As someone who began covering the Broncos in the early 1990s, my respect for Pat Bowlen is immense. But Denver was not returning to the NFL’s upper crust as a family business.
Denver Broncos owner Greg Penner walks off the field before the game against the Buffalo Bills at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado on Saturday, January 17, 2026. Watching owner Terry Pegula stumble through Wednesday’s press conference trying to explain the firing of popular coach Sean McDermott and promotion of Brandon Beane elicited one response: Thank goodness thePegula rarely talks to the media, and it became obvious why.
Even if his intentions were good and necessary when receiving $850 million in public funding for the new stadium, Pegula did the impossible.It was a disaster class in how not to communicate a message and stay on point. Pegula insisted he fired McDermott because of the visceral reaction he witnessedWhatever, McDermott was canned for the latest playoff loss . But, wait, didn’t Pegula exclaim in his opening remarks, “that was a catch,” regarding Brandin Cooks getting theFor good measure, Beane, the man who assembled rosters that have never reached a Super Bowl, received a cushy new title and more autonomy and, in case you were wondering, Pegula declared that the GM should not be blamed for drafting Keon Coleman. That beep, beep you heard was Pegula backing the bus over an active player on the roster and the coaching staff.When trying to explain how the Broncos reached the AFC championship for the first time in a decade with $32 million in dead cap money for Russell Wilson, don’t forget ownership.Who must play better for Broncos to upset Patriots: Jarrett Stidham or Nik Bonitto?Renck: Super Bo or bust? Nix breaks ankle. Jarrett Stidham, you got nextAs someone who began covering the Broncos in the early 1990s, my respect for Pat Bowlen is immense. But Denver was not returning to the NFL’s upper crust as a family business.In an ideal world, Bowlen would have left a cornerstone NFL franchise for his children that would have united them forever in joy and victories. Instead, the trust was a mess, leading to legal battles. No child was specifically groomed for the role and Bowlen never declared a successor. There is no way you will ever convince me that the issues upstairs did not affect the Broncos’ product on the field. The Broncos missed the playoffs for eight straight years and posted seven consecutive losing seasons, their most since 1963-72. This was not a coincidence. A great quarterback, even if Allen was not that last Saturday, is not a chameleon. They cannot camouflage everything. It is impossible to win championships when discord exists in the corner office. The Walton-Penner Family Ownership Group gave the Broncos more than deep pockets. They provided direction, discipline, creating the expectation of excellence. No excuses. The Broncos would not be in this position without the evolution and involvement of Greg and Carrie Walton Penner. Greg Penner fired coach Nathaniel Hackett with two games remaining in the ownership’s first season. He made it clear why — the team was rudderless — and what he was seeking in a replacement. He wanted a coach with a strong personality and belief system to set the tone for the organization. He landed on Payton, getting what he paid for in a sport where there is no salary cap for coaches. And to hear Payton tell it, he came to Denver, in large part, because of the owners. He is not shy about saying poor ownership makes winning a fantasy. Payton established a culture, creating accountability, while leaving no gray area on how and who he needed for Denver to climb back to relevance. He has worked well with general manager George Paton. Both report to Penner, fostering creative and dynamic friction. As Greg and Carrie have grown to know the NFL, they bring leadership that is present and understanding. They don’t meddle, but they constantly ask questions and seek answers, making them demanding in the name of winning. The money matters. It always does. But only if spent wisely. Over the past 18 months, the Broncos’ owners agreed to 10 in-house contract extensions totaling more than half a billion dollars, with in excess of $300 million guaranteed for core playerThe Walton-Penners are modern owners. They are not the Dodgers, but they are closer to that model than the Steelers, who are afraid to rebuild, operating under the delusion that a winning record is the ultimate goal. In their fourth season, the Walton-Penners watched the Broncos win their first division title and playoff game in a decade. They have alignment with the coach, quarterback and front office. That’s why the juxtaposition between what was happening in Buffalo and Denver on Wednesday was so alarming. The Bills became a bad reality show right before our eyes.Nuggets injury updates: Nikola Jokic 'up and down' as Jonas Valanciunas tracking to return firstFrustrated neighbors sue Colorado concert venue after years of noise complaintsLeBron James on his hug with Nikola Jokic: 'One of the greatest players to ever play'From champion steer to market beef — with a ceremony along the way Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix after surgery: ‘This is not how I imagined my season would come to an end’ Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix after surgery: 'This is not how I imagined my season would come to an end'
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