Long-time Denver Broncos owner Pat Bowlen passed away at the age of 75 earlier this week, 35 years after he originally bought the Broncos franchise.
During his time at the helm, Denver won three Super Bowl championships, two of which came with current general manager John Elway under center at quarterback during the 1997-98 and 1998-99 campaigns.
Then, after the Broncos won another title during the 2015-16 season, Elway dedicated the win to Bowlen.
Now, he is paying his respects after his mentor passed on:
“Pat gave me so much and he was someone that I always looked up to,” Elway said in a statement Friday morning, per NFL.com. “He gave this team everything we needed to be the best and compete for championships, and the focus was always on football. That's all you can ask for in an owner — yet he did more. He was a tremendous mentor to me and a tremendous friend.”
Bowlen took over the Broncos one year into Elway's career. Elway would go on to spend his entire NFL career in the Mile High City, with he and Bowlen forming one of the most memorable quarterback-owner tandems in league history.
Elway, who retired following his second Super Bowl victory during the 1998-99 campaign, was then hired as Denver's general manager in 2011, a position he has held ever since.
“I will miss Pat greatly and will always treasure the times we had together,” added Elway. “We'll continue to take care of his team as if he were here today. My deepest sympathies are with Annabel and the entire Bowlen family.”
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