Q&A: Patrick Surtain II on ‘selfless’ Bo Nix, Nikola Jokić vs. John Elway, and more

There's no doubt about it. Patrick Surtain II, the NFL's reigning Defensive Player of the Year (DPOY), has become a certified household name.

In just four NFL seasons, aside from his DPOY win, Surtain has already qualified for three Pro Bowls and earned two First-Team All-Pro selections. On average, opposing quarterbacks complete just over 57.1 percent of their passes against the superstar cornerback. Despite offenses learning to avoid his side of the field altogether, he already has 11 career interceptions, showing a knack for maximizing his limited opportunities at the ball. In other words, offenses can avoid throwing at Surtain (which they generally should), but they'll only limit their plan of attack. It's not sustainable. So, on the rare occasion they do test him, he'll almost always make them regret their decision.

When you factor in this precise confounding conundrum, it's no wonder Surtain is only the seventh cornerback ever to capture DPOY honors.

Surtain's ascension to the limelight comes at a perfect time. His Denver Broncos are currently in the midst of what seems like a renaissance for the franchise. Surtain's stellar lockdown abilities get to shine on what might be a great NFL team for the first time. Go figure.

While Surtain prepares to take the next step as a member of a Broncos team that hopes to contend, he's touting Muscle Milk as a key cog in his day-to-day training process. To Surtain, it's critical that athletes emphasize the proper amount of protein intake while working out, especially if they want to maximize their gradual improvements over time. He's integrated the dietary supplement into his nutrition as a means to spread a wider message about crafting a balanced, rigorous diet for elite athletic performance, while offering up a chance for NFL fans to get a peek at a professional football gym.

For The Win talked with Surtain about his next goal after winning his first DPOY, his candid impressions of Broncos quarterback Bo Nix and head coach Sean Payton, the all-important John Elway vs. Nikola Jokić debate in Denver, and even how his famous "PS2" nickname connects back to his life.

This interview has been condensed and edited for clarity.

Last year, you won your first career Defensive Player of the Year (DPOY). That's the peak for any defender. How do you begin to build on that? What's your next major goal from an individual perspective?

My next goal is to keep on proving myself, you know. I mean, keep on proving my worth to my team. Just getting better, faster, stronger, you know, mentally sharper as well, too. Just based on how much work I put in the offseason to make sure, you know, I get better each and every year and stay consistent. I have to build on last year's success.

You guys had one of the NFL's best defenses last year. It seems like you're on track to, at least, repeat those results. How does someone like Jahdae [Barron] help the Denver secondary? What does he bring to the table that perhaps y'all might not have had before?

I think he [Barron] brings a lot of savvy. He's got a certain demeanor about him. He's very confident for a young guy. That's one of the first things I've seen from him when he stepped into the building. It's his persona and the way he goes about his business. He's very professional in that regard. He's getting dialed in with the playbook, too, which is ultimately going to help him succeed, because he's playing multiple positions around the field. Knowing this defense is not easy. I could say, for the average person, it's hard to get in-depth with our playbook, because you gotta learn a lot of nuances here and there.

He's caught on well, and he's moving at a rapid pace for a rookie. I'm very excited for him.

As an established veteran who has been there and done that, what kind of advice have you shared with him [Barron]?

The No. 1 thing is to eliminate too many distractions. Rookie year distractions could make it hard to anticipate what's coming. But understanding your schedule, focusing on getting in the film room, and on your recovery, because the NFL season is much longer than what he's accustomed to. Coming from college, even though they made it [the Texas Longhorns] far last year during the college football season, the NFL season is about 17 games, and that could take a toll on the body.

What are you looking for from Riley [Moss], your other Broncos cornerback partner, as he enters his third year? What have you noticed about him now that he's broken out?

