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How Pat Bowlen Can Motivate Broncos to a Title

By Shelby Manning

DENVER, CO - OCTOBER 09: Pat Bowlen, Majority Owner, President, and Chief Executive Officer of the Denver Broncos watches the team during warm up prior to facing the San Diego Chargers at Sports Authority Field at Mile High on October 9, 2011 in Denver, Colorado. The Chargers defeated the Broncos 29-24. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO - OCTOBER 09: Pat Bowlen, Majority Owner, President, and Chief Executive Officer of the Denver Broncos watches the team during warm up prior to facing the San Diego Chargers at Sports Authority Field at Mile High on October 9, 2011 in Denver, Colorado. The Chargers defeated the Broncos 29-24. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images) /
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Pat Bowlen made the Denver Broncos into a model franchise and created a winning culture. Now that he has passed, the Broncos can keep up his legacy.

From the time of Pat Bowlen’s death last Thursday, we have been given great opportunities to be reminded of the great man Pat Bowlen was and everything he did for Denver sports, especially the Broncos.

Pat Bowlen was not only a leader of the Broncos, but was an NFL leader, creating opportunities for the other owners of the league. Pat Bowlen’s character was second to none, and his ultimate passing at the hands of Alzheimer’s Disease truly marks the end of an era.

Yesterday, the Broncos hosted an open celebration of life for Mr. B, with more than five thousand in attendance to pay their respects to the man who gave Broncos Country so much joy throughout his tenure.

I don’t think we will ever forget the trademark fur coat or famous words “This One’s for John” or more recently, “This One’s For Pat.”

Although most of the Broncos active roster did not get to spend much time with Pat or truly get to know him, they have paid their respects to the Bowlen family and are aware of his accomplishments and what he has meant to the franchise.

We know that the Broncos will wear decals on their helmets this season to honor Mr. B.

As excited as we are about this, we know that they are capable of honoring him in even bigger and better ways. The best way to pay tribute to the first owner to reach 300 wins? Well, that’s easy– by winning.

Denver’s roster has improved on both sides of the ball, and with the Mafia Mastermind (Vic Fangio) and his new staff calling the plays, there is much to be excited about with this team. Von Miller, who got the opportunity to know and play for Mr. B, can lead this team by Bowlen’s example.

Although a kind and generous man, Pat Bowlen hated to lose. He would have appreciated Gary Kubiak’s “kicking and screaming” coaching method.

This is what the Broncos need to do– kick and scream and not go down without a fight. We too often saw an uninspired Broncos team in 2018 and as we know, that is not Pat Bowlen’s style of football.

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This year, as they march onto the field, they should keep Mr. B in the back of their minds and let him be their inspiration to not quit until the clock hits all zeroes, because to put it simply, that was the Bowlen way. Pat Bowlen put tough staff and players on the field, and that is the formula to winning championships– to work harder and play harder than the other guys.

It may not happen, but it would be pretty special if the Lombardi was brought back to the Mile High City in the wake of Bowlen’s passing. I think we’d all be crying if we got to hear another “This One’s For Pat.” However, we have to take one game at a time.

As we know, the Broncos open up the regular season on the road on Sept. 9 against Pat Bowlen’s biggest rival, the Oakland Raiders. How sweet would it be to take a win in what will likely be (this time, almost for sure!) the Broncos’ last game in the Coliseum in Mr. B’s memory?

As the late Raiders’ owner Al Davis would say: “Just win, baby.”

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