‘It’s heartbreaking’: Boise State quarterback opens up about online hate
Boise State’s Maddux Madsen understands the burdens of being the starting quarterback at a program that’s expecting nothing but wins — about the pressure that comes with the job, and the long days of studying and practice.
And about the criticism that comes with the job, from a fan base that is used to success and sometimes doesn’t react well to losses.
Amid the Broncos’ 4-2 start to the season, however, things have gotten far too personal, as far as Madsen is concerned, and have gone beyond mere complaints.
“There are people that are like, ‘I hope you and your family all die,’” Madsen said Wednesday afternoon, opening up to the media.
“Don’t bring my family into it. But there’s some deep stuff. And it’s heartbreaking that someone wants to come at me and say those things.”
The redshirt junior is in his second season as the Broncos’ starting quarterback. His first season certainly was a success, with a 12-2 overall record, a Mountain West championship and the program’s first appearance in the expanded College Football Playoff.
This season has seen a pair of losses already, and in those games Madsen has been unable to lift the offense. Boise State has scored just one touchdown in each of those contests, a 34-7 loss at South Florida and a 28-7 loss at Notre Dame. The game against the Irish was a low point for Madsen, who was under nearly constant pressure and threw four interceptions.
Otherwise, he’s thrown only one pick this year, while having 11 passing touchdowns and two TDs on the ground. His 1,570 passing yards rank 25th in the nation, and he is completing 61% of his throws.
Madsen said Wednesday that he knows this kind of vitriol from people isn’t unique to him. As an underclassman, he saw some of the messages being sent to former Boise State quarterbacks Hank Bachmeier and Taylen Green. He said he hoped it would never happen to him.
“But here I am, I experience it,” Madsen said.
“I could open my phone to 50-some odd messages of how bad a football player I am, but the week before, it’s the same people who tell me how good I was. So that’s just a joyous part of playing the position.”
Madsen said he’s mostly able to brush off the comments as an ugly part of the job, but noted that it affects more than just him.
“Honestly, my mom, she’s a savior when it comes to that stuff,” Madsen said. “She completely gets off social media because it breaks her heart reading stuff. But she’s the first one to tell me and grab my phone and delete stuff, just so I don’t have the opportunity to read it.”
And for those people sending these social media messages? Don’t ever expect a response.
“My family, I have to sit and tell them, ‘Don’t do it,’” Madsen said. “My little brothers are like, ‘I’m gonna say something,’ and I’m like, ‘Don’t do it. It’s all right.’
“ ... And the one reason they’re doing it is to try and get a reaction.”
Madsen said he’s also aware that this isn’t a case of Bronco Nation in its entirety piling on him.
“Boise State fans, especially, that’s why I love being here, is because you talk about probably 90% of the fans that are real, loving, true fans to me ... as well as the team,” Madsen said. “And that’s why I love it here, and so I can’t look and give those 10% of fans any reaction.”
This story was originally published October 15, 2025 at 2:30 PM.
