Latest news with #CarrieWaltonPenner


Reuters
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Reuters
Demaryius Thomas selected to enter Broncos' Ring of Fame
May 28 - The late Demaryius Thomas, who starred as a wide receiver for the Denver Broncos for 8 1/2 seasons, will be inducted into their Ring of Fame at halftime of their game vs. the New York Giants on Oct. 19. The Broncos made the announcement Tuesday, and Thomas was the only former player or coach selected to be added by the team's Ring of Fame committee this year. Thomas died Dec. 9, 2021, at the age of 33. Cause of death, according to the Fulton County (Ga.) medical examiner, was listed as "complications of a seizure disorder." In a statement, Broncos owners Greg Penner and Carrie Walton Penner said Thomas' selection to the Ring of Fame was "a testament to the indelible mark he left on our organization and community. One of the most beloved players and greatest wide receivers in franchise history, Demaryius inspired our fans with breathtaking athleticism, record-setting performances and joyful, infectious spirit." Thomas was selected by the Broncos out of Georgia Tech in the first round (22nd overall) in the 2010 draft and played in Denver until being traded to the Houston Texans in October 2018. He played seven games with the Texans, then played his final season with the New York Jets in 2019. Thomas was named to the Pro Bowl five times (all with the Broncos) and was a second-team NFL All-Pro twice. He finished his nine seasons in Denver as the team's second-leading receiver (9,055 yards), behind only Rod Smith. He is third in franchise history in catches (665). He finished his 10-season career with 724 catches, 9,763 yards and 63 touchdowns. Thomas flourished most with Hall of Famer Peyton Manning under center from 2012 to 2015, posting at least 90 catches and 1,300 yards in all four seasons. The Broncos also won Super Bowl 50 to close the 2015 season. Thomas was known for his upbeat attitude and efforts to help those in need, making him one of the franchise's most popular players. He was involved in many local outreach programs and charities. The Oct. 19 event is part of Denver's annual alumni weekend. --Field Level Media


New York Times
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Times
Demaryius Thomas, Super Bowl 50 champion who died in 2021, elected into Broncos Ring of Honor
Demaryius Thomas, the All-Pro wide receiver and Super Bowl 50 champion who died in 2021 at the age of 33, has been elected into the Denver Broncos Ring of Fame, the team announced Tuesday. Thomas played parts of 10 seasons with the Broncos and earned all five of his Pro Bowl berths while playing in Denver. His induction into the Ring of Fame comes in his first year of eligibility. Thomas died on Dec. 9, 2021 due to complications from a seizure disorder. Researchers at Boston University posthumously diagnosed Thomas with stage 2 Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, a degenerative brain disease linked to repeated head trauma. The ultimate Bronco. Demaryius Thomas has been selected to the #BroncosROF!#LLDT 🧡 — Denver Broncos (@Broncos) May 27, 2025 Thomas will be officially inducted into the Ring of Fame in Week 7 as the Broncos host the New York Giants. The ceremony will coincide with a celebration of the 10th anniversary of Denver's Super Bowl 50 victory over the Carolina Panthers, a fitting bit of symmetry for a player who played a significant role in the group's success. Advertisement 'Demaryius Thomas' election to the Denver Broncos Ring of Fame — in his first year of eligibility — is a testament to the indelible mark he left on our organization and community,' Broncos owners Greg Penner and Carrie Walton Penner said in a statement. 'One of the most beloved players and greatest wide receivers in franchise history, Demaryius inspired our fans with breathtaking athleticism, record-setting performances and a joyful, infectious spirit. While we wish 'D.T.' was with us to celebrate this special moment, we look forward to honoring Demaryius alongside his Super Bowl 50 teammates during an unforgettable Alumni Weekend.' Thomas, a first-round pick by the Broncos out of Georgia Tech in 2010, is No. 2 on the Broncos' all-time list in receiving yards (9,055) and touchdown receptions (60), behind only Rod Smith. He is third in receptions (665) behind Smith and Shannon Sharpe. During the four seasons Thomas played with Peyton Manning in Denver (2012-15), he was second in the NFL in receptions (402) and receiving yards (5,787) and third in receiving touchdowns (41). He helped Manning and the Broncos produce the most prolific offense in NFL history in 2013, when Denver scored 606 points. 