Bowlen finally elected to Pro Football Hall of Fame; Bailey in too

It was never a matter of “if” but rather when. And the wait is finally over. Denver Broncos owner Pat Bowlen is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Just more than five months after being named a finalist in the Contributor’s category, Bowlen finally surmounted his final gold jacket hurdle, earning at least 80 percent of the votes from the Hall’s 48-person committee on Saturday.

“A phrase we often use in this room is ‘it’s time’ or ‘he’s waited long enough.’ I would argue that it’s time for Pat Bowlen to take his place among the titans of this game. He has waited long enough,” said Jim Trotter, NFL Media reporter and Hall of Fame voter, who made the case for Bowlen’s election to the committee.

Bowlen, 74, becomes just the 15th principal owner to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and he’ll be joined in the 2019 class by first-time candidate Champ Bailey. It marks the first time in club history that two Broncos have been elected in the same class.

“I think we’re all so excited because we’ve been waiting for this for such a long time for my dad,” said Christianna Bowlen, one of the six Bowlen children in Atlanta at the NFL Honors program on behalf of their father.

Pat’s fight with Alzheimer’s prevented him from attending, though his children were able to share the news with him over Facetime.

“We Facetimed my dad and he was there with his best friend, my mom and the people that help take care of him,” said Brittany Bowlen. “It was surreal to be able to tell him that he was a legend.”

Bowlen, one of two elected as a contributor, and Bailey, a modern-era inductee, become the sixth and seventh Broncos inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, joining quarterback John Elway (2004), offensive tackle Gary Zimmerman (2008), running backs Floyd Little (2010) and Terrell Davis (2017), and tight end Shannon Sharpe (2011).

A handful of others enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, including 2019 modern-era inductee Ty Law, have connections to the Broncos as well.

“I think that it means the world to him to have Champ representing the Broncos as a player,” said Beth Bowlen Wallace. “I think he’s sad that the two other players that were Broncos did not get in. I know that he would expect us to fight for them in the future — ­­­­­Steve Atwater and John Lynch. But having Champ go in with him, I’m sure he’s thrilled about that.”

Atwater, a finalist for the second time, made the cut from 15 to 10 but did not get elected, per 9News Mike Klis. Lynch, a finalist for the sixth consecutive year, did not make the final 10.

Bailey becomes the defensive player in Broncos history to make the Pro Football Hall of Fame and just the sixth cornerback all-time to be elected in his first year eligible.

“This is an amazing feeling … and the timing was just right for it. Having all of my family around, having the Bowlen family go in as well, Pat Bowlen, I never dreamed I would be in a class like this,” Bailey said. “So, it’s a little surreal at this moment. I don’t think it’s sunk in yet, but I’m just looking forward to the process of the next few months and enjoying my time with my classmates.

“It’s a great class, I’d say the best ever. It’s been a great ride.”

Follow digital content producer Johnny Hart on Twitter: @JohnnyHart7

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