ap

Skip to content

Broncos’ Bo Nix explains fear of dogs to Kirk Herbstreit after first interaction went viral

The College GameDay and Thursday Night Football broadcaster brought his golden retriever Peter to Christmas Day game where pair reunited

KANSAS CITY, MO - DECEMBER 25: Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix (10) walks off the field and greets fans after defeating the Kansas City Chiefs 20-13 at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri on Thursday, December 25, 2025. (Photo by Andy Cross/The Denver Post)
KANSAS CITY, MO – DECEMBER 25: Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix (10) walks off the field and greets fans after defeating the Kansas City Chiefs 20-13 at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri on Thursday, December 25, 2025. (Photo by Andy Cross/The Denver Post)
Denver Post sports columnist Troy Renck photographed at studio of Denver Post in Denver on Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2024. (Photo by Hyoung Chang/The Denver Post)
PUBLISHED: | UPDATED:
Getting your player ready...

We continue to learn things about Bo Nix that surprise us.

Last year, we found out he does not curse. On Christmas Day, he revealed his fear of dogs to Kirk Herbstreit after an awkward meeting with the broadcaster’s famous golden retriever Peter went viral last month.

, with Nix petting the pup during warmups before the Broncos beat the Kansas City Chiefs, 20-13.

“My wife (Izzy) will be shocked,” Nix said.

Broadcaster, Kirk Herbstreit's dog Peter, on the sidelines before the game against the Kansas City Chiefs and the Denver Broncos at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri on Thursday, Dec. 25, 2025. (Photo by Andy Cross/The Denver Post)
Broadcaster, Kirk Herbstreitap dog Peter, on the sidelines before the game against the Kansas City Chiefs and the Denver Broncos at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri on Thursday, Dec. 25, 2025. (Photo by Andy Cross/The Denver Post)

Herbstreit travels the country with Peter, who took over the role of unofficial ambassador after his brother Ben passed away last November following a battle with leukemia and lymphoma.

Players often happily greet the pup at college and NFL stadiums, but Nix had a chilly reaction when Peter jumped toward him as he held plyo balls in his hand before the Broncos played the Raiders on Nov. 6. It led Herbstreit to hatch a plan to bring the two together this week.

That is when Nix shared that he had a fear of dogs from a childhood incident.

“I just think when I was little I got attacked by one, and I didn’t know any better. My family didn’t grow up with them,” Nix told Herbstreit. “My whole family’s not really a dog family. We had one when I was a kid, and then it passed away and we didn’t get a new one.”

Nix became associated with dogs a few weeks ago. After the Broncos upset the Green Bay Packers, Nix coined the term “overdog” to describe his team. He launched an “Overdogs” line of merchandise on his apparel website that benefits the Denver Rescue Mission, which aims to end homelessness in the metro area.

RevContent Feed

More in Denver Broncos