Chasing Lombardi: The Broncos’ Story of Unfinished Business

Jan 19, 2014; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Broncos executive vice president of football operations John Elway and quarterback Peyton Manning (18) after the 2013 AFC championship playoff football game against the New England Patriots at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

Unfinished business. If there were a mantra for the Denver Broncos since John Elway left the team, that would be it. It’s been a long and winding road back into the front of the race for the Lombardi trophy, but since 2011 when John Elway and John Fox got together in the Denver front office, it’s been a chase. Elway knew what it was to battle for years and years only to get crushed on the game’s biggest stage.

Chasing Lombardi: The Elway-Manning Era is a phenomenal account of that pursuit by the Denver Broncos written by my friend Rich Kurtzman, someone that I’ve known since I began my sports writing career. Kurtzman, a Coloradan, has been front and center for one of the craziest, wildest few years in Denver sports history, documenting almost inarguably the most polarizing and captivating moments for the Denver Broncos, and it shows in his first published book.

Kurtzman takes us all on a journey from the end of the Josh McDaniels era to the Tim Tebow era, the John Elway hiring and the eventual signing of Peyton Manning to bring the Broncos what they covet the most — a Super Bowl trophy. Kurtzman’s story-telling and recalling of the accounts of the Broncos’ record-breaking 2013 season are marvelous, and as I told Rich, brought me back to the exact days when the games were played.

I could remember the time of year, the setting, watching the Ravens game after a lightning delay, wondering whether or not the Broncos could come back after a terrible loss in the playoffs the year prior and even beat Baltimore. The descriptive nature of the account brings you back to a point where you can almost smell the seasons as you read, creating the perfect gift for any Denver Broncos fan, be it you or someone in your family.

Boldly, Kurtzman recounts the Super Bowl in remarkable detail, an event that will stand out in the minds of Broncos fans forever but will soon be forgotten if, as Kurtzman discusses, they can erase the memory by winning the Super Bowl.

For a sports fan, this is a great inside look at the way the Broncos have been built over the last four years. It’s a nostalgic piece of literary art that will stir emotions of Denver Broncos fans, have your heart pounding even though you know the result, and motivate you to root even harder for the Broncos because you know exactly what this team is capable of.

If you are a Denver Broncos fan, you have to read this book and share it with other Broncos fans. Kurtzman is not just a good friend in the blogging world, he’s also a phenomenal writer and story teller. You won’t be disappointed in this work.

You can purchase the book at Amazon.com in time for the Christmas season. You can also get a signed copy by direct messaging @ChasingLombardi on Twitter. The book is available in some Colorado Costco stores as well as the 5280 Shirt Shop in Centennial.