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BRONCOS MOURN LOSS OF PROPRIETARY PAT BOWLEN
Note: Quote from Broncos President and CEO Joe Ellis is included at the bottom of the version; Quotes from Mr Bowlen collected from his property are also included throughout the release
ENGLEWOOD, Colorado – It's with a heavy heart and deep sadness that the Denver Broncos mourn the loss of their owner Pat Bowlen, died Thursday night at the age of 75, following his courageous fight against Alzheimer's disease.
The Broncos extend their deepest condolences to Mr. Bowlen's wife, Annabel, their children (Friend, Beth, Patrick, Johnny, Brittany, Annabel, Christianna) and all his family. The organization also extends its sincere condolences to Broncos fans, Mr. Bowlen's friends and the many members of the National Football League who have worked with him.
Selected to the 2019 Professional Football Hall of Fame, Mr. Bowlen guided the Broncos over his 35 years of ownership with a simple phrase: "I want to be No. 1 in all areas". He was introduced as the majority owner of the Broncos on March 23rd. , 1984, and clearly stated throughout his ownership that he wanted the organization to focus on victory and difference in the community.
"Nobody is going to worry about whether the team is worth a billion dollars or whatever," Bowlen said. "It has no importance. It's more your success as an organization and as a team on the ground and in the community. "
With his immeasurable impact on the Broncos, the NFL and the community, Mr. Bowlen has established himself as one of the biggest contributors to the history of professional football.
CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE TEAM
Affectionately called "Mr. Pat Bowlen created a culture of victory in the Broncos that has resulted in unprecedented, sustained success. The Broncos have played as many Super Bowl (7) games as losing seasons under Bowlen, including the club's consecutive world championships after the 1997 and 1998 seasons and his Super Bowl 50 victory after the 2015 season.
The first owner of the NFL history with 300 victories in 30 years, Mr. Bowlen has often claimed that the word "reconstruction" was not in his vocabulary. In his annual training camp, he predicts a 19-0 record and a Super Bowl win for the Broncos.
"One thing that is important to me is that we put a team on the ground capable of tackling," Bowlen said. "I like to think that [the Broncos] will win the Super Bowl every year. It gives me pleasure, and I know how much it means for Colorado and Denver.
The Broncos averaged more than 10 wins per year in the 35-year span of Pat Bowlen, tied with the second-highest total victory percentage of any NFL team (.596, 354-240-1) and with 199 home wins in the regular season. Of the top 123 North American professional sports franchises (NFL, NBA, NHL, MLB), only the San Antonio Spurs, New England Patriots and Los Angeles Lakers have a better victory percentage than the Broncos Mr. Bowlen.
Over the past 35 seasons, no NFL owner has had more wins (21) and qualifications (18) than Mr. Bowlen, who helped Denver become the only team with more than 90 wins over of each of its first three decades. Denver recorded seven losing seasons under Bowlen, while being the only team to rank among the top five victories in the pre-free phase (1984-92, 96 wins, T-4th) and after free phase (1993-2018, 258 victories, 4th) eras of his property.
In the history of the NFL, only one owner has presided over more Super Bowl matches (7) than Pat Bowlen, who has made it clear that winning will always be the top priority of the organization.
"When it comes to football, winning is everything," Bowlen said. "It does not matter what it's worth. If you're worried about what it's worth, get started in another case.
Inducted into the Broncos Circle of Fame in 2015, Mr. Bowlen is the only owner of the NFL history whose teams have appeared in the Super Bowls with four different head coaches –Dan Reeves (1986-1987, "89), Mike Shanahan (1997-98) John Fox (2013) and Gary Kubiak (2015). Last season, he climbed to fifth place in the history of the NFL in terms of wins (354) among the major owners.
In the office and virtually every day, Mr Bowlen spoke about his approach to football management by stating: "This company is unique. You must have trusted people who choose the talent, who train and who stand aside. I know the result is a winner. I also know when and what to bring from the point of view of leadership. "
Testifying to the success and popularity of the Broncos under Pat Bowlen, no NFL team has sold more players at home – the 300 possible regular season and playoff games – than the Broncos when it owned. The Broncos also participated in nearly 350 televised games on national television, including the 132 best at AFC matches, in prime time, with local television rankings consistently ranking among the best in the league .
The Broncos' popularity with Pat Bowlen fans was confirmed in 2014 when the team won the "America's Team" title in a Harris Poll poll.
"It's their team," Bowlen said of the fans. "It's not my team. I think if you manage your club well, the fans will appreciate it. They also have an interest in that.
Much appreciated by both Broncos and NFL fans, Mr. Bowlen's reputation was recognized in 2000 when he finished first in an ESPN poll in which he was asked: "For which NFL owner would he be the best ? " several times for the "leader of the year" in various media publications.
