Remembering Pat Bowlen


On Friday, it was announced that Pat Bowlen, the Broncos' majority owner, passed away at the age of 75. It was a sad announcement, but not altogether unexpected as he's been struggling with Alzheimer's Disease the past few years, stepping away from the day-to-day operations of the team in 2014 as a result.

Bowlen was finally elected to the NFL Hall of Fame this year, and is set to be enshrined in August. It's sad that he didn't live to see that day, but I think his enshrinement, which is long overdue, will be all the more emotional as a result. It's also likely this season, which will almost certainly be played in Pat's memory, will also be more emotional.

Owners don't always get a lot of notice in sports, and often when they do it's for the wrong reasons. Not so with Bowlen, who was beloved by his players, fans and respected by other owners and players around the league. Watching the news and tributes yesterday, that was what came through most of all. He's a man who poured his energies into making the best team he could, and making the best experience for those who worked for him.

For me, I'll always remember when he took the podium and took the trophy following the Broncos' first Super Bowl win after the 1997 season. He grabbed the trophy and offered four words, "This one's for John." It had been a long haul for John Elway at the time as he sought an elusive NFL title. When we finally won, Bowlen echoed the words fans were thinking. Words that Elway echoed back to him in 2015 when the Broncos won their third Super Bowl shortly after Bowlen stepped away from the day-to-day operations of the team.

Pat Bowlen bought the Broncos in 1984, and under his tenure the team was incredibly successful, going to seven Super Bowls and winning three. He will be missed, and I think the celebration of his tenure and all he brought to the Broncos and the National Football League will be a big part of the 2019 season.

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