Photos: Broncos celebrate Thunder tradition with pregame festivities and 'Passing the Reins' halftime show
At the Broncos' Week 2 game against the Jaguars, the team honored the retiring Thunder Spirit team and celebrated the new Thunder's first regular-season game.
Retiring Thunder rider Ann Judge poses with fans before the Broncos' Week 2 game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado on September 20, 2026. Photo by Gavin Liddell / Denver Broncos
The retiring Thunder is seen on Mane St. before the Broncos' Week 2 game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado on September 20, 2026. Photo by Gavin Liddell / Denver Broncos
The retiring Thunder rider Ann Judge before the Broncos' Week 2 game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado on September 20, 2026. Photo by Gavin Liddell / Denver Broncos
Phillip Flynn and Thunder the horse in the tunnel before the Broncos' Week 2 game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado on September 20, 2026. Photo by Ben Swanson / Denver Broncos
Thunder and Gretchen Flynn ride out of the tunnel for team introductions before the Broncos' Week 2 game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado on September 20, 2026. Photo by Gabriel Christus / Denver Broncos
Gretchen Flynn rides Thunder after a score during the Broncos' Week 2 game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado on September 20, 2026. Photo by Gabriel Christus / Denver Broncos
The retiring Thunder wears a rose blanket during the Broncos' Week 2 game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado on September 20, 2026. Photo by Gabriel Christus / Denver Broncos
Gretchen Flynn sits atop new Thunder during the Broncos' Week 2 game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado on September 20, 2026. Photo by Gabriel Christus / Denver Broncos
Ann Judge at the "Thunder: Passing the Reins" halftime show during the Broncos' Week 2 game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado on September 20, 2026. Photo by Gavin Liddell / Denver Broncos
Ann Judge at the "Thunder: Passing the Reins" halftime show during the Broncos' Week 2 game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado on September 20, 2026. Photo by Ben Swanson / Denver Broncos
Gretchen Flynn at the "Thunder: Passing the Reins" halftime show during the Broncos' Week 2 game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado on September 20, 2026. Photo by Ben Swanson / Denver Broncos
Ernie Blake and Sharon Magness Blake watch as they transfer the rose blanket to new Thunder during the Broncos' Week 2 game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado on September 20, 2026. Photo by Gabriel Christus / Denver Broncos
Phillip Flynn and Adam Writer transfer the rose blanket from the retiring Thunder to new Thunder during the Broncos' Week 2 game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado on September 20, 2026. Photo by Gabriel Christus / Denver Broncos
Greg Penner and Carrie Walton Penner bring a flag to the retiring Thunder during the Broncos' Week 2 game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado on September 20, 2026. Photo by Gabriel Christus / Denver Broncos
Gretchen Flynn, Elizabeth Tisher and Dr. Kelly Tisher at the "Thunder: Passing the Reins" halftime show during the Broncos' Week 2 game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado on September 20, 2026. Photo by Ben Swanson / Denver Broncos
Ann Judge, Thunder, Ernie Blake, Sharon Magness Blake, Greg Penner and Carrie Walton Penner pose for a photo together during the passing of the reins halftime ceremony during the Broncos' Week 2 game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado on September 20, 2026. Photo by Gabriel Christus / Denver Broncos
Thunder the horse retires during the Broncos' Week 2 game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado on September 20, 2026. Photo by Madilyn Gemme / Denver Broncos
The new Thunder and rider Gretchen Flynn ride off the field at halftime during the Broncos' Week 2 game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado on September 20, 2026. Photo by Gavin Liddell / Denver Broncos
Ann Judge rides the retiring Thunder on the field for the last time during the passing of the reins halftime ceremony during the Broncos' Week 2 game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado on September 20, 2026. Photo by Gabriel Christus / Denver Broncos
Ann Judge rides the retiring Thunder on the field for the last time during the passing of the reins halftime ceremony during the Broncos' Week 2 game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado on September 20, 2026. Photo by Gabriel Christus / Denver Broncos
Ann Judge rides the retiring Thunder on the field for the last time during the passing of the reins halftime ceremony during the Broncos' Week 2 game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado on September 20, 2026. Photo by Gabriel Christus / Denver Broncos
Ann Judge rides Thunder the horse on the field for the last time during the Broncos' Week 2 game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado on September 20, 2026. Photo by Madilyn Gemme / Denver Broncos
Ann Judge rides Thunder the horse on the field for the last time during the Broncos' Week 2 game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado on September 20, 2026. Photo by Madilyn Gemme / Denver Broncos
The retiring Thunder and rider Ann Judge at the "Thunder: Passing the Reins" halftime show during the Broncos' Week 2 game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado on September 20, 2026. Photo by Ben Swanson / Denver Broncos
The retiring Thunder and rider Ann Judge at the "Thunder: Passing the Reins" halftime show during the Broncos' Week 2 game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado on September 20, 2026. Photo by Ben Swanson / Denver Broncos
Ernie Blake, Sharon Magness Blake and Rudy Mendiola and the Thunder Spirit team at the "Thunder: Passing the Reins" halftime show during the Broncos' Week 2 game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado on September 20, 2026. Photo by Ben Swanson / Denver Broncos
Thunder the horse and rider Gretchen Flynn during the Broncos' Week 2 game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado on September 20, 2026. Photo by Ben Swanson / Denver Broncos
Gretchen Flynn rides Thunder across the field after a touchdown during the Broncos' Week 2 game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado on September 20, 2026. Photo by Gabriel Christus / Denver Broncos
Thunder the horse and rider Gretchen Flynn during the Broncos' Week 2 game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado on September 20, 2026. Photo by Ben Swanson / Denver Broncos
