DENVER — Broncos legends gathered at Sports Authority Field at Mile High Friday night to pay homage to the man they call the best owner in sports. Pat Bowlen’s Ring of Fame pillar was unveiled two days before he will officially be enshrined.
Under the reign of Bowlen, the Broncos have more Super Bowl appearances than losing seasons. “Mr. B” as the players call him, created the ring of honor and now it’s his turn to be honored.
“I love that man,” Terrell Davis said. “I would run through a brick wall for that man.”
It was quite the reunion, with former players like Davis, John Elway, Shannon Sharpe, Steve Atwater and Tom Jackson, all in one place to celebrate Mr. Bowlen.
“He means the world to me personally and I couldn’t be happier for him,” Atwater said.
“You knew you had someone that was in your corner,” Sharpe said. “You knew he would give you everything that you need to go out and succeed on the football field and as a player that’s all you can ask for.”
In 31 years as the Broncos owner, his team has made 17 playoff appearances.
“Pat was pretty demanding early on that this team was going to have great success,” Jackson said. “His objective was to win Super Bowls.”
Mission accomplished – two Super Bowl Championships.
“I’ve seen the top and I never had to think about playing anywhere else because I had the best while I was here,” Davis said.
The Broncos have won 61% of their games under Bowlen. That’s the best mark by any team since he took over. But for the players, it’s more about what he did off the field.
“He was a guy that was a great businessman but knew how to blend that with the personal side,” Elway said.
“I think we’re all examples of his philosophies,” Atwater said. “Working hard and being unselfish. He embodies all of that.”
Mr. Bowlen will officially be enshrined into the Broncos Ring of Fame, which he created, during halftime of the Broncos match-up with Green Bay on Sunday night.