Pat Bowlen’s estate will receive HOF jacket, ring |

Pat Bowlen’s family will receive the Denver Broncos owner’s Pro Football Hall of Fame gold jacket and ring.
Questions arose about whether his family could be issued ring and a jacket after Bowlen died following his selection into the Hall this year. Hall of Fame Spokesman Pete Fierle told Mike Klis of 9News the household would be receiving the products.
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”Pat Bowlen is the first person to pass from the time that he had been chosen and formally enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame,” Fierle explained. ”The procedure was underway to make his Hall of Fame Gold Jacket and also Hall of Fame Ring of Excellence.
”As previously proposed prior to his passing, the Gold Jacket and Ring of Excellence will be introduced to the Pat Bowlen estate to be displayed in the front lobby of the UC Health Training Center.
”The Gold Jacket and Ring of Excellence will serve as an everlasting reminder of this impact Pat Bowlen made on the Broncos and the National Football League. He epitomized the merits and values learned in the game of football that serve as inspiration for lovers to live a’Hall of Fame lifetime’ of character”
When the Hall of Fame inducted deceased players, their families didn’t get rings or jackets, throughout the policy of the Hall. Fierle’s distinction that Bowlen was elected before his death permits the