Tag: Broncos Owner

Broncos donate more than 15,000 football helmets to Colorado high schools

The Broncos are donating 15,516 football helmets to high schools across Colorado, the largest philanthropic donation in franchise history.

The Denver Broncos Foundation and team ownership has made a huge donation of football helmets to all 277 Colorado high schools, the team announced Tuesday.

The initiative, titled “ALL IN. ALL COVERED,” is the largest philanthropic donation in franchise history, consisting of 15,516 Riddell Axiom smart helmets at no cost to every high school football program in the state.

“The Denver Broncos Foundation is proud to launch ALL IN. ALL COVERED, a game-changing program designed to have a lasting impact on Colorado youth for years to come,” Broncos co-owner Carrie Walton Penner in a statement.

According to the team’s press release, schools will receive 25% of the donated helmets each year of the program (2025-2028) based on the average roster size of their team’s classification, from six-man football all the way up to 5A.

“The Riddell Axiom helmet smart was carefully selected as the helmet of choice for this program due to its safety and performance features,” read the statement. “The Axiom features Riddell’s TRU-FIT™ SYSTEM, which uses 3D imaging of each athlete’s head for a personalized fit and protection system to improve impact response. It also comes standard with InSite Smart Helmet Technology for impact sensing and reporting.”

The start of the helmet rollout will begin in May, and continue all the way to the beginning of the 2025 high school football season.

View the announcement video, narrated by Hall of Famer Peyton Manning, below for a more complete rundown.

[vertical-gallery id=620142]

Broncos owner Greg Penner pleased with progress, but not satisfied

“We don’t at all feel like we are satisfied with where we are,” Broncos owner Greg Penner said of the team’s progress.

When the Walton-Penner Family purchased the Denver Broncos in 2022, they inherited an existing staff and roster just ahead of the 2022 season.

The owners began to make their mark on the team in 2023 when they hired coach Sean Payton. He later began reshaping the roster, notably moving on from quarterback Russell Wilson in 2024 and drafting Bo Nix.

In the two years since the owners hired Payton, Denver has improved from 8-9 to 10-7. The Broncos qualified for the playoffs for the first time since 2015 in Payton’s second year on the job.

There’s no question that the team is trending in the right direction.

“I thought Sean did a terrific job leading a young team,” team owner/CEO Greg Penner said Wednesday. “He has really continued to build a winning culture, which is critical for the future. It was great to see a number of young players, both draft picks, second-year players and third-year players — as well as some of our free agents that came on board during the offseason — step up. That’s a testament to George [Paton] and his staff. 

“[Additionally], this year we were top-five in terms of health and that is a big turnaround from where we were a couple of years ago. Beau Lowery and his whole group are doing a terrific job.”

Penner is pleased with the progress so far, but he’s not satisfied.

“The results of this last Sunday were not what we were hoping for or expecting, but I think the experience that the young team got will be critical for the future,” Penner said. “I will say that while we are incredibly pleased with the progress and number of accomplishments this year, we don’t at all feel like we are satisfied with where we are. We know that this offseason will be a critical one for us to build for the future.

“The last thing that I will just say is to Broncos Country: Our fans are fantastic. They had a long stretch of where we tried their patience, and we feel like we are starting to deliver for them. Our main message to them is we have our sights set really high and we are going to be doing everything we can to continue to build a great team and compete for championships.”

The Broncos last reached a championship in 2015 when they beat the Carolina Panthers in Super Bowl 50. Penner has made it clear that getting back to a title game is the club’s objective. Progress has been made, but there’s more work to be done.

[vertical-gallery id=620142]

Sean Payton gave game balls to Broncos owners after playoff-clinching win

“This is a group that cares about you,” Broncos coach Sean Payton said of the team’s ownership group.

Following their 38-0 win over the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday, the Denver Broncos clinched a playoff berth for the first time since 2015.

After the playoff-clinching win, Broncos coach Sean Payton presented game balls to the team’s ownership group.

