DENVER -- Broncos owner Pat Bowlen was inducted into the team's Ring of Fame Sunday night with his family on hand, as well as the first championship team the Broncos fielded, a full allotment of the team's greatest players and a sellout crowd.
The ceremony came at halftime of Denver's 29-10 win over the Green Bay Packers at Sports Authority Field at Mile High, which moved the Broncos to 7-0.
Bowlen, who is battling Alzheimer's disease and has stepped away from the day-to-day operations of the team, was not in attendance.
Bowlen's wife, Annabel, as well as Bowlen's children and other family members, were present for the ceremony.
"I can't begin to tell you how much he has meant to me and the time we spent together, not only as a head coach, but an assistant coach,'' said former coach Mike Shanahan. "He is the best owner.''
More than 40 players and coaches from the Broncos' 1997 team, the franchise's first title winner, were in attendance, as well as 20 other Ring of Fame members. The Broncos also wore their 1997 uniform in Sunday night's game against the Packers, a uniform combination Bowlen had a large hand in designing.
A video tribute to Bowlen was played on the stadium video boards, just before Bowlen's name was unveiled on an upper-deck façade, along with the rest of the Ring of Fame members. Annabel Bowlen gave some brief remarks and said, "I am so humbled to accept this honor for my husband Pat. ... To Pat it's always been about his players, his coaches and the best fans in the NFL.''
Bowlen purchased the Broncos in 1984. He stepped away from the day-to-day operations of the team in 2014 and it is now operated by the Bowlen Family Trust, with the decisions made in operating the team by president and CEO Joe Ellis for the Family Trust.
The intention, Ellis has said, is for the Family Trust to operate the team until one of Bowlen's children is ready to run the franchise.
"I think the family very much wants to hold onto the team and keep owning the team,'' Ellis said this week. "And you know, I think they love the Broncos and they grew up with the Broncos. The children all grew up with the Broncos and the team, and you know I believe they love it.''
In Bowlen's tenure, the Broncos have had more Super Bowl appearances (six) than losing seasons (five) and have won 12 AFC West titles, including the past four in a row. The Broncos have also won the most games in the NFL under Bowlen's ownership.
Denver won Super Bowls to cap the 1997 and 1998 seasons.
