Longtime Denver Broncos owner Pat Bowlen passed away Thursday at age 75 after having a lengthy struggle with Alzheimer’s disease.
Super Bowl-winning quarterback Peyton Manning shared the Bowlen’s drive to win convinced him to register with Denver after his period in Indianapolis ended. Manning expressed his gratitude to the late owner in a statement issued Saturday.
“My deepest sympathies go out to the total Bowlen family,” Manning said. “I met with Mr. Bowlen for the very first time once I played the Indianapolis Colts and I had been over in Hawaii at the Pro Bowl when he was there in his Hawaiian home. I saw him a few times during the years and had brief, brief conversations with him which I actually enjoyed.
“Coming to play for Denver, even though his health was declining, I did like a few conversations with Mr. Bowlen. I was here a whole lot in the offseason. As soon as I signed with the Broncos, I was living in the facility — analyzing film, rehabbing and working out. I was usually among the last to leave the facility during that time. I say,’I thought I was the last to depart,’ but Mr. Bowlen was there. He would usually be in the practice area on the elliptical, and I would go in there and have discussions with him. He was asking me if we found a place to live yet, and I recall once I told him we found a place to call home, he told me he used to live right near there, and we talked a little about that. Just brief, short conversations, and that I enjoyed that time .
“It was an honour to perform for Mr. Bowlen’s business, as I’ve said numerous times. I always had great respect for the Denver Broncos during my time playing with the Colts competing against his or her organization. So much of that credit goes to Pat Bowlen along with also his wish 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 about winning and that I knew the people he had hired could carry on that heritage and legacy. It was a fantastic choice to come play — we live here today. I’m thankful for Mr. Bowlen and the legacy He’s created with the Broncos, in the NFL and certainly in this Denver community. Many will miss him. It was an honor to know Mr. Bowlen and also a true pleasure to have played his team — the Denver Broncos.”
Bowlen will be enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame with the 2019 class this August in Canton, Ohio.

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