
Lewis Hamilton Becomes Third Black Principal to Join Denver Broncos Ownership Group
Lewis Hamilton Becomes Third Black Principal to Join Denver Broncos Ownership Group
For a sport that lacked Black representation at the corporate level and has not allowed any Black owners, they are trying to make up a lot of ground!
According to NFL.com, after purchasing the Denver Broncos earlier this year, The Walton-Penner group added two Black women, Mellody Hobson and Condoleezza Rice to the ownership group. Now, the team has welcomed another Black person to ownership.
The Denver Broncos have announced that Formula One race car driver, Sir Lewis Hamilton is now part of the Walton-Penner group.
“We’re delighted to welcome seven-time Formula One world champion Sir Lewis Hamilton to our ownership group,” Broncos owner-to-be Rob Walton said in a written statement. “He is a champion competitor who knows what it takes to lead a winning team and a fierce advocate for global equality, including in his own sport. With over 100 race wins, Lewis is considered the most successful F1 driver of all time. His resilient spirit and standard of excellence will be an asset to the ownership group and the Broncos organization.”
“We’re delighted to welcome Seven-Time Formula One World Champion Sir @LewisHamilton to our ownership group. He is a champion competitor who knows what it takes to lead a winning team.”
Statement from Rob Walton on behalf of the Walton-Penner Family Ownership Group: pic.twitter.com/kl2z04lKyk
— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) August 2, 2022
Hamilton took to his social media to let his followers know he is part of NFL history.
“Excited to join an incredible group of owners and become a part of the @Broncos story!! Honoured to work with a world class team and serve as an example of the value of more diverse leadership across all sports. Roscoe already thinks he made the team #LetsRide “
Excited to join an incredible group of owners and become a part of the @Broncos story!! Honoured to work with a world class team and serve as an example of the value of more diverse leadership across all sports. Roscoe already thinks he made
the team 😂 #LetsRide 🐎🔥 pic.twitter.com/TSLQdPM8Hz— Lewis Hamilton (@LewisHamilton) August 2, 2022
The Denver Broncos become the first NFL team to have three Black people in an ownership group.
Newly acquired quarterback, Russell Wilson posted a welcoming message for Hamilton.
Congrats @LewisHamilton
Winning is a Habit! #LetsRide https://t.co/Rz3P4AS4it— Russell Wilson (@DangeRussWilson) August 2, 2022
In 1984, Pat Bowlen purchased the Broncos and ceded control of the team in July 2014 to Joe Ellis, the Broncos’ team president and CEO, acknowledging that he had Alzheimer’s disease. Bowlen died in 2019, and the Pat Bowlen A trust took over ownership of the franchise, and initiated selling the team in February.
It was speculated the next owner would be Black due to recent news on how Black executives are treated in the NFL. Suitors such as Jay-Z, Byron Allen, and Robert F. Smith lined up; none of them got close to purchasing the team.