Pat Bowlen has consistently supported the thousands of players he proudly called the Broncos alumni, creating the team's Ring of Fame in 1984 as one of his earliest contributions as an owner. After proclaiming "This one to John", after John Elway and the Broncos won their first Super Bowl in the 1997 season, Mr. Bowlen had a special relationship with the players throughout his career.
Entering the facilities almost daily through a rear entrance near the loading dock, Mr. Bowlen first stopped in the training room to visit the players and staff before heading to his office. He shared a close friendship with many long-time staff members, including a 44-year-old sports coach. Steve "Greek" Antonopulos, which the Bowlen family has chosen as their presenter for his induction into the Professional Football Hall of Fame.
In order to deflect attention and congratulate players, staff and supporters, Mr. Bowlen often said, "It's not about me" when asked about the success of the Broncos.
"I would much rather work behind the curtain and let the athletes and coaches be the entertainment," Bowlen said. "I think that's how it should be."
CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE
In addition to his indelible impact on the Denver Broncos, Pat Bowlen has established himself as one of the biggest contributors to the game through his tireless efforts to contribute to the development of the National Football League. As recently noted the former NFL commissioner Paul TagliabueMr. Bowlen was the only owner who was heavily involved in the four growth areas of the league in the late '80s and early' 90s: television, work, stadium development and international play.
One of the oldest owners in the history of the NFL, Mr. Bowlen served on 15 different league committees during his tenure as the owner of Broncos – the third most important committee assignment. important of all the owners of all time. During his career, he has had the rare feat of presiding over the prestigious NFL Broadcast Committee and the Executive Committee of the NFL (Union) Board of Directors. Pat Bowlen has also served on several other prestigious league committees, including NFL Films (Chair), Compensation (Co-Chair), Professional Football Hall of Fame, NFL Network, Finance, International and Workspace.
When other professional sports leagues had labor and economic problems, Mr. Bowlen pointed out that the NFL could not lose sight of what mattered most: fans.
"I think there is a lesson to be learned," Bowlen said. "This is the connection with the fans … There is a lot of competition in [the market] for the sporting dollar. I and this organization are very aware of this.
As Chair of the NFL Broadcasting Committee, Mr. Bowlen played a pivotal role in the negotiations for the 1998 Premier League Television Agreement, the most lucrative contract in history. . His innovation and his vision of developing the game on television have recently been recognized by the former president of NBC Sports. Dick Ebersol, who called Mr Bowlen "a major force in the creation of Sunday Night Football".
Mr. Bowlen's efforts on the Broadcasting and NFL committees also contributed to the creation and growth of the NFL network, launched in 2003.
Through her work as co-chair of the NFL Executive Committee, Pat Bowlen has helped ensure decades of workplace peace through its impact on collective bargaining negotiations. He played a key role in the six-year extension of the collective agreement in 2006 and again participated in the discussions of the new collective agreement for the ten-year extension of 2011.
In March 2005, Mr. Bowlen emphasized the importance of the NFL / NFLPA compromise to ensure peace at work.
"I think it's important for everyone to do it," Bowlen said. "We have been working peace for a long time. I was part of the original committee that negotiated the agreement we are currently working on … The system will contain a lot of money and in my opinion, the NFLPA and the National Football League have to look at that and say, "OK, "There will be a lot of money in the system – it's not like there was not enough for everyone."
In addition to advocating for NFL prosperity in the United States, Pat Bowlen was a strong supporter of international growth. He proposed to the Broncos to play eight international matches in six different countries (7 American Bowl, 1 International Series), making it the third largest number of matches of this type in the history of the league.
COMMUNITY CONTRIBUTIONS
Inducted into the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame in 2007, Pat Bowlen's mentality in the championships included an extraordinary commitment to the community. He felt the organization needed to invest in the Rocky Mountain region, saying, "It's important to me that this organization lives up to the reputation and that people connect the Denver Broncos to Colorado."
As chairman of Denver Broncos Charities' board of directors, Mr. Bowlen has donated more than $ 35 million to charitable organizations in the Denver area since the fund's inception in 1993. His status and reputation Ownership was recognized locally in 2013, when he received the Mizel Institute Community Enrichment Award, the region's most prestigious philanthropic award, for his community leadership and commitment to the city of Denver and the state. of Colorado.
Pat Bowlen, the oldest owner of Colorado history in the sports world, was the only professional sports owner whose team had fully funded his own branch of the Boys & Girls Clubs of America. The Denver Broncos Boys and Girls Club opened in 2003 and recently celebrated its 15th season with an impact on youth.
Mr. Bowlen helped the Broncos Boys and Girls Club in Denver expand in 2008 with the addition of the Darrent Williams Memorial Teen Center, named in honor of the late Broncos corner mate who died in 2007. His longstanding commitment to Boys & Girls The club was recognized in 2017 when a youth development park in Commerce City, Colorado, was dedicated to "Pat Bowlen Field".