“So, the game balls today went to ownership,” Payton said during his post-game press conference. “They’ve been tremendously supportive. Man, I’ve been to a number of pro teams, but I told the players, you don’t get to pick a lot of times where you end up, but you guys are in a good spot. This is a group that cares about you. They talk about it. I hear it, and they’re very consistent.

“In today’s pro sports, I think it’s probably one of the bigger indicators of success. I know for me, personally, when I went through this process, that meant a lot to me relative to where, and I said that it wasn’t like I was looking to choose to join Patrick Mahomes in this division, you know? But the ownership group here was the reason. They got the game balls.”

Broncos majority owner Greg Penner, co-owners Rob Walton and Carrie-Walton Penner and minority owner Condoleezza Rice were in attendance on Sunday. Minority owners Mellody Hobson and Lewis Hamilton were not able to make the game.

Denver’s NFL franchise is in good hands.

[vertical-gallery id=620142]

Broncos replace grass field ahead of Falcons game

The Denver Broncos used a local sod farm to replace the grass on the field at Empower Field at Mile High.

Prior to a matchup with the Atlanta Falcons in Week 11, the Denver Broncos gave the grass at Empower Field at Mile High a makeover.

The team’s stadium crew got the field replaced within 36 hours after playing the Carolina Panthers on Oct. 27, giving it three weeks to settle in before the Falcons game on Nov. 17.

The grass comes from Platteville, Colorado, which is approximately 45 minutes north of Boulder, via ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

Chris Hathaway, the Broncos director of turf and ground at Empower Field at Mile High, wrote on Twitter/X that the main reason for the replacement is player safety.

The Walton-Penner ownership group famously trucked in a grass field before the 2022 season finale and replaced it again mid-season in 2023.

“[They] just told me,” Broncos coach Sean Payton said after practice Wednesday when asked about the grass being replaced. “You would have to ask Greg [Penner]. Meaning, our field has been in good shape. I don’t know what’s taken place since the last one. The one thing I do know is if Greg feels like it’s not to his liking, then he’s not afraid to do it. I literally just found out and [it’s] outstanding.”

The Broncos are one of 15 teams at 30 stadiums across the NFL to use a natural grass playing surface. After hosting Atlanta on Sunday, Denver will have three more home games remaining on their 2024 schedule.

[vertical-gallery id=620142]

Broncos ownership has donated the most to politics (by far) among NFL owners

Broncos ownership has donated more than $17.8 million to political candidates and causes this election cycle, by far most among NFL owners.

The Denver Broncos have the richest ownership group in the NFL by far — and perhaps the most generous.

Broncos co-owner Rob Walton, a Walmart heir, donated more than $16.5 million to political candidates and causes from Jan. 1 last year to Oct. 1 this year, according to Tom Schad of USA TODAY Sports.

The next-highest donations amount this election cycle among NFL owners was $3,328,000 donated by Atlanta Falcons owner Authur Blank.

Greg Penner, Denver’s controlling owner and CEO, donated $171,500, eighth-most among NFL owners. His wife, Broncos co-owner Carrie Walton Penner, donated $1,064,900, fifth-most among league owners.

Rob Walton and Greg Penner donated primarily to Republican causes. Carrie Walton Penner donated $1 million to a Democratic political action committee.

Here’s a look at the ten biggest political donors among NFL owners this election cycle, courtesy of USA TODAY Sports:

Owner Team Donated Main Party
1. Rob Walton Broncos $16,597,200 R
2. Arthur Blank Falcons $3,328,000 D
3. David Tepper Panthers $2,887,500 R
4. Woody Johnson Jets $1,806,300 R
5. Carrie Walton Penner Broncos $1,064,900 D
6. Edward Glazer Buccaneers $735,300 R
7. Jimmy Haslam Browns $696,637 R
8. Greg Penner Broncos $171,500 R
9. Michael Bidwill Cardinals $106,000 R
10. Stephen Ross Dolphins $99,300 R

The 2024 United States elections will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 5.

