Longtime Denver Broncos owner Pat Bowlen passed away Thursday at the age of 75 after having a protracted fight with Alzheimer’s disease.
Super Bowl-winning quarterback Peyton Manning shared that Bowlen’s drive to acquire him to register with Denver after his time Indianapolis ended. Manning expressed his gratitude to the late owner in a statement issued Saturday.
“My deepest sympathies go out to the entire Bowlen family,” Manning explained. “I met Mr. Bowlen for the first time once I played for the Indianapolis Colts and I had been in Hawaii in the Pro Bowl when he was also there in his Hawaiian home. I saw him a few times during the years and had short, brief conversations with him that I really enjoyed.
“Coming to perform for Denver, though his health was declining, I did enjoy a few conversations with Mr. Bowlen. Within my first year in 2012, I had been here a lot in the offseason. The moment I signed with the Broncos, I was basically living at the centre — analyzing film, rehabbing and exercising. I was usually among the last to depart the facility during that time. I say,’I thought I was the last to leave,’ but Mr. Bowlen was there. He would usually be in the practice area on the elliptical, and I’d go in there and have discussions with him. He had been asking me when we found a place to live yet, and I recall once I told him we found a place to call home, he said he used to live right near there, and we talked a bit about that. Just short, short conversations, and I enjoyed that time .
“It was an honor to play for Mr. Bowlen’s organization, as I’ve said several occasions. I always had great respect for the Denver Broncos during my time playing with the Colts competing against his organization. So much of that credit goes to Pat Bowlen and also his desire to be the best and to triumph. That had a lot to do with me signing with the Denver Broncos — which I knew Mr. Bowlen was all about winning and I knew the people that he had hired would carry on that tradition and heritage. It was a fantastic decision to come play here — we still live here today. I’m grateful for Mr. Bowlen and the heritage He’s established with the Broncos, in the NFL and certainly in this Denver community. Many will miss him. It was an honour to know Mr. Bowlen and a true joy to have played his group — the Denver Broncos.”
Bowlen will be enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame together with the 2019 course this August in Canton, Ohio.

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