Denver Broncos Foundation to sponsor training of service dog

This will be the third service dog the Denver Broncos Foundation will have sponsored and placed with a veteran.

November is a time when the NFL celebrates the brave men and women who serve and have served the United States in the armed forces.

Now, the Denver Broncos will look to give back to a veteran through its partnership with K9s for Warriors.

“The Denver Broncos Foundation, through the support of Owner and Board Chair Carrie Walton Penner and Head Coach Sean Payton, will sponsor the training of a new service dog in continuation of their partnership with K9s For Warriors,” the team said in a statement on Wednesday.

“K9s For Warriors is honored to once again partner with Coach Payton and the Denver Broncos Foundation,” said Lindsay Grayson, Chief Revenue Officer at K9s For Warriors. “The dog will kick off his training in Broncos Country, attending his first game and meeting fans. He will then go on to save a military veteran’s life. We want to thank the Broncos for believing in our mission of saving lives at both ends of the leash.”

Carrie Walton Penner and Sean Payton also spearheaded the team’s sponsoring of two service dogs last year. Those dogs, Bucky and Thunder, have since graduated the training program.

 “K9s For Warriors is a nonprofit organization that is committed to ending veteran suicide and provides highly trained service dogs to military veterans suffering from PTSD, traumatic brain injury and other invisible wounds of war,” the Broncos said in a statement.

“Dedicated to saving not just one life, but two, K9s For Warriors rescues a majority of their dogs for its service dog program, allowing both the K9 and veteran to build an unwavering bond that facilitates their collective healing and recovery. On average, they pair up to 16 veterans with service dogs each month. To date, the organization has rescued more than 2,000 dogs and paired nearly 1,000 veterans with lifesaving service dogs.”

Well done, Broncos.

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Sean Payton broke Bo Nix news to military members visiting Broncos practice

Before telling the media, Broncos coach Sean Payton broke the Bo Nix news to military members visiting the team’s practice.

After practice on Wednesday, Denver Broncos coach Sean Payton announced that Bo Nix has been named the team’s new starting quarterback.

Before making that announcement to media members attending practice, Payton first broke the news to military members visiting Broncos Park Powered by CommonSpirit.

When Payton spoke with the media Wednesday, he had told his decision to his three quarterbacks, but not to the entire team.

“[O]ne of my goals in the offseason was to improve relationships with the local media, and I wanted you guys to hear it first,” Payton joked. “Now, the 50 military [members] heard it before you. I honestly appreciate that process because it’s difficult. We’re all pressed for information, and we truly wanted to let the thing play itself out.”

Payton and the Broncos hosted 50 military members as part of USAA’s Salute to Service Boot Camp at the team’s facility. The military members watched practice, received autographs from players and competed in NFL combine-style drills. Then Payton delivered some breaking news.

“It was kind of nice to see them have the access that they did,” Payton said. “We appreciate them being here.”

USAA is the “Official Salute to Service Partner of the Denver Broncos.” They have hosted a boot camp for military members based in the Denver area at the Broncos’ practice facility in each of the last ten years.

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Former Chiefs LB Donnie Edwards discusses Best Defense Foundation, military veterans

Chiefs Wire’s Ed Easton Jr. spoke to former #Chiefs linebacker Donnie Edwards about the Best Defense Foundation and military veterans. | @EdEastonJr

The Kansas City Chiefs and the NFL have consistently supported the active military and veterans. Many players and coaches have strong ties through family, friends, and inspiration from the many who have sacrificed their lives for the United States of America.

Former Chiefs linebacker Donnie Edwards was known for his hard work on the football field for 13 seasons in the NFL. He has taken that mindset and utilized it to support military veterans.

Chiefs Wire’s Ed Easton Jr. spoke to Edwards about establishing the Best Defense Foundation and his reaction to being honored by the NFL with the Salute to Service award.