The Walton-Penner family purchased the Broncos for $4.65 billion in 2022. They later added three minority owners to the ownership group.

[vertical-gallery id=620142]

Forbes estimates Broncos are worth $5.5B, 14th-most in the NFL

Forbes estimates the Broncos are worth $5.5 billion, making them the 14th-most valuable franchise in the NFL.

The Denver Broncos are worth an estimated $5.5 billion going into the 2024 NFL season, according to a projection from Forbes. That marks an 8% increase from when the team was valued at $5.1 billion last year.

The Broncos are the 14th most valuable franchise in the NFL with an operating income of $114 million, according to Forbes.

A group led by Rob Walton purchased the franchise for $4.65 billion in 2022 and they instantly became the richest ownership group in the NFL. After Walton transferred part of his ownership stake to his grandchildren last year, Greg Penner (Walton’s son-in-law) became Denver’s new controlling owner with a majority share.

Elsewhere in the AFC West, the Las Vegas Raiders ($6.7 billion) are ranked seventh in the NFL. The Los Angeles Chargers ($5.1 billion) are 20th and the Kansas City Chiefs ($4.85 billion) are 24th.

The Dallas Cowboys ($10.1 billion) are the most valuable team in the league and the Cincinnati Bengals ($4.1 billion) are the least valuable. You can view the full list of all 32 teams on Forbes.com.

[vertical-gallery id=620142]

Greg Penner has high expectations for Sean Payton’s Broncos

“It’s a young team, but I’ve got high expectations for what we can accomplish,” Broncos owner/CEO Greg Penner said.

Last year, the Denver Broncos’ ownership group had their first opportunity to hire an NFL head coach, and they swung big.

Broncos owner/CEO Greg Penner struck a deal with Sean Payton and he gave GM George Paton permission to trade draft assets to acquire the coach. Then he made Payton the highest-paid coach in American sports.

Penner is all-in on Payton, and he believes the coach can turn the franchise around after eight seasons of missing the playoffs.

“I do think he’s energized,” Penner said last week. “Any time going into Year 2 is going to be a little bit easier than the first year where you’ve come into an organization, you understand the organization, the history, the fans.

“He, George and myself, have developed a real sense of partnership and respect and communication. He’s had a chance to reshape the roster in a way that he’s really excited about. It’s great to see his approach.”

Denver went 8-9 in Payton’s first season. It was a step forward — that was the Broncos’ best record in seven years — but it wasn’t enough to reach the playoffs. Now entering Year 2 with Payton in charge, Penner has high expectations for his team.

“I’m encouraged by what I saw in training camp,” the owner said. “You go back to when I spoke after the season. I said this was going to be a critical offseason. It’s obviously too early to declare success, but I’ve been really impressed with what Sean and George have done this offseason with the veteran players we brought in through free agency or trades or approached the draft, what we did there.

“From the first day of OTAs, just the enthusiasm, the competitiveness. I mean, I’m sure you guys could hear it on the field. It was different and that carried through to training camp. That passion and intensity, we saw it in the preseason games. It’s a young team, but I’ve got high expectations for what we can accomplish.”

Payton, 60, is under contract with the Broncos through the 2027 season. We’ll see if he can get Denver back to the postseason before that deal expires.

[vertical-gallery id=620142]

Damani Leech on Broncos ownership: ‘They want to win now’

“They want to win [and] they want to win now,” Broncos president Damani Leech said of the team’s ownership group.

Since taking over in 2022, the Denver Broncos’ new ownership group led by Greg Penner has poured resources into improving the team on and off the field. They paid to bring in Sean Payton, they’ve paid big contracts in free agency and they’ve made improvements to the stadium, practice facility and everyday fan experiences.

Penner and Co. have given Payton everything he needs to be successful because Denver’s ownership group is eager to win.

