Tag: Greg Penner

Broncos hope facility construction only impacts one training camp

Construction is in full swing at the Broncos’ training facility, and the team hopes it will only disrupt one training camp.

Last summer, the Denver Broncos started construction on a new $175 million facility with the goal of having it completed ahead of the 2026 season.

The team is still weighing options for having fans attend training camp during construction this summer, but if all goes well, it will be business as usual in 2026.

“We broke ground on the new training facility in September and we are about 10 to 15 percent of the way there in terms of completion on construction,” Broncos owner/CEO Greg Penner said on Jan. 15. “We are about 90 percent of the way there on design. Everything is going according to plan. We had some snow days baked in. I think we’ve only had two days off so far. Things are progressing as we’ve planned. We couldn’t be more excited about how that is coming together.

“Our goal is to only have one training camp where that really disrupts our training camp. I think you all saw it this season, we managed the practice very well. Sean [Payton] and his whole staff was great. It didn’t disrupt us at all. Anyways, that is all on track and we’re really pleased.” 

The Broncos currently have a 3,000 capacity limit for training camp practices. It remains to be seen if that number will increase when the new facility has been completed. Denver will announce plans for this summer’s training camp later this year.

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Broncos plan to be ‘measured’ during NFL free agency in 2025

“You can’t go crazy every year,” Broncos GM George Paton said of making splashes during NFL free agency.

The Denver Broncos are expected to have about $52 million worth of salary cap space in 2025. After pinching pennies to stay under the cap in 2024, the Broncos can afford to make a few splashes this spring — if they choose to.

Denver general manager George Paton and coach Sean Payton will identify key positions of need this offseason and then target players to fill those needs. Broncos owner/CEO Greg Penner has the final say, and he’s willing to spend if necessary.

“We talk — the three of us talk frequently about this and what our approach will be,” Penner said on Jan. 15. “You saw us after our first season that we felt like we really had to do some things immediately in free agency to shore up both our offensive line and defensive line. Last year, we were more constrained. It was a measured approach and that served us well. As we go into this offseason, it’s a different situation again.

“We are going to have a little more cap space. Our needs are different. We have a young nucleus and a great quarterback to build around. We haven’t set yet what our approach to free agency will be. If it is appropriate, we will be aggressive, but I’m not sure we’ll need to do that.”

Penner hinted that Denver won’t be as aggressive as some fans might like, a sentiment that was seemingly echoed by Paton.

“I think we’ll be measured,” Paton said. “I think it worked out for us last year. We were very measured. We picked our spots. We were very strategic. It worked out. I just don’t think… You can’t go crazy every year. My first year here, we wanted to set the tone, and I talked about it with the offensive line and the Zach Allen’s of the world.

“We were measured, [but] we still got some really good players, Brandon Jones, like I talked about Malcolm Roach. [We] made a few trades that we really liked. We’ll see. We could be really aggressive, but I think we’ll have a more measured approach and still upgrade our team.”

The NFL’s free agency negotiating window will begin on March 10 with open free agency starting on March 12. The Broncos will spend, but it will be calculated.

“Again, we are going to have some more space this year,” Penner said. “That’s terrific and we have pretty much all of our draft picks, so I think we are in a good position to have a great offseason.”

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Greg Penner wants Broncos to win the AFC West in 2025

“Our absolute goal next year is to win our division,” Broncos owner Greg Penner said ahead of the 2025 NFL offseason.

The Denver Broncos improved from 8-9 to 10-7 in coach Sean Payton’s first two years on the job. Now team owner Greg Penner wants to see the club make the next step.

“Absolutely, yes,” Penner said on Jan. 15 when asked if the team is close to competing for a division title. “I mean we could have very easily been 2-0 against the Chiefs this year. Our absolute goal next year is to win our division. I think Bo [Nix] talking about no prima donnas is a great testament to the culture that Sean is building here, which is we want to be a winning culture.

“We have to have really high expectations, and everybody has to be in it together. I don’t think prima donnas would do really well right now here in this culture. So we’re going to continue to build this way. We want guys that are incredible competitive and want to work and want to succeed.”

Denver lost to Kansas City in Week 10 on a blocked field goal, then the Broncos blew out the Chiefs’ backups in Week 18. A year earlier, Denver and KC split the series 1-1 with the Broncos outscoring the Chiefs 32-28 in those two games.

It certainly appears that Denver has been closing the gap on its division rival, but after nine-straight division titles for KC, actions speak louder than words. The Broncos will aim to back up their talk on the field in 2025.

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George Paton seeking ‘secret sauce’ to help Broncos close the gap

“We need to have another really good offseason, another really good plan,” Broncos GM George Paton said. “I know we will.”

The Denver Broncos made the NFL playoffs in 2024 with a 10-7 record, a sign that the team is trending in the right direction.

Denver still hasn’t reached the level of 2025’s presumed contenders, though. The Broncos got blown out by the Baltimore Ravens in Week 9, lost to the Kansas City Chiefs’ starters in Week 10, lost to the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 17 and got knocked out of the playoffs by the Buffalo Bills in the Wild Card round.

So while progress has been made, Denver’s roster has not arrived yet. Broncos general manager George Paton knows that, and he aims to find the secret sauce to help the team turn a corner in 2025.

“I think the beauty of — I kind of mentioned it — of going to the playoffs and seeing what it looks like is seeing how close we are or how far we are,” Paton said on Jan. 15. “The players —I  know felt after the game — that this has to be our standard moving forward. We have to go to the playoffs. You’re going to play teams like the Bills, like the Ravens, like the Chiefs. So how do we get there? Really that’s our goal this whole offseason — try to find that secret sauce. We need to have another really good offseason, another really good plan. I know we will. 

