This One’s For Pat

This One’s for Pat

When he was awarded the Vince Lombardi Trophy after Super Bowl 50, Denver Broncos general manager John Elway declared, “This one’s for Pat.” Pat Bowlen, the owner of the Broncos since 1984, has had the highest winning percentage in the NFL with more regular-season wins than any other franchise from 1984 to 2015.

Bowlen, known for his concept of “team,” makes others in his organization feel valued and appreciated. On the day after the Broncos won the 2015 season’s AFC Championship, ESPN’s Adam Schefter was reflecting on his time as a “cub reporter” covering the Broncos when he was twenty-three years old. Shefter pointed out that twenty years later, the same people who wandered the halls at the Broncos offices back then are the people wandering the halls today. This loyalty is a tribute to Bowlen’s leadership and the way he values his people.

When Denver defeated the Packers 31–24 in Super Bowl XXXII, Bowlen declared, “This one’s for John.” Elway had a chance to return that favor eighteen years later. Bowlen, not present because of his ongoing fight with Alzheimer’s disease, received back the blessing he had given years before in front of his beloved city and a global audience watching the game.

I am reminded of Proverbs 11:11, which states, “Upright citizens are good for a city and make it prosper,” and Proverbs 11:25, which states, “The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.” Who do you need to bless today?

The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.

Proverbs 11:25