“I’ve always had an affinity for the military, having been born and raised here in San Diego. It’s a big military town. We have the big naval base and the Marine Corps Base, Camp Pendleton. All of my family served in the military,” Edwards explained. “More importantly, my grandfather, Maximino Razo, is a Native American who served in the 25th Infantry Division and is a Pearl Harbor survivor. He’s the one who set the foundation for me here in this country; he always told me you can achieve anything in this country if you want to, you work hard, go after, it doesn’t matter where you come from, there’s tremendous opportunity in this country, and go after it.

“I never lost sight of that. [I am the] first one of my generation, out of 11 kids, to go on to college, let alone get a master’s degree from UCLA, and go on and play 13 years in the NFL. It changed my life tremendously; I’m just one small example of living the American dream. I realized that’s on the backs of the serving men and women, and I want to do my part, serve, give back, and say thank you. Thank you for giving this kid right here an opportunity to live the American dream.”

Edwards created the Best Defense Foundation in 2018 to honor and celebrate war veterans.

“I’ve been doing a bunch of stuff with the military over the years. I’ve done 11 USO tours around the world from Afghanistan to Okinawa, Djibouti, and Nigeria,” Edwards told Easton Jr. “I mean, all over Jordan, Turkey. Visiting our troops to tell them thank you, that we don’t forget about you, want to make sure that we can give a little piece of home back to them and talk football and talk Chiefs football and all that kind of good stuff.”

Said Edwards:

“Back in 2003, I was talking to some World War II veterans. This is when they’re in their early 80s. They spoke of returning to Normandy to their battlefield, and I said, ‘Really, do you want to go back?’ and they said, ‘Absolutely. I want to see what we did.’ I said, ‘Why don’t you go back?’ They said, ‘Oh, I’m too old. I don’t have the money.’ Then it came to me, and I was still playing football at the time. I said, ‘Well, let’s go, I’ll take you.’ So that’s how we started from a simple coffee conversation about returning to Normandy. With a few World War Two veterans, I think we took four or five World War Two veterans back in 2006. That was my first time taking veterans back. Then, it blossomed into this big program of having this incredible charter with Delta Airlines and supporting partners with Michelin and Boeing to help facilitate bringing 50 World War II veterans back to Normandy for the 80th anniversary. It just warms my heart to give our greatest generation this incredible opportunity of closure, camaraderie, and brotherhood.”

In 2019, Edwards was honored with the NFL’s Salute to Service Award, which recognizes his service and sacrifice in support of our military through partnerships, grants, and recognition of service members, veterans, and their families.

“This is really special. It’s a great reminder to service and, overall, the years of giving back to our military, and, of course, no one does it for the recognition at all; you do it because it’s the right thing to do,” Edwards said. “It’s always nice to be recognized for what you’ve done. This is a testament to all those that give back, to our military, because they’re the ones who give kids like me an opportunity to play football. There’s no playing football in America, and having a life that I have, that wasn’t for all of those that serve. So this is a reminder of people given to me and for me to give back to them. It’s a mutual relationship, and it’s truly an honor that I don’t take lightly.”

To learn more, visit the Best Defense Foundation’s website

Gallery: Broncos host military members for boot camp

The Broncos hosted military members and their families for a boot camp earlier this week.

As part of an NFL-wide appreciation for the men and women who serve in the military and their loved ones, the Denver Broncos put on their ninth annual “Salute to Service” boot camp on Tuesday. Fifty military members watched the team practice, received signatures from players and participated in various events reminiscent of the NFL combine.

The Broncos have a storied history with the military, and the NFL’s Salute to Service initiative. In 2022, Broncos tight end Andrew Beck was the recipient of the Salute to Service Award, given annually to an individual who goes above and beyond in their commitment to the branches of the military.

See photos from the boot camp below, courtesy of USAA.

Broncos ST coach Ben Kotwica has used military experience in the NFL

“You’re working together and everybody is pulling together for a common goal,” Kotwica said of similarities between the military and NFL.

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Before becoming a football coach, Denver Broncos special teams coordinator Ben Kotwica spent eight years in the U.S. Army. Kotwica served as a helicopter pilot in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Korea and Iraq.

