On Saturday, the Denver Broncos will host their first home playoff game in ten years, marking a significant return to postseason play for the franchise. The team, which holds the top seed, is preparing for a Divisional Round matchup as it continues its pursuit of Super Bowl LX.
The Broncos’ recent success has been attributed to several factors, including a young quarterback, multiple All-Pro players, a strong defense, and a Super Bowl-winning head coach. However, according to Kyle Fredrickson of the Denver Gazette, much of the credit goes to the Walton-Penner Family Ownership Group.
Fredrickson’s article highlights how Owner & CEO Greg Penner, Owner Carrie Walton Penner, and other members of the ownership group have worked to establish a culture focused on winning. Head Coach Sean Payton told The Gazette: “Sometimes there are tough decisions. There’s a pretty keen, even alignment as to how we see ourselves wanting to do business. I think that works really well,” Payton said. “There’s this feeling: ‘Oh, this ownership group has a lot of money.’ I don’t think it’s that at all. I think it’s more about the questions. If this helps us win, we’re interested. If this helps the individual have a better career after football, we’re interested. If this helps us with mental health, we’re interested. … Those are the things that separate us.”
When the Walton-Penner Family Ownership Group took over in 2022, Denver had missed six straight postseasons. Within two years under new leadership and with an emphasis on building both roster depth and organizational support systems, the Broncos returned to playoff contention for the first time since 2015 and secured an AFC West title in 2025.
Defensive tackle Zach Allen noted how investment from ownership has made an impact on player support and resources: “They’re probably making the most investment out of anybody in football,” Allen told The Gazette. “I’ve got buddies on other teams and I’ll text them. They’ll ask what we do for recovery. I list all these things — and they haven’t heard of half this stuff that we’re doing. Any advantage we can get. As the player, individually, the owners are specifically helping us extend our careers, which is really valuable.”
Recent initiatives by ownership include launching Broncos Park Powered by CommonSpirit; announcing plans for a privately funded stadium and mixed-use district; enhancing alumni programs; and expanding philanthropic efforts through ALL IN. ALL COVERED.
Payton also commented on owner-player relationships: “These players really don’t care about how much any of us know — until they know how much we care. I think [Carrie] does a great job of illustrating that,” he told The Gazette. “The players know, long after they’re done playing here, that this ownership group wants this relationship to be a healthy one. You’ll always be a Bronco. That’s difficult to achieve sometimes, and it’s not the case around the league all the time.”
Pam Papsdorf—who has worked with Denver since 1987—said she observed positive changes following ownership transition: “They’re not just owners in name,” Papsdorf said. “They have a hand in everything that happens here.”
