching him after Tez became friends with Bo.\n<\/p>\n \u201cThe family .. really saved my life. Who knows where I would have been?,\u201d Tez told the Pac-12 Network<\/a>. \u201cLike being around the family I had some structure in my life. I never had the structure that I had until I moved in and I knew I could trust them because the love was there.\u201d\n<\/p>\n \u201cHe started living with us … he became a brother and then soon after that he\u2019s just like family,\u201d Bo said in the same interview.\n<\/p>\n Bo also has two sisters: Emma and Sara Nix.\n<\/p>\n From their football success to their relationships off the field, here\u2019s everything to know about Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix\u2019s brothers, Caleb Nix and Tez Johnson.<\/p>\n Bo and Caleb grew up in a football family in Alabama <\/p>\n Bo Nix\u2019s father, a coach, won the Alabama state championship in 2023.<\/p>\n Bo Nix\/Instagram<\/p>\n Football runs deep in the Nix family. Bo and Caleb’s grandfather was a well-known high school football coach and their father Patrick is considered a legendary quarterback in Auburn University history.\n<\/p>\n Bo and Caleb were constantly watching football, around the game as Patrick coached college football, or playing it in their backyard.\n<\/p>\n \u201cI grew up around a football family, so it was all about high school and college football,\u201d Bo told ESPN<\/a>.\n<\/p>\n Tez started living with the Nix family in high school <\/p>\n Wide receiver Tez Johnson #15 of the Oregon Ducks celebrates with quarterback Bo Nix #10 after making a 16-yard touchdown catch against the Arizona State Sun Devils on November 18, 2023, in Tempe, Arizona.<\/p>\n Christian Petersen\/Getty Images<\/p>\n Tez and Bo had an instant connection from the time they were teammates, and it continued to when they became brothers after Bo\u2019s family took Tez in. While they were teammates at Pinson Valley High School, Bo quickly noticed Tez\u2019s big heart and football skills. Patrick, who was the school team coach, knew of Tez\u2019s struggles and had an idea for Tez to come stay with the Nix family.\n<\/p>\n \u201cIt was a struggle, just coming up. Like, we didn\u2019t have beds at one point, didn\u2019t know where the next meal was coming from. Growing up in a crazy environment you just see violence every day,\u201d Tez told the Pac-12 Network. \u201cThings were not going good at home … but my coach, Patrick Nix, he said [to Tez\u2019s mom], \u2018What if I take him home for a few days with us. Whenever he feels comfortable, he can come back.’ \u201d\n<\/p>\n Tez said that the second he came into the house and saw the family sitting together at the dinner table, it was new for him and he didn\u2019t want to leave. Tez\u2019s mother gave her blessing for him to live with the Nix family and is thrilled at the success her son has found.\n<\/p>\n \u201cMy child has been able to live out a dream and a life I wasn\u2019t able to provide to him,\u201d Shamika Johnson told The Oregonian<\/a>. \u201cIf I would have kept him here with me, I don\u2019t think he would have graduated high school, let alone go to college … I think what I did for my child … is saved his life.\u201d\n<\/p>\n When it comes to his football career, Tez is all about family.\n<\/p>\n \u201cWhat motivates me most is family. And when I say family, it\u2019s biological and adopted,” he told The Times<\/a> in October 2025.\n<\/p>\n Bo, Caleb and Tez won a high school football championship together <\/p>\n Central-Phenix City Red Devils quarterback Caleb Nix, wearing jersey number 11, in action during the Alabama High School 7A State Championship game on December 1, 2021, in Birmingham, Alabama.<\/p>\n Michael Wade\/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images<\/p>\n Bo and Caleb went from playing backyard football together, to playing on the same high school team with Tez, to becoming State Champions together. In 2018, their father Patrick coached the team \u2014 which included the trio of brothers \u2014 to a class 6A State Championship at Pinson Valley High School in Birmingham, Alabama. Bo also won Alabama\u2019s Mr. Football Award that year.\n<\/p>\n Bo thanked Tez for playing an integral role in helping the team win the State Championship while wishing him happy birthday.\n<\/p>\n \u201cHappy Birthday to my extra brother. Thanks for catching all my passes last year and making me look good. Im so thankful that you\u2019re apart of our family! Keep being you! Love you buddy,\u201d Bo wrote in the caption<\/a> of his Instagram post, alongside photos, including of the two with the Championship trophy and on the field.\n<\/p>\n Caleb was mentored by Bo <\/p>\n Central-Phenix City Red Devils quarterback Caleb Nix, wearing jersey #11, enters the field for the Alabama High School 7A State Championship game on December 1, 2021, in Birmingham, Alabama.