When a team pretty much wins anything in the United States, whether it’s the World Series or Idaho Potato Bowl, rings are made to commemorate that achievement.
After winning Super Bowl 50, the Denver Broncos had massive rings made to celebrate the victory and the team finally received them over the weekend.
On Sunday night, each member of the Super Bowl winning Broncos, including quarterback Peyton Manning, broadcasters for the team, and unheard of support staff members, received a padlocked box at a team event. When they each opened up their boxes, they found a ring unlike any other.
Here’s how ESPN described the rings.
Each diamond-encrusted ring — 212 diamonds in all (5.05 total carats) — has the number 50 in the middle with “World” across the top of the face of the ring and “Champions” across the bottom to go with three Lombardi trophies for the franchise’s three Super Bowl wins, plus a Broncos logo in the middle.
On one side, the ring says “This one’s for Pat” in honor of owner Pat Bowlen, and on the other side is each recipient’s name.
Many former players. including Manning, were there. Von Miller was also at the ring ceremony, despite acrimonious negotiations with the team over a contract extension.
Miller also went with the team to the White House when they were honored by President Obama last week.
“When we come back for the reunion, everybody will be holding their Super Bowl rings,” Miller said. “It’s a beautiful time. It’s a beautiful ring. This one is for [Bowlen]. He did a lot of stuff for all of us. To do something for someone else is an incredible feeling.”
Overall, everyone seemed to enjoy the night and just focus on the Super Bowl win and not the offense storylines such as Miller’s contract negotiations.
“It’s very special to win that championship for him and his family this year,” Manning said about Bowlen. “It’s very special. These don’t go away. I pulled out my Indianapolis Colts ring tonight. Hadn’t worn it in nine years. I wore it for about two weeks after we received our rings in the summer of 2007, and then I’ve had it in storage. So I pulled it out tonight.”
Denver will hold its final set of OTAs this week before training camp begins on July 27th. The Broncos open up the season on Thursday, September 8th at home against the Carolina Panthers in a rematch of Super Bowl 50.
[ESPN]
