That's So Risner: The story of Dalton Risner’s incredible premonition

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Dalton Risner called his shot.

He saw the future.

He knew his destiny.

“It’s crazy, I made a promise to myself the last time I was at Denver Broncos stadium—I think it was called Invesco at the time, it was my senior year of high school,” he said, recalling a moment in 2013 as he sat some 65 miles southwest of his hometown of Wiggins, Co.

“I remember looking at the field and I told myself the next time I was at that field I would be playing for the Broncos.”

In the fall of 2019, the Colorado Native will be back in Broncos Stadium for the first time since he made himself that promise.

And he’ll be wearing Orange & Blue.

“That’s actually coming true,” an emotional 6-foot-5, 312-pound beast of a young man told the Denver media minutes after being drafted by his hometown team. “I don’t think that’s hit me yet.”

“It’s an amazing thrill to get the opportunity to stay home and be able to go to the Denver Broncos is a dream come true.”

Dalton was raised in the presence of John Elway’s greatness for the first three years of his life. On Friday night, he got a call from the legend himself letting him know he was coming home.

“I saw Denver, Colorado [area code] and tears were in my eyes,” Risner said, admitting he was “no doubt” emotional when he got the call around dinner time. “Something I’ve wanted for a long time. I’m just excited to prove them right for their good choice at pick 41. I’m going to work for them and make them proud that they chose me.”

Risner, along with his friends and family, were holding a draft party roughly 10 miles north on I-25 from the UCHealth Training Center. The 23-year old had to excuse himself from the party, however.

“They are all celebrating,” he said, describing the jubilant scene in a downtown Denver hotel. “It was a pretty cool experience. It’s amazing. It’s exactly what we wanted. I’m sure when we walk out, we’ll be celebrating together.”

As if Dalton didn’t already correctly call his shot in 2013 that he would end up with the team he grew up watching, the organizer of the draft party doubled down.

Everyone at his draft party was wearing shirts that said, “Dalton to Denver.”

“Throughout the process, I constantly told people how much I loved the Broncos. I kind of had to tone it down a bit because I think teams were kind of wondering if I wanted to go anywhere but the Broncos,” he admitted with similar excitement as a kid on Christmas morning. “I think it worked out pretty good.”

Now, there’s no reason for Risner not to throw a “Dalton to Denver” shirt on. He’s not going anywhere.

“So meaningful. This is where I’m from. I grew up here in Colorado. I grew up watching Denver Bronco games,” Risner said, emotion in every word.

Many believed Risner could go as early as the middle of the first round, however, after not going on Thursday night in round one, he fell to the ninth pick in the second round.

“I’m most definitely happy. I’m not going to say that I’m not, of course, I would have loved to go in the first round, but listen, I have a home, I’m going to the Denver Broncos. They picked me. They drafted me and that’s’ a dream come true,” the Coloradan said.

“I’m just so honored to be a part of that and be able to do community service right here at home. It’s something I’m extremely excited about, but priorities right now are to get there, earn the respect of the team and go to work.”

The last time the Broncos got a Colorado kid, it turned out just fine.