Pat Bowlen Dies, Leaving Broncos Ownership Uncertain

Broncos Owner Pat Bowlen died last night at his home in Colorado at age 75 "after years of battling Alzheimer’s disease." Bowlen had "stayed out of the public eye” since '14, and in '13 he filed with the NFL to “relinquish day-to-day control of the team." Over the past year, a "brewing dispute over the trustees' management of Bowlen’s estate and over his succession plan has spawned a lawsuit," as the "future controlling owner of the Broncos is for now uncertain." Bowlen was the "rare NFL owner who mixed competitiveness and compassion” to turn the Broncos into “one of the NFL’s marquee franchises." During his 35-year tenure, the team "had as many Super Bowl appearances (seven) as losing seasons." Bowlen’s death comes two months before he was "set to be enshrined" in the Pro Football HOF (THEATHLETIC.com, 6/14).