The last time the Broncos played a game in which they weren’t owned by Pat Bowlen or run by his self-appointed brain trust was Dec. 24, 1983.
Gas was $1.16 per gallon. It is now, well, much higher.
At that time, six teams received first-round postseason byes. Now only two teams do.
Quarterback John Elway’s salary was $1.6 million. Russell Wilson’s base salary this year is $19 million.
And the Broncos made the playoffs, losing at Seattle. The postseason is the bar for the Walton-Penner ownership group to match or exceed in their first year atop the organizational masthead.
For a world sports franchise record-setting $4.65 billion, the Broncos were purchased by the team led by Rob Walton, Greg Penner and Carrie Walton-Penner, which includes limited partners Mellody Hobson, Condoleezza Rice and Lewis Hamilton.
League owners unanimously approved their bid during a special meeting on Aug. 9. The next day, Penner was named CEO. The day after that, the Broncos hired Damani Leech as president, putting him in charge of the business operations.
Under Bowlen’s flag, the Broncos played 608 regular season games and 36 of the team’s 42 all-time postseason games, winning three Super Bowls. Success became the expectation and, for most of the nearly four decades, the norm. From 1984-2015, the Broncos had more Super Bowl appearances (six) than losing seasons (five).
“We want to acknowledge Pat Bowlen’s outstanding legacy (and his) leadership and commitment to build a successful team and business,” Walton said. “We’ll continue to build on that. Putting a winning team on the field is our No. 1 priority.”
Penner cited a quote from former San Francisco 49ers offensive lineman Harris Barton.
“As my good friend (Barton) said to me, ‘This will be one of the most fun and satisfying things that you do in your life,’” Penner said. “It’s also a responsibility and a privilege.”
A responsibility because the Broncos are a regional treasure with a fan base that is fed up with the last six years of being bad and boring.
A privilege because owning an NFL team is a rare opportunity.
The ownership change happened after the Broncos traded for Wilson, skyrocketing expectations in the league’s toughest division. But instant success for an owner (or ownership group) is hardly the norm.
Since 1977, 19 current owners have assumed control of an NFL team. Walton and Co., will have to buck an unsuccessful trend.
Eight teams had winning records in their first year under the new owner, led by Minnesota going 11-5 in 2008. Jerry Jones’ Dallas club went 1-15 in 1989 and Jacksonville 2-14 in 2012 for Shad Khan.
Only four teams qualified for the postseason: New England (10-6 in 1994), Washington (10-6 in ’99), Atlanta (9-6-1 in 2002) and the aforementioned Vikings.
Only two teams won a playoff game: Washington and Atlanta won wild-card games, but lost in the divisional round.
That Falcons team had a young Michael Vick. This Broncos team has a still-has-plenty-left Wilson.
The Broncos had been on the market less than six weeks when Wilson was acquired from Seattle. The Walton-Penner group inherits a second-year general manager (George Paton), a first-year coach (Nathaniel Hackett) and a new quarterback.
Acknowledging his confidence in Paton and Hackett, Walton said: “They’ll have to perform, but we think we have the pieces to fit together and really have a great season.”