After the Broncos wrapped up minicamp last week, Kotwica was asked if there are aspects of the military that translate to football.

“There is a lot to unpack in that question,” Kotwica said on June 14. “Oftentimes, people assimilate football to war. Having been part of both and being in Iraq in 2004 and 2005 with the men and women in uniform, we were a great team. That’s where I would start — the team. You’re working together and everybody is pulling together for a common goal and you’re bringing people together from various backgrounds, ethnicities, and ages.

“When I was a commander, I had a 43-year-old war officer that was a pilot, and I had a crew chief that was 19 years old. I’ve used those experiences from the military. That’s what has been great about Coach [Sean] Payton — attention to detail, time on task, delegating authority. There is a whole plethora of things. The one thing I’ve seen here with Coach Payton is the leadership. I don’t think leadership is something you can put your finger on, but you can feel it. That’s what I’ve seen so far.”

The Broncos have a diverse coaching staff with ranges of experience that varies from 42 years (senior defensive assistant Joe Vitt) to rookie coaches (such as quarterbacks coach Davis Webb and special teams assistant Chris Banjo).

Kotwica has been coaching in the NFL since 2007, giving him 15 years of experience in the league. He’ll aim to help Denver turn its special teams units from a weakness to a strength in 2023.

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Before coaching, Broncos special teams coordinator was a helicopter pilot in U.S. Army

Before becoming a coach in the NFL, Ben Kotwica spent eight years in the U.S. Army, serving as a helicopter pilot.

Before joining the Denver Broncos as their new special teams coordinator last week, Ben Kotwica spent 15 years in the NFL and coached special teams with three different clubs.

He has an accomplished resume and will team up with new assistant head coach Mike Westhoff with the goal of helping Denver turn its special teams units around. Before becoming a coach in the NFL, Kotwica was a military helicopter pilot. From his capsule provided by the Broncos:

Kotwica was a linebacker and team captain at Army, which he captained to the most wins in team history (10-2) in 1996. A decorated officer who spent eight years in the U.S. Army after graduating from West Point, Kotwica served in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Korea and Iraq as a helicopter pilot. He was the Vikings’ nominee for the NFL’s Salute to Service award this past season and is a native of Tinley Park, Ill.

Kotwica, 48, will be joining his fifth NFL team in Denver. He most recently served as an assistant special teams coach with the Minnesota Vikings last year.

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Incredible moment as family surprised by return of their military father

There was an incredible moment after the first quarter of Saturday’s Military Appreciation Day game at Death Valley, as a dad surprised his family as he comes home from serving overseas. Check out the special moment below as Captain Nathaniel Horton …

There was an incredible moment after the first quarter of Saturday’s Military Appreciation Day game at Death Valley, as a dad surprised his family as he comes home from serving overseas.

Check out the special moment below as Captain Nathaniel Horton returned to his family from a deployment in the Middle East:

Dear Old Clemson is excited to announce a limited edition football and poster signed by Clemson’s Avengers.

Now there is a new way you can support Clemson student-athletes. Purchase collectibles from Dear Old Clemson and the proceeds with go to support Clemson student-athletes. Visit Dear Old Clemson to find out how you can help!

Peyton Manning jumps out of a plane to support Navy SEAL foundation

It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s … Peyton Manning? ✈️🪂

Peyton Manning’s a busy man.

After filming a trio of commercials for the NFL’s “Play Football” campaign, the former quarterback got in a plane to go skydiving.

Manning admitted he had some jitters in the plane before the jump.

“We’re about to jump out of a plane,” Manning says in the video. “I’m honored to be here in support of the Navy SEAL foundation. … My first time, I’m a little nervous, but I’m with some real pros in this, some real experienced guys, so I know I’m in good hands and I’m fired up.”

The ex-QB shared video from the jump on his official Instagram page:

https://www.instagram.com/reel/ChxebOhOVuF/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

Manning retired from the NFL after winning Super Bowl 50 with the Denver Broncos following the 2015 season. Manning now has his own production company and he’s involved with various shows on ESPN+. It remains to be see if he might eventually get an official title with the Broncos.

