The Broncos moved one step closer to an ownership transition

DENVER — The last obstacle toward a transition of Broncos ownership has been removed.

Tuesday Denver District Judge Shelley Gilman rejected the claim of former owner Edgar Kaiser’s heirs that they had the right of first refusal on any potential sale or transition of Broncos ownership. The adjudication of the lawsuit in favor of the Pat Bowlen Trust paves the way for a Broncos sale.

“We are very pleased with the Court’s order today terminating any right of first refusal,” said trust attorney Dan Reilly in a statement provided by Broncos public relations. “The trustees will continue moving forward with the ownership transition process.”

“We’re glad to put this issue behind us and move closer to transitioning ownership of the Denver Broncos,” Broncos president and CEO Joe Ellis said in a statement issued by the Broncos. “While our focus at this time is on our head-coaching search, we plan to make an announcement regarding ownership shortly after that hire is completed.”

Sunday, Broncos president and CEO Joe Ellis said that any discussion about a timeline for an ownership transition — whether it results in a sale on the open market or a transfer to Brittany Bowlen as the managing partner — would wait until after the lawsuit was resolved.

It took approximately 48 hours for resolution.

But the head-coaching search will come first — a process that will include a roster of candidates that now reaches into double digits, with former Broncos offensive assistant and current Cincinnati Bengals offensive coordinator Brian Callahan joining the list.

“We’re glad to put this issue behind us and move closer to transitioning ownership of the Denver Broncos,” Ellis said in a statement issued by Broncos public relations. “While our focus at this time is on our head-coaching search, we plan to make an announcement regarding ownership shortly after that hire is completed.”

Ellis said Sunday that he did not think the pending ownership transition would be a factor in the coaching search, and the ability of the Broncos to attract a variety of candidates to interview with them is proof — 10 in total as general manager George Paton and a handful of key staff members prepare to begin the interview process later this week.

And with that, the clock begins to tick louder.

Woody Paige of ESPN’s Around The Horn tweeted that according to his sources, six candidates would bid on the Broncos — including groups involving Broncos president of football operations John Elway, who is in the final months of his contract, and Hall-of-Fame quarterback Peyton Manning.

If the Broncos go on the open market, they are expected to command the highest price ever paid for a North American professional-sports franchise.