Biography

Late Broncos Owner Pat Bowlen was elected as the newest member of the team's Ring of Fame in 2015—his 32nd season with the franchise. One of two owners and one of just three non-players elected to the Ring of Fame, Mr. Bowlen guided the Broncos to an unprecedented period of success during his three-plus decades in Denver. A member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2019, Mr. Bowlen was the first owner in NFL history to achieve 300 overall victories during his first 30 seasons, Mr. Bowlen has totaled 333 regular-season wins, 21 winning seasons and 18 playoff appearances since he purchased the team in 1984. The Broncos are the only NFL team to post at least 90 wins in each of the last three decades while posting the fewest losing seasons (7) during that span. Mr. Bowlen's seven Super Bowl appearances rank second all-time among NFL owners. The Broncos' back-to-back titles in 1997 and '98, along with Denver's Super Bowl 50 win in 2015, make him one of just seven owners in history with at least three World Championships. Denver's success and recognition nationally was confirmed by a 2014 Harris poll that named the Broncos "America's Team." Locally, the Broncos operated with the best homefield advantage in the NFL during Mr. Bowlen's ownership, ranking first in the league in home winning percentage (.711 / 199-81). The team also sold out every regular season and playoff contest as part of the team's NFL-record 403-game sellout streak dating back to 1970. In addition to his unmistakable impact with the Denver Broncos, Mr. Bowlen had a profound influence on the growth of the NFL. He served on 15 league committees during his ownership, helping negotiate record-breaking television contracts and ensuring years of labor peace with several extensions to the NFL's Collective Bargaining Agreement. Mr. Bowlen's championship mentality—to be "No. 1 in everything"—included an unwavering commitment to the community. As chairman of the board of Denver Broncos Charities, he donated more than $25 million to charitable organizations in the Denver area since the inception of that fund in 1993. Pat Bowlen earned degrees in both business (1965) and law (1968) from the University of Oklahoma. After successful careers in oil, gas and real estate, he purchased the Denver Broncos in 1984.