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Jeff Legwold, ESPN Senior Writer
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — From the time the Walton-Penner group formally completed its $4.65 billion purchase of the Denver Broncos in 2022, one of the biggest items on the business to-do list was addressing the team’s uniforms.
Owner/CEO Greg Penner had consistently promised a thorough, patient exam of the team’s togs, which had not had any major overall changes since 1998. Monday, after weeks of anticipation that an unveiling was near, the team revealed the changes.
A formal announcement will be Monday at 5 p.m. Eastern time at Empower Field at Mile High.
“I’m really excited, It’s time for a change,” Penner said last month. “We think we have something that honors Broncos Country and something that our fans will be pleased with, including elements of Colorado. It was an interesting process that Carrie (Walton Penner) was deeply involved with, that I was involved with, (along with) coaches, some of our players, and we also got a lot of feedback from the fans. I think you’re going have something that you’ll be excited about, and they’ll be excited about.”
The new uniforms feature several references to the Rocky Mountains — in triangles on the tops of the sleeves, as well as within the jersey numbers — plus several references on the uniform to the city’s elevation of 5,280 feet.
A new era forged by #BroncosCountry. pic.twitter.com/LaK3ZfsoZ9
— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) April 22, 2024
The primary helmet, with the current Broncos logo, is navy blue, with a white, metallic finish alternate helmet. Monday morning’s reveal showed four uniform combinations, orange jerseys over orange pants, orange over blue, blue over blue and blue over white.
Also among the new attire is one many fans had hoped to see return. The team will have a throwback uniform orange uniform set that will include the “D” helmet logo the team wore in the 1977 season when the Broncos advanced to the franchise’s first of eight Super Bowls, powered by the Orange Crush defense.
#BroncosCountry, you’ve been waiting for this. pic.twitter.com/LGK02wWdVe
— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) April 22, 2024
Linebacker Randy Gradishar, one of that defense’s most notable players, will be enshrined in August in the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2024.
In all there will be 10 combinations.
In a statement Monday team president Damani Leech said:
“This has been a thoughtful, collaborative journey that’s involved us listening to voices throughout all of Broncos Country to design the Mile High Collection, our modern and inspirational new uniforms for the Denver Broncos. We’re grateful for the engagement and creativity of ownership, the players, our business and football leadership, Nike and especially the best fans in the NFL during this process.”
Team officials said more than 10,000 of the team’s fans provided feedback during the process and Penner led a team contingent to Nike headquarters in Oregon a year ago.