After Broncos owner Pat Bowlen passed away on Thursday evening, NFL Network reporter Ian Rapoport reported Friday that the team has a successor lined up to become the team’s next controlling owner.
“A big topic for the Denver Broncos — locally and nationally around the NFL — who will take over for Pat Bowlen?” Rapoport said during an appearance on NFL Network Friday. “From what I understand, the Broncos do, in fact, have a successor that they have picked.”
That’s a big statement from Rapoport because the team has not yet said a new owner has been selected. It’s worth noting that Rapoport went on to say Brittany Bowlen is the “most likely” successor, which isn’t as emphatic as saying she has already been chosen.
“What the family has tried to do is uphold the wishes of Pat Bowlen which is that one of his children take over for him and from what I’m told, Brittany Bowlen has emerged as the most likely successor,” Rapoport said.
Brittany, 29, is one of Bowlen’s seven children and she is expected to begin working for the team again later this year in an executive role. The Broncos will likely begin grooming her for ownership but she’s not expected to officially take over the team for several more years.
“It’s worth noting that the Pat Bowlen Trust still does, in fact, run the Broncos [with] Joe Ellis at the head of that,” Rapoport said. “He has been the acting owner for more than the last five years and will continue to do so likely at least for two or three more years.”