“I think [there are] two things to me that are really apparent about our ownership group,” Broncos president Damani Leech said earlier this month when unveiling renovations to the stadium. “I think first and foremost, there’s a commitment to winning. They want to be successful on the field. I think you’re seeing that in the investments both from a staff standpoint as well as from a player standpoint. They want to win, they want to win now as Greg has used the [phrase], he’s very impatient. They want to win.

“I think the second is the commitment to the fans. Right away, as we saw last year, ‘What can we do to make the fan experience better here on gamedays?’ It really pushed us to be really thoughtful about it. Not just what we’re doing, but why are we doing it, and we expect to continue to see that here every year.”

Last year, Payton wasn’t able to deliver a winning season as the Broncos went 8-9, but that was the team’s best mark since 2016. Payton’s squad will aim to take another step forward in 2024. There will be some growing pains with a rookie quarterback, but expectations are high in Denver. That starts with ownership. We’ll see if it translates to results on the field.

[vertical-gallery id=620142]

Peyton Manning isn’t interested in running Broncos, but he helps where he can

Peyton Manning doesn’t want to run the Broncos, but he often visits the team. “I still have my key fob that still works from when I played.”

Two years ago, ESPN reported that the Denver Broncos’ new ownership group wanted to get Peyton Manning involved.

The Walton-Penner family eventually added three minority owners, but Manning was not among them. It seems that the former quarterback was not interested in an ownership stake.

“I don’t think that’s anywhere on my radar by any means,” Manning told media members before receiving the Mizel Institute’s 2024 Enrichment Award on May 22. “But look, I love being an ambassador for the Broncos and for the Colts, for the University of Tennessee. Obviously, living here, I get to go to all the Broncos games. I was out at the facility the other day.”

Broncos general manager George Paton and coach Sean Payton have indicated that Manning has been a “great resource” for the club, and the former QB seems content to continue aiding the team without an official title.

“Our kids do sports in the area around Dove Valley, so I’m probably at the facility a couple times a week,” Manning said. “[They have] great snacks over there in that kind of cafeteria, so I don’t know if I’m being charged for those or what, but [I have] great access. And I still have my key fob that still works from when I played, so Keith Bishop never made that go away, so that’s helpful as well. … But as far as running the team, I don’t think that’s on my radar in any way.”

Manning does not appear interested in becoming a co-owner or executive anytime soon, but he said he takes his ambassador role very seriously. The former QB does not need an official title to help the club whenever he can. The Broncos are fortunate to have him as an ambassador and resource.

[vertical-gallery id=620142]

Greg Penner won’t spill the beans on Broncos’ new uniforms

“We’ll be having some things coming there in the future, but nothing to announce today,” Greg Penner said of the Broncos’ uniform changes.

We know the Denver Broncos are working on new uniforms. We don’t know when those uniforms will arrive and — contrary to speculation — we don’t know what the uniforms will look like.

Broncos owner/CEO Greg Penner was unwilling to spill the beans on the team’s uniform timeline during his end-of-season press conference.

“Uniforms  — nothing to announce on new uniforms today,” Penner said on Jan. 9. “That’s also been [some] learning for me. I just figured when you wanted to change your uniforms, you just made a new uniform. But boy, it’s a several-year process with the league and Nike to get there. We’ll be having some things coming there in the future, but nothing to announce today.”

One could infer that new uniforms will or won’t arrive in time for the 2024 season, depending on how you interpret Penner’s comments.

The Walton-Penner family purchased the Broncos just before the 2022 season. That did not leave time for new uniforms ahead of the 2023 season, but if Penner and Co. acted quickly, a new uniform could have been designed and approved in time for the 2024 campaign.

If Denver plans to unveil a new uniform before the upcoming season, an announcement should be expected in the coming months. It seems safe to assume that the uniforms will arrive at least before the 2025 season. In the meantime, we wait. With anticipation (and speculation) increasing, Penner’s in no rush to announce a timeline.

Follow the Broncos Wire Podcast:
Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts

[lawrence-auto-related count=5 category=482983128]