In addition to his own philanthropic activity, Pat Bowlen was a strong supporter of the role models who gave back to the community.
"The league has a great influence on the lives of young people and we need to set an example," Bowlen said.
"The players are where everything starts. Nobody cares about Pat Bowlen – I do not even register on the meter. These young football players are very appreciated by many young people and they must make sure that they send the right message. And we will do everything in our power to help them understand that. "
Very proud to call Denver home, Mr. Bowlen was inducted into the Denver Tourism Hall of Fame in 2010 and the Colorado Business Hall of Fame in 2015 for his unwavering commitment to the region. In 2010, Mr. Bowlen, a member of the University of Denver Board of Directors, donated $ 1.5 million to a new training center for the school's sports department, called "The Pat Bowlen Training Center ".
"I call it a kind of Western mentality," Bowlen said. "We are proud to be Colorado's and we are proud to live in Denver. We really defend our city and our sports teams. "
Although Mr. Bowlen has had a reduced role with the Broncos in recent seasons as he focused on his fight against Alzheimer's, he continued to make a positive impact on the community. The public announcement of his Alzheimer's disease diagnosis in July 2014 raised public awareness and raised funds to fight a disease that currently affects more than 5.8 million Americans.
The Broncos join the Bowlen family to play an active role in the Alzheimer community after Bowlen's diagnosis, including the team that has added the Colorado chapter of the Alzheimer's Association as a key community partner. Led by Pat Bowlen's wife, Annabel, the Bowlen family and the Broncos, "Team Super Bowlen" has raised close to $ 500,000 in the last five "Walk to End Alzheimer's Disease" in Denver.
Last season, the Broncos held their first "Alzheimer Awareness Day" at UCHealth training center during a training camp, encouraging all fans to wear purple to support the Bowlen family and many other people affected by Alzheimer's disease. The event raised more than $ 40,000, the largest fundraising day ever held for the "Walk to Eliminate Alzheimer's Disease" in Colorado.
STAFF
Pat Bowlen's impact on the Denver sports landscape extended beyond the Broncos as he helped create two professional sports franchises.
He was co-owner of the Colorado Crush of the Arena Football League from his inaugural season from 2003 to 2008, and this franchise has made five consecutive appearances in series (2004-08), including his victory at ArenaBowl XIX in 2005. Mr. Bowlen led the Major League Lacrosse to Denver in 2006, when he founded the Denver Outlaws, who qualified eight times in the championship game and won three titles (2014, 16 and 18).
A dedicated athlete and competitor, Pat Bowlen has maintained an active lifestyle throughout his life. He has competed in many marathons and triathlons, including the Ironman Triathlon in Hawaii, which requires 2.4 nautical miles, 112 miles on a bike and 26.2 miles, all consecutively.
In February 1984, Mr. Bowlen finished 135th out of 1,100 Ironman Triathlon participants in Hawaii, where he maintained a home in Oahu.
Born February 18, 1944 in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin, Pat Bowlen attended Campion High School in Prairie du Chien, where he competed on football, hockey and track teams. He attended the University of Oklahoma, where he played first-year football (wide receiver) and then graduated in Commerce (1965) and Law (1968).
Mr. Bowlen, who played the Edmonton Huskies defenseman of the Canadian Junior Football League in 1962 and was part of the club's first national championship (Little Gray Cup), began his law practice in Edmonton after having obtained his university degree. After a successful career in oil, gas and real estate in Canada, he bought the Denver Broncos in 1984.
"By the end of my thirties, I really wanted to do something different," Bowlen said. "I wanted to be deeply involved in an exciting people business."
Introduced as owner of the Broncos at a press conference on March 23, 1984, Bowlen immediately demonstrated his humility and singular focus on the Broncos who would help him set his career at the Professional Football Hall of Fame for 35 years. years.
"I'm not involved in football for the satisfaction of the ego or for the advertising that surrounds it," he said that day. "I am involved in a career."
DECLARATION OF DENVER BRONCOS PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, JOE ELLIS
"It's a very sad day for our organization, our community and the National Football League. Pat Bowlen was the heart and soul of the Denver Broncos. Pat was not only the owner of the Hall of Fame, he was also a member of the Hall of Fame. His competitiveness, his kindness and his humility are the qualities that I will always remember. Even in the fight against Alzheimer's, Pat could always see the same strength and dignity he brought to the office every day for over 30 years.
"Pat was the driving force behind the Broncos championship culture. He has also been an outstanding league leader during a key growth period. That was not all Pat did as an owner, but it was his way of doing it. The relationships he had with his players were real and sincere. Pat really cared for the players in a very authentic way and always wanted them to get this credit. He preferred to be in the background and put all his resources to win Super Bowls. With the fans, Pat felt in many ways that her team belonged to them and approached things with that in mind. There will never be another owner like Pat Bowlen. My thoughts are with his wife, Annabel, all his children and all our fans. "
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