<\/p>\n Caleb couldn\u2019t be prouder of his big brother. When finding out Bo would be named Alabama\u2019s Mr. Football in 2018, Caleb congratulated his big brother on Instagram, as well as thanking Bo for everything he had taught him.\n<\/p>\n \u201cCongrats on the greatest career in AHSAA history! All-time leader in total yards (12,000 plus) and all-time leader in total touchdowns (161). Back to back state championship MVPs, Alabama state Gatorade player of the year, and in a couple weeks, he\u2019ll be Alabama\u2019s Mr. Football. Thanks for teaching me so much in your 5 year career \ud83d\udc10#legend,\u201d Caleb wrote in the caption<\/a> of his Dec. 9 post that year.\n<\/p>\n \u201cYour time to shine now youngin. Love you little bro,\u201d Bo replied in the comment section.\n<\/p>\n Caleb has played college football as a safety <\/p>\n Clemson Tigers safety Caleb Nix #41 participated in the annual Orange and White inner-squad college football game held on April 15, 2023, in Clemson, S.C.<\/p>\n John Byrum\/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images<\/p>\n While Bo and Tez may be the more well-known of the three football-playing brothers, Caleb has had a successful football career in his own right. Caleb played quarterback in high school, but found himself amongst a crowded quarterback group as a walk-on at Clemson and decided to play safety so he could have a role on the team.\n<\/p>\n \u201cCoach Sweeney gave me a preferred walk-on spot and at the time we were pretty full at quarterback, which I knew if I walk on, there\u2019s no guarantee to play quarterback\u2026 so I was open to playing something else,\u201d Caleb said on I Played, Too<\/a> podcast in January 2024.\n<\/p>\n \u201cI decided that whatever I play, this is where I want to be\u2026 so I decided to come here and that\u2019s when he told me, \u2018We\u2019re going to start you at safety.\u2019 \u201d\n<\/p>\n Tez played college football with Bo and now plays in the NFL <\/p>\n Oregon Ducks wide receiver Tez Johnson #15 warms up before the college football game against the Boise State Broncos on September 7, 2024, in Eugene, Oregon.<\/p>\n Brian Murphy\/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images<\/p>\n When Tez showed up to the Nix home on his first night there, he was wearing an Oregon Ducks hoodie, according to an article by The Oregonian. He dreamed of playing at the University of Oregon one day, but fate would have it that he would form a dynamic duo with his brother Bo as his quarterback.\n<\/p>\n \u201cWhen I came out here, he was like, \u2018Bo, you get to go live my dream,\u2019 \u201d Bo told The Oregonian. \u201cAnd then the next thing you know, he\u2019s out here living it, too. That\u2019s probably one of the more special things that has come out of me being here.\u201d\n<\/p>\n Bo had a successful career as a quarterback at Auburn University, but transferred to the University of Oregon to finish out his five-year college career, which saw him start as quarterback 61 times \u2014 the most in NCAA history. Bo transferred to the University of Oregon after his first year, while Tez transferred after three standout seasons at Alabama’s Troy University, giving Bo the opportunity to throw touchdown passes to him.\n<\/p>\n Tez was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the seventh round of the 2025 NFL Draft.\n<\/p>\n Tez and Caleb were with Bo when he was drafted by the Broncos <\/p>\n The Denver Broncos select Oregon QB Bo Nix with the twelfth overall pick during Day 1 of the NFL Draft on April 25, 2024, in Detroit, MI.<\/p>\n John Smolek\/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images<\/p>\n The 2024 NFL Draft made history with the most quarterbacks ever drafted in the first round in recent history, which included the Broncos drafting Bo with the 12th pick. Bo was at home surrounded by his family, including brothers Tez and Caleb, when he received the news.\n<\/p>\n Caleb shared a picture on Instagram<\/a> in April 2024 with his big brother as both held up Bo\u2019s new Broncos jersey. Caleb also shared a story of being mistaken for Bo that weekend.\n<\/p>\n \u201cIf you ask me it was a cool weekend even if the owner thinks you are Bo and says \u2018Well, I thought you were bigger,\u2019 \u201d Caleb wrote in the caption of the April 29 post.\n<\/p>\n In February 2025, Tez told the Denver Broncos<\/a> that Bo “means everything” to him.\n<\/p>\n “No matter what, Bo is definitely one of those guys that I look up to still to this day. He’s been doing it for so long, and I’ve been trying to mimic his game \u2014 even though he’s a quarterback \u2014 but just how he treats people, how he respects people and talks and prepares himself for each and every day,” he said. “He definitely means a lot to me.”\n<\/p>\n Caleb got married in 2025 <\/p>\n On July 17, 2024, Caleb proposed to his girlfriend Regan Turner, who was a cheerleader at Seneca High School. Bo also married a former cheerleader: his wife Izzy Smoke.\n<\/p>\n