'He was a big reason why I came out here to play,' Manning, who created a scholarship in the receiver's honor, said shortly after Thomas' death. His most iconic play, though, came the season before Manning arrived as a free agent. In a 2011 AFC wild-card game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Thomas caught a slant from Tim Tebow on the first play of overtime and ran away from the Steelers' defense for an 80-yard, game-winning touchdown, his sprint to the end zone accompanied by the thunderous roar of Denver's home crowd. 'For Demaryius and our family, this is a dream come true,' Katina Smith, Thomas' mother, said in a statement. 'Like I told Mr. Greg Penner, one of the things D.T. always said was he didn't want to be forgotten when he was finished with the game. It wasn't just about football for him but how he wanted to be remembered as a person. This will make Demaryius' dream come true to be part of the prestigious Denver Broncos Ring of Fame. It's definitely going to be emotional and I'm honored to represent him. I know D.T. is smiling in heaven with this exciting news that came out today.' Advertisement Thomas' tragic death came as a shock to the football world. He was less than three weeks shy of his 34th birthday and only one year into retirement. A handful of his former teammates, including wide receiver Courtland Sutton, were still on Denver's roster at the time of his death. They played with heavy hearts just days after his death, beating the Detroit Lions while paying tribute to Thomas by putting only 10 players on the field for the game's first play. Fittingly, Sutton, who joined the Broncos during Thomas' last season in Denver, was the player who then lined up in Thomas' outside receiver spot after the opening play. '(Sutton) was instantly a little brother, and DT said, 'I'm going to help you become a better player.' That was the person,' Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph, who was the team's head coach during two of Thomas' seasons in Denver, said in 2023. 'I always say about players that sometimes the player and the person are separate. His person was so, so special, and it's really rare where you have the player and the person who are both that special, and he was that guy.'
Yahoo
29-01-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Broncos donate more than 15,000 football helmets to Colorado high schools
The Denver Broncos Foundation and team ownership has made a huge donation of football helmets to all 277 Colorado high schools, the team announced Tuesday. The initiative, titled "ALL IN. ALL COVERED," is the largest philanthropic donation in franchise history, consisting of 15,516 Riddell Axiom smart helmets at no cost to every high school football program in the state. 'The Denver Broncos Foundation is proud to launch ALL IN. ALL COVERED, a game-changing program designed to have a lasting impact on Colorado youth for years to come,' Broncos co-owner Carrie Walton Penner in a statement. According to the team's press release, schools will receive 25% of the donated helmets each year of the program (2025-2028) based on the average roster size of their team's classification, from six-man football all the way up to 5A. "The Riddell Axiom helmet smart was carefully selected as the helmet of choice for this program due to its safety and performance features," read the statement. "The Axiom features Riddell's TRU-FIT™ SYSTEM, which uses 3D imaging of each athlete's head for a personalized fit and protection system to improve impact response. It also comes standard with InSite Smart Helmet Technology for impact sensing and reporting." The start of the helmet rollout will begin in May, and continue all the way to the beginning of the 2025 high school football season. View the announcement video, narrated by Hall of Famer Peyton Manning, below for a more complete rundown. These 25 celebrities are Broncos fans This article originally appeared on Broncos Wire: Broncos donate more than 15,000 football helmets to Colorado high schools


USA Today
29-01-2025
- Business
- USA Today
Broncos donate more than 15,000 football helmets to Colorado high schools