I could tell he's [Moss] very poised. I remember a lot of people didn't know much about Riley [Moss] last year. But he came in with a chip on his shoulder, and he made plays. From this offseason, he's gotten much stronger, faster, and even more confident. I mean, his explosiveness is a night-and-day difference from last year to this year. And he's understanding more and more offensive concepts, which slows the game down a little bit for him on his end. I know he's up for the challenge coming up, because teams know who I am. They avoid me in a way that allows him to get more opportunities and make more plays on the ball. I'm pretty sure he knows that, as he's accepting that challenge.

It's been great to have him on the other side of me, on the opposite side of me, because I know that side is locked down.

The defense aside, many people are high on the Broncos this year because of Bo Nix. What has he shown in training camp so far that proves he's ready to take the team to the next level?

He's [Nix] a selfless leader. That's one of the many traits he brings to the table.

There's an energy he brings to the building, a confidence he brings to the offense, and how he commands the huddle. It's the way he carries himself, the way he presents himself every time he steps into the building. He's so young in his career, and for him to possess that, I think, is very important as a quarterback. This year, you can tell he's growing more and more confident with the playbook; he's adapting to certain things within the context of the offense on the fly; he's trusting his receivers more. And that's not even mentioning him getting stronger and faster physically.

Was there a specific play by him [Nix] last year, like a throw or a run, where everything crystallized you thought, 'Oh, this guy's for real,'?

It has to be that deep pass against the [Cincinnati] Bengals to Marvin [Mims Jr.] in the corner of the end zone.

BO NIX ABSOLUTE CINEMA.

📺: #DENvsCIN on NFL Network
📱: Stream on #NFLPluspic.twitter.com/LpdaNr6sVi

— NFL (@NFL) December 29, 2024

I think that was a moment where we all realized that, yeah, we have a guy [Nix] who is capable of making that throw so calmly and confidently. We already saw what kind of player he was becoming beforehand. But once he made that throw, that was when he was here.

This will be your fifth season with the Broncos, third with Sean Payton. How would you say a big-name, big-personality coach like him has impacted the team culture?

He's [Payton] shifted the culture immensely. He brought in his program dedicated to success. You talk about a guy with a resume that includes going to the Super Bowl, winning the Super Bowl, multiple playoff appearances, and it shows he knows how to get the job done at the highest level. Having a coach with that level of experience gives our team a lot of confidence. Even just based on the past few years, it's clear that we've been striving for better and better each year. We're looking forward to another run with him.

People say that offensive coaches like Payton tend to stick to their side of the ball. How does someone like him connect to the Broncos' defense?

At the end of the day, he [Payton] knows that both sides of the ball have to do their job to win games.

Sean [Payton] has had a lot of great defenses in the past, and he knows what it takes to have a great defense. He knows what winning defensive football looks like. More importantly, he also sees what we can [the Broncos' defense] can do on that side of the ball, with the amount of talent we have, and empowers us as such. Defense wins championships, and offense sells tickets. Even without seeing more of our nuanced defensive structure, he has complete trust in us to step up in big, pivotal moments.

With a DPOY in your trophy case, you're a Denver sports legend qualified to make grand statements. So, right now, who would you say is the biggest face of Denver sports ever: John Elway or Nikola Jokić?

[Laughs] Man, that's tough. I do not know. [Thinks] I'd probably say John [Elway] because he's already submitted his legacy, you know? With Elway, he brought the city into the light before I was even born. So, legacy-wise, I have to lean him. But when all is said and done, it could become Jokić. With the pace he is on right now, man, he might be one of the greatest to ever do it. For now, I'll stick with Elway.

Some people consider your nickname "PS2" to be one of the better monikers in today's NFL. On that note, did you play the PlayStation 2 growing up? What were some of your favorite games?

I was a huge PS2 fan growing up. I played a lot of NFL Street and NBA Street. There were a lot of sports games, and even racing games like Need for Speed. I incorporated some Grand Theft Auto, too. For me, the PlayStation 2 had a lot of the best editions of games I loved.

This article originally appeared on For The Win: Patrick Surtain II shares how Bo Nix impresses him, debates Nikola Jokić vs. John Elway