“Sean [Payton], myself, Greg [Penner], the coaches, the scouts, we’ll all get together and it starts with evaluating your own team. The determining your needs, your musts, your wants, as Sean talked about. Then you’re chasing. You’re trying to fill those all offseason. That’s how you close the gap.

“Have another good offseason. Keep developing these young players. We’re a young team. We have a rookie quarterback… We have a lot going our way. We have $52 million in cap room. We have a great coaching staff. We have I think the best ownership group in the NFL. We have a lot going in our favor.”

With a full selection of draft picks and salary cap space to spare, Denver is well-equipped to make substantial improvements to the roster this offseason. Now it’s up to Paton and Co. to identify and bring in the right players to help the Broncos go from playoff fodder to a true AFC contender next season.

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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.

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Broncos welcome ‘very possible’ scenario of international game in 2025

Broncos owner Greg Penner welcomes the “very possible” scenario of playing as a “road” team in an international game in 2025.

NFL teams are required to play at least one international game once every eight years. The Denver Broncos last played abroad in 2022 (a 21-17 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars in London), so they are not required to play overseas again before 2029.

However, the Broncos could still agree to play an international game in 2025, potentially as an away team. Team owner and chief executive officer addressed the possibility of an international game during his end-of-season press conference earlier this week.

“This isn’t one of our [mandatory] years,” Penner said Wednesday. “You have a cycle with the league. I think it’s about every eight years that we’re required to play one of our home games [abroad]. This isn’t one of those years for us, but there are some games, away games of ours, and those teams you’ve seen are the Jets and the Colts. So it’s very possible we end up playing in a game in London or Berlin.

“I think Sean [Payton] has a great approach to these things which is, ‘That’s an opportunity for the team to have some time to bond in a different way.’ You saw that with the team this year at the Greenbrier, which I think was helpful for the team as really building a young group and a culture. We’d welcome that if we have the opportunity to do it.”

As Penner noted, Denver’s list of 2025 opponents includes road games against the Jets and Colts, who are set to “host” games in London and Berlin, respectively, during the 2025 season. That makes the Broncos candidates for both of those games.

In addition to playing in England and Germany, the NFL is also expected to play games in Mexico, Brazil, Spain and Ireland this fall.

The Pittsburgh Steelers — who are not among Denver’s 2025 opponents — are expected to be the “home” team for the Ireland game. The Miami Dolphins (also not a Broncos 2025 opponent) were just announced as “hosts” for the Spain game this morning.

Meanwhile, there have been unconfirmed reports that the Houston Texans will be the “home” team for a Mexico game this fall. Denver does have a road game against the Texans in 2025, and at least one Mexican outlet has suggested that the Broncos could play south of the border next season.

There have been no credible reports of the “home” team for the Brazil game yet, but the NFL has confirmed it plans to play another game in South America in 2025.

To to recap: Denver is unlikely to play in Ireland or Spain next season. England and Germany are confirmed possibilities while Mexico and Brazil home teams are still to-be-announced. We should find out more info in the coming weeks as the NFL continues unveiling the 2025 international slate.

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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.

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Broncos share must-watch locker room video after clinching playoffs

“Young and hungry is dangerous, all right?” Broncos coach Sean Payton told his players. “Don’t you forget that.” 

After the Denver Broncos defeated the Kansas City Chiefs in a 38-0 blowout on Sunday, the team clinched a spot in the NFL playoffs with a 10-7 record.

Following the historic victory, the Broncos allowed CBS camera crews into the locker room for part of coach Sean Payton’s postgame speech.

“It’s pretty amazing when the right group of people come together,” Payton told his players. “And I want to say one thing that’s real important — don’t you ever forget it. Young and hungry is dangerous. And you’re one of the youngest teams in the NFL. Young and hungry is dangerous, all right? Don’t you forget that.”

Here’s a look at the CBS footage:

The Broncos also shared a behind-the-scenes video on social media that included a message from team owner Greg Penner:

Payton elaborated on his “young and hungry” remarks during his postgame press conference with reporters.

“[Y]oung and hungry can sometimes be pretty dangerous and I think that, you know, most NFL seasons are filled with highs and lows,” Payton said. “Do you have the grit and the fortitude to weather the lows? [Our record was] 0-2 and going on the road, we got to get a win in Tampa. That was a that was an important stretch, that East Coast swing.

“When you can have some success, then you can have some confidence. Then it becomes something that can repeat itself. It’s hard to have confidence if you haven’t really demonstrated it yet, and so we began to see young players thrive in certain positions, some veterans, some key veterans, come in and fill in roles for us. So it was a number of different transactions that worked out. I’m proud of them.”

The Broncos are now set to go on the road to face the Buffalo Bills in the Wild Card round of the NFL playoffs on Sunday, Jan. 12.

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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.

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Broncos owner Greg Penner joins NFL’s Finance Committee

Broncos owner/CEO Greg Penner has joined NFL’s Finance Committee.

The Denver Broncos ownership group continues making moves. 

The Walton-Penner family took over the Denver franchise in 2022 and is on the road to getting it on the right track. Greg Penner, the team’s majority owner and CEO, will now add his expertise to the NFL’s Finance Committee, according to KUSA-TV’s Mike Klis. 

This marks the fourth NFL committee Penner has joined and the sixth committee the ownership sits on overall. 

As the NFL continues to grow, Penner’s expertise comes right on time. From the Klis report: 

Given Penner’s financial and business experience in the corporate world — he’s been chairman of Walmart since 2015, founded the investment firm, Madrone Capital Partners and serves as a financial analyst for Goldman Sachs — it only makes sense for the NFL to lean into his knowledge on financial and business-related committees.

His experience figures to help the NFL during a time of unprecedented growth and revenue for the league.

While Penner is making business moves, his Denver Broncos are set to kick off Week 1 against the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday, Sept. 8.

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