The Denver Broncos Foundation and team ownership has made a huge donation of football helmets to all 277 Colorado high schools, the team announced Tuesday. The initiative, titled 'ALL IN. ALL COVERED,' is the largest philanthropic donation in franchise history, consisting of 15,516 Riddell Axiom smart helmets at no cost to every high school football program in the state. 'The Denver Broncos Foundation is proud to launch ALL IN. ALL COVERED, a game-changing program designed to have a lasting impact on Colorado youth for years to come,' Broncos co-owner Carrie Walton Penner in a statement. According to the team's press release, schools will receive 25% of the donated helmets each year of the program (2025-2028) based on the average roster size of their team's classification, from six-man football all the way up to 5A. 'The Riddell Axiom helmet smart was carefully selected as the helmet of choice for this program due to its safety and performance features,' read the statement. 'The Axiom features Riddell's TRU-FIT™ SYSTEM, which uses 3D imaging of each athlete's head for a personalized fit and protection system to improve impact response. It also comes standard with InSite Smart Helmet Technology for impact sensing and reporting.' The start of the helmet rollout will begin in May, and continue all the way to the beginning of the 2025 high school football season. View the announcement video, narrated by Hall of Famer Peyton Manning, below for a more complete rundown. Colorado high schools are ALL IN, and the Broncos have them ALL COVERED. Led by Owner & Foundation Chair Carrie Walton Penner and Owner & CEO Greg Penner, we're excited to launch an initiative distributing 15,000+ new Riddell Axiom helmets free to every HS program in Colorado. — Denver Broncos (@Broncos) January 28, 2025


Fox Sports
28-01-2025
- Sport
- Fox Sports
Broncos launch first-in-NFL program to equip Colorado's high school football programs with helmets
Broncos launch first-in-NFL program to equip Colorado's high school football programs with helmets Updated Jan. 28, 2025 8:08 p.m. ET share facebook x reddit link Associated Press LONE TREE, Colo. (AP) — The Denver Broncos are giving more than 15,000 helmets to high school football programs in Colorado, a first-in-the-NFL initiative intended to improve the game and make it safer for prep athletes. The team's foundation has partnered with Riddell and the Colorado High School Activities Association to launch the initiative dubbed 'All In, All Covered.' The participants expect to provide 15,516 Riddell Axiom smart helmets to all of the state's 277 high schools with tackle football programs over a four-year span. The idea for the program came about at a foundation board meeting in August, when Broncos owner and CEO Greg Penner and other board members sought ways to reduce barriers to participation in football, including costs and safety concerns. 'Aligned with our foundation values of equity and innovation, this first-of-its-kind initiative will positively influence how schools and governing bodies prioritize student-athlete health and safety,' said team owner and foundation board chair Carrie Walton Penner. ADVERTISEMENT The Broncos called it the largest philanthropic investment in the club's 65-year history. Although the team didn't reveal any figures, the smart helmets typically cost more than $800 each, so the total retail cost of the 15,516 helmets would be more than $12 million, not including maintenance and ongoing analytics that will be provided all schools. 'After helping Colorado sanction girls high school flag football in 2024, we view this legacy initiative as an opportunity to further invest in future generations by creating equitable access to the sport," team and foundation board president Damani Leech said Thursday. The Broncos said the Riddell Axiom helmet, which is used by several of their players, was selected for the program because of its safety and performance. It features 3D imaging of each athlete's head for a personalized fit and a protection system to improve impact response. The helmets also include technology for impact sensing and reporting. The Broncos foundation will provide each school with a four-year subscription to an analytics and sideline device to monitor and analyze impact history, which will help coaches identify and address flaws in technique to reduce head injuries and optimize performance. Allie Engelken, vice president of community impact and the executive director of the Broncos Foundation, said the 3D imaging scans allows for the helmets to be refitted as part of the standard reconditioning process. 'So, if you take into account that the average lifespan of a helmet is about eight to 10 years with 15,516 helmets ... we could be seeing between 75,000 and 155,000 kids wearing these helmets over the next 13 years,' she said. The helmets will be delivered to the schools beginning in May, along with starter kits and maintenance tools. 'I feel like a collective 'wow' would be in order,' CHSAA Commissioner Mike Krueger said. 'It is a little bit hard to wrap your mind around an initiative that will have the kind of impact that this one will have.' ___ AP NFL: share