Pat Bowlen needs to be elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame

Pat Bowlen should be elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. It’s pretty cut and dry. The Broncos owner has contributed as much to the game as any NFL owner over the last three decades.

Bowlen bought the team from Edgar Kaiser in 1984. Since then, he’s gone to more Super Bowls (Six), than he’s had losing seasons (five). In addition to his team’s on-field success, his work at the league level, specifically as head of the Broadcast Committee has helped skyrocket the NFL to the most profitable sports league in the world.

Broncos Team President Joe Ellis held a press conference following today’s announcement of Bowlen’s election to the Broncos Ring of Fame. His opening remarks contained a very obvious statement, “The next step we all believe – we’re partial – but, we believe it strongly with conviction—for ‘Mr. B’ should be the Hall of Fame, the Pro Football Hall of Fame. I’m hopeful that day comes sooner rather than later. Pat deserves it.”

I could not agree more. But, here’s where it gets tricky. There’s a bit of a logjam of Hall of Fame worthy candidates, both on the field, and off it. Bowlen, of course, would be elected as a “Contributor,” but that’s not as easy as it sounds.

In 2014 the Pro Football Hall of Fame voting committee created a sub-committee of nine members who are supposed to nominate 2 candidates a year. These candidates are separate from the modern day players, as well as the veterans committee. Last year a list of 40 names was whittled down to 10. Then, finally, two. Those two were longtime league executives Ron Wolf and Bill Polian who were both elected to the 2015 HOF class. Because two “Contributors” were elected this year, only ONE will be elected next year. There doesn’t appear to be any rhyme or reason, but they’ll alternate 2-1-2-1 each year in the “Contributor” category.

The 46-person HOF voting committee consists of one media representative from each pro football city, with two from New York, because there are 2 member clubs in the Big Apple. There’s a 33^rd representative from the Pro Football Writers of America and 13 “at-large” delegates. Those at-large delegates consist of writers/reporters from large national outlets who have covered the game for a long time like Sports Illustrated’s Peter King and ESPN’s John Clayton. The Denver representative is Jeff Legwold. It’s typically the local representative’s responsibility to present candidates from their city. If someone spent significant time in multiple cities, like former Bronco and Tampa Bay Buccaneer John Lynch, both the Tampa rep, Ira Kaufman from the Tampa Tribune and Legwold

Legwold told me he put together a substantial presentation for Bowlen last year. In the past Legwold and I have talked about this process, although it’s usually regarding former players. His point to me has often been, that he’s not going to determine if someone is not a Hall of Famer. I remember bringing up former Jets and Patritos running back Curtis Martin and Legwold saying, as each person comes up, if they have the credentials, they’ll usually get his vote.

So, apparently last year, even in the wake of the announcement of Bowlen’s Alzheimer’s diagnosis, the sub-committee didn’t feel his contributions were significant to merit election to the Hall.

One thing that can work against owners is that they can be viewed simply as “rich guys” who just own the team. Bowlen clearly is not that. He’s demanded a level excellence no other team has really maintained in the last 30 years. Sure, some teams have won more Lombardi trophies, but to have only FIVE losing seasons since 1984 is unbelievable.

Longtime Broncos Public Relations maven Jim Saccomano pointed out to me that all of the other owners in the HOF were original franchise owners that helped grow the league, but that Bowlen was the closest thing you could have to that.

I reached out to a few members of the “Contributors” sub-committee and a couple got back to me. One voter indicated that although they are neutral, they would have to weigh several variables, but admitted, Bowlen’s case would be considered thoroughly. This voter also brought up the example of the late Buffalo Bills owner Ralph Wilson. His case was boosted tremendously by sentiment as he was in his nineties when he was elected. That may also help Mr. B as there’s no way to predict a timetable on his health. Ellis indicated that it’s too early to tell if Bowlen will even be present at his Ring of Fame ceremony Nov. 1 when the Broncos host Green Bay.

Denver has long been under-represented in the Hall of Fame. After quarterback John Elway’s election, lineman Gary Zimmerman, who spent more of his career in Minnesota and tight end Shannon Sharpe found their way to Canton. Certainly, Champ Bailey will don a gold jacket, most likely in four years when he’s eligible. But, that doesn’t come close to equating the number of Broncos who deserve enshrinement as well.

The list of Bowlen’s achievements is too long to list here, but a few stand out. His team’s have played in Super Bowls in three different decades. He’s the second-longest tenured owner, and the only owner in the history of football to win 300 games in 30 years. In an era when the televised experience gets better every year, the Broncos boast the greatest attendance in the league, with nearly 20-million attendees since 1984.

Elway, now the Broncos Senior Vice President of Football Operations, was the biggest no-brainer in the history of the franchise to have his bust carved out at the HOF. Not surprisingly, ‘ol No. 7, thinks his boss should be there too. “Pat has been such an intergral part of what the Denver Broncos have become as well as what the National Football League has become,” Elway said. “In my opinion Pat Bowlen is one of the greatest contributors in the history of professional football…I congratulate him on his election to the Broncos Ring of Fame and look forward to the day he is enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.”