WARE, U.K. — The Broncos' return to the international stage also serves as a barometer of Denver's progress.
The team last played in London in 2022, which marked the Walton-Penner Family Ownership Group's first season leading the organization. In the three years since, the Broncos have hired a Super Bowl-winning head coach, drafted a quarterback in the first round and snapped a decade-long streak without a postseason berth.
Off the field, Denver has begun construction on a new state-of-the-art Broncos Park Powered by CommonSpirit and announced Burnham Yard as the preferred site for a new stadium and mixed-use district.
As Owner & CEO Greg Penner spoke to reporters Friday, he acknowledged the strides the Broncos have made since their last trip across the pond.
"We're a completely different team," Penner said. "... Since that time, I think bringing in [Head Coach] Sean [Payton], and having him really build a strong culture of high expectations, winning, competitiveness. We're on a different trajectory."
The roster is largely different, but the team has also awarded contract extensions to several players who played in the 2022 win at Wembley Stadium. Nik Bonitto, Jonathon Cooper, Garett Bolles, Courtland Sutton, Pat Surtain II and Quinn Meinerz are all former Broncos draft picks who have signed extensions within the last 15 months.
"We want to be a place that young players can come, they can develop, and if they are on that track and they are doing things the right way, we're going to reward them with contracts," Penner said. "We want them here long term. You've seen [General Manager] George [Paton] and his staff, along with Sean, we've identified the players we really want to build around. And we're going to give them the contracts that makes sense … and hopefully we have them here for as much of their football careers as can be."
That talented core has been critical to the Broncos' success, as has the addition of several recent draft picks and veteran additions. The best example of the Broncos' new trajectory may have come on Sunday in Philadelphia, as Denver rallied to earn a 21-17 win over the defending Super Bowl champions. Penner presented Payton with a game ball after the win and also spoke to the team following a 14-point fourth-quarter comeback.
"I said to the team after the game in the locker room how proud we were of that win," Penner said. "I mean, it wasn't looking great there for a few quarters, and this team has shown a lot of resilience and was able to bounce back at the end of the game. I think it just shows, again, the competitive nature of this team and willingness to keep fighting.
"Those are the games — if we want to achieve our objectives, we've got to win those types of games."
Penner said he's seen the team handle the high expectations — both external and internal — and believes the Broncos are equipped to continue finding success.
"Sean is not going to shy away from setting high expectations," Penner said. "I think our team has really embraced that. These are guys that want to be successful, and they're not afraid of setting those expectations and then doing the work that's required every week to get there and achieve our objectives."
The Broncos will aim to earn their next win on Sunday against the Jets to earn a third-consecutive win and remain, at worst, on pace with the Chargers in the AFC West race. A 4-2 start would be the Broncos' best since 2016 — and serve as the latest reminder of the strides the team has made since its last trip abroad.
