Longtime Denver Broncos owner Pat Bowlen died on Thursday night at age 75, and his passing is being felt across the NFL.
After news surfaced that Bowlen has lost his battle with Alzheimer’s disease, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell released a statement acknowledging the impact he had on the Broncos and the league as a whole.
Pat Bowlen was driven by the will to succeed and his competitive spirit made him a great leader. We all will greatly miss him and his kindness, passion and wisdom. Pat had a deep love for the game of football, the Broncos and the City of Denver.
— Roger Goodell (@nflcommish) June 14, 2019
Our league is also better because of Pat’s extraordinary contributions. As co-chair of the NFL Management Council Executive Committee and the chair of the Broadcasting Committee, Pat played an instrumental role in many facets of our League that benefited fans, players and clubs.
— Roger Goodell (@nflcommish) June 14, 2019
Pat personified all that’s right about the NFL and is extremely deserving of this summer’s recognition as a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
— Roger Goodell (@nflcommish) June 14, 2019
As Goodell mentioned, Bowlen passed away less than two months before he was set to be formally enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Bowlen and his family purchased the Broncos in 1984, and the team has won three Super Bowls and appeared in seven since then. He will be remembered as one of the most successful team owners in NFL history.
