Longtime Broncos Owner Dead At 75
2 min read
As an NFL team owner, your goal is to turn a little profit, win a few games, and put out a good product for the fans. However, when an owner can brag about fielding a team that won seven AFC championships, 3 Super Bowl championships, an Arena Bowl championship, 3 Steinfeld Cup championships, and get himself inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, then he knows he is in very elite company, as many owners go their entire lives never winning a Super Bowl or championship of any kind.
Former Denver Broncos owner Pat Bowlen was one of the few that could claim that type of resume, while owning three different franchises in various leagues, and commanding the respect of his entire roster and staff. Not only was he able to command their respect, but he was able to do so for more than three decades.
When Bowlen took ownership of the Broncos in 1984, he took over a team that was in complete shambles and within 2 short seasons, he had the Broncos on the path to their winning ways by securing their first AFC championship under his command in 1986, and then again in 1987, 1989, 1997, 1998, 2013, and again in 2015. With the title wins spanning three decades, it only goes to show that his success as an owner wasn’t over just a few years, but that he was able to overcome whatever obstacles he faced to get the Broncos back on track when they’d go astray.
Along with being the principal owner and chief executive officer of the Denver Broncos, Bowlen was also the principal owner of the Denver Outlaws and the minority owner of the Colorado Crush. Besides his many championships and his induction into the NFL HOF, Bowlen was also inducted into the Broncos Ring of Fame class, and the Colorado business hall of fame.
While Bowlen stepped back from his daily duties with the Broncos in 2014, his passion and love for the game never went away. Building a championship team wasn’t his only legacy that he left with the Broncos though, as he also was responsible for bringing Elway back into the fold, along with their acquisition of Peyton Manning, both of which are still active with the Broncos in various ways.
On Thursday, June 13th, Pat Bowlen unfortunately succumbed to his long battle with Alzheimer’s, and ultimately lost his battle, being pronounced dead due to complications stemming from Alzheimer’s disease.
It’s times like this, that we have to put our dislike for opposing teams on the shelf, and realize that there is more to life than the game we all love so much. We here at Bucs Life News wish to offer our deepest sympathy to the family and friends of Pat Bowlen, the entire Denver Broncos organization, and Broncos fans around the world.
