Jake Plummer talks like he played — full of honesty and edge. By living this way, Plummer makes conversations a joy. The former Broncos quarterback is not worried about playing it down the middle. His opinions are unfiltered. He is true to himself. And as someone who watches the Broncos closely be cause of his ties to the organization and work for Guerilla Sports, Plummer has no problem getting things off his chest. Put simply, he loves the current team, and loathes those who booed them last Sunday. “They play hard, man. There was a lack of leadership before. They had some stars, but needed leaders. And now they have leaders, guys who are hungry, who love and care about each other,” Plummer said. “They are fun to watch. So, why are you booing a (14-3) team when they are trying to secure home-field advantage, and leading 13-3? Who are you wearing orange and blue? You need to check yourself.” Plummer poured his heart into football, earning a reputation as a foxhole guy among teammates. He was both popular and polarizing in Denver. The Good Jake, Bad Jake narrative became a thing, as Plummer fluctuated between dominant and inconsistent. Counting the playoffs, he posted a 40-18 record as Denver’s starter, including 13-3 in 2005. But he countered 76 passing touchdowns with 53 picks. It was all part of the Plummer Experience. As such, few Broncos quarterbacks are as qualified to weigh in on Bo Nix, who has delivered 24 wins in two seasons, yet finds himself more scrutinized than the Zapruder film. “I think he has had a (heck) of a year. As a young quarterback, the best way to gain respect is to win. And when it has to happen with the ball in his hands, he has shown he is incredibly clutch,” said Plummer of Nix, who leads the NFL with seven game-winning drives. “The moment is not too big for him. Is he fully developed? No. But he is fearless and smart with the ball and finds ways to make plays. So continue to doubt him if you want.” There were those among the 74,801 in attendance for the Chargers game who clearly had concerns for the suggestion box. They howled after multiple three-and-outs by the Nix-led offense, which finished with 240 yards and 13 first downs. Coach Sean Payton implied that a conservative game plan made sense because Denver’s stellar defense was facing backup quarterback Trey Lance. Asked about the boos, which first happened in a Thursday night win over the Raiders in November, Nix showed levity. Related Articles Nuggets’ Peyton Watson shows he was right to bet on himself | Renck File Renck: Mullen’s Mason Bonner navigates Michigan drama, shows what is right about sports Renck: We are looking at this all wrong, Broncos Country. Bo Nix is not a failure without a title Where does Bo Nix stack up among Class of 2024 QBs? | Broncos Mailbag Who is best opponent for Broncos to face in divisional round? “It’s funny, it’s our job to give them a good quality experience. They show up to see us win. Obviously, we’ve won a lot of games this year, but it’s good,” Nix said. “They’re not going to be complacent. They want more.” During his time in Denver, Nix has reacted to criticism with calm befitting a coach’s son. Plummer understands Nix is in a difficult spot. Now retired for 18 years, including walking away from $5.3 million when the Broncos traded him to Tampa Bay before the 2008 draft, Plummer is not. “You probably saw me on Guerilla Sports going off, and I think what triggered me is hearing Bo in his presser saying he has been booed before and will be booed again. He has to say politically correct things. I have been there. You don’t take it personally, but you definitely feel it. You know what you want to say? (Bleep) you!” Plummer said. “Fans can react how they want (at the game). I am sure some of the frustration with the offense is because of fantasy football, gambling, point spreads, over-unders, all that stuff. But it (stinks) when your hometown fans boo, especially when you are (14-3).” As Plummer completes his riff, he catches himself. He knows some might portray him as the “Back in My Day” guy. “You say, ‘Plummer you are sour.’ I get it. I will see fans and they will tell me, ‘You were great.’ And I say, ‘It feels like you probably booed me once or twice.’ They said they didn’t, and I laugh and say I forgive them,” Plummer said. “I have fun with it.” As someone whose job is to offer critical analysis when the Broncos struggle in a game or a particular area, my in-box bloats with fans unhappy with my coverage at times. Plummer is not a columnist. He is an alum. He lives in the area. And, frankly, he takes the boos personally because the way he sees it, the present is a (heck) of a lot better than the recent past. For the better part of eight years after Super Bowl 50, the Broncos were an organization with delusions of adequacy, fielding mediocre teams with major problems with ownership drama, mismanaged rosters, ghost drafts and an endless carousel of underwhelming quarterbacks. The 2025 Broncos can be summed up in bullet points: –They tied the franchise record for regular-season wins. –They ended a nine-game losing streak at Kansas City. –And they won the AFC West and secured the conference’s No. 1 seed for the first time since 2015. It has been a long, strange trip over the last decade. Greatness and embarrassment. Feuds and follies. Peyton Manning’s championship followed by quarterback chaos. It is true, the current Broncos can be different things to different people. But Plummer keeps coming back to the record, the style of play, and believes this team deserves Broncos Country’s unconditional love in its home stadium. “I have paid attention since Peyton and the lull we went through. Now, we have a heartbeat in this organization with players who play hard for the guy next to them,” Plummer said. “They are well-coached. I see them having a good chance in the playoffs. They are battle-tested. I believe they will respond well. … Sure, I speak my mind, and sometimes it is genuinely good and sometimes I have been a genuine (rear end). I know I wasn’t the greatest player, but when I respond to things, it comes from a place of passion. I care.” Want more sports news? Sign up for the Sports Omelette to get all our analysis on Denver’s teams. ...read more read less