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Broncos host local military in Salute for Service boot camp

The Broncos hosted military members to watch practice and participate in their annual USAA Salute to Service boot camp on Thursday.

The Denver Broncos extended a warm welcome to over 50 military guests and their family members to the team’s UCHealth Training Center on Thursday.

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These special guests took in the Broncos’ practice in preparation for Saturday’s game against the Minnesota Vikings. After practice, several Denver players stayed to sign autographs and speak with the military members, including quarterback Russell Wilson, wide receiver Kendall Hinton and offensive tackle Garett Bolles, among others.

After practice, USAA and the Broncos partnered to put on its annual Salute to Service boot camp, where the military personnel were greeted by Denver legend Rod Smith and several local and national USAA representatives.

Former Broncos wide receiver Rod Smith speaks to military members and their families

After a rousing introduction, all in attendance participated in drills similar to those run at the NFL combine. Drills included a long throw contest, the shuttle, a 40-yard dash and the long jump.

“It was really good having the opportunity to come here, to practice how the NFL [does],” said Army participant Gideon Adomah. “My best was the 40 yard dash. I ran a 4.80-something. That was kind of slow for me. I was expecting something better, like a 4.1.”

Adomah, originally from Ghana, said that this was his first exposure to the NFL in his life. “It was my first time throwing a football, so I learned something today,” he said.

According to Dave Morrisey, senior relationship advisor to the United States Air Force Academy for USAA, there were personnel from several bases in Colorado, including Fort Carson, Schriever Space Force Base, Francis E. Warren Air Force Base and Peterson Air Force Base.

“[My highlight of the day] was definitely the players appreciating us. It’s great to get support that is unseen sometimes,” said Nick Nelson, staff sergeant in the United States Air Force.  “It is support we don’t see often, you know, everyday when we go to work. [For the players], it shows what they’re playing for. They go and put it all on the line, just like we do.”

Broncos legend Rod Smith watches as military members participate in the 40-yard dash.
A military member participates in the long throw contest during USAA’s Salute to Service boot camp

Texans QB Deshaun Watson gives away Super Bowl LIV trip to military veteran

Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson gave away a trip to the Super Bowl to a military veteran with help from USAA.

Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson may not be playing in Super Bowl LIV, but he is doing his part to ensure well-deserving fans get to enjoy the Big Game.

The two-time Pro Bowler teamed up with USAA and the USO to award a trip to the Super Bowl in Miami to retired Lt. Colonel Roger Miranda of Belton, Texas.

“With twenty-two years of military service to his name including multiple overseas deployments, Lieutenant Colonel Miranda is an extraordinary example of what it means to be Army Strong” Watson said. said Deshaun Watson.

Miranda served in the U.S. Army for 22 years, starting out as a field artillery officer in 1997, serving in Fort Sill, Okla., Schofield Barracks, and Fort Shafter in Hawaii.

After 10 years of working as a field artillery officer, Miranda transferred to the modeling and simulations office and helped train other service members, working in Fort Leavenworth, Kan., Orlando, Fla., and Fort Hood, Texas over a 12-year period.

Miranda also served his country overseas with two deployments to Afghanistan in 2004 and his second in 2014. Miranda spent time in Kuwait in 2017.

Since retiring, the Newark, N.J., native has spent his time volunteering to increase awareness among veterans of the various employment opportunities available in the tech industry. Miranda works as a technical IT recruiter for a firm in Austin, Texas.

Though a lifelong New York Jets fan, Miranda relishes attending the Super Bowl between the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers with his wife, Crystal.

Watson will meet military members like Miranda during Super Bowl weekend at the Super Bowl Experience in Miami at the USAA’s Salute to Service Lounge, which will be open to current military, veterans, and their families. The lounge will have NFL personalities of all types from players to coaches.

“I am honored to partner with USAA and the USO to award LTC Roger Miranda and his wife Crystal with this [trip] to Super Bowl LIV in Miami in recognition of his service to our country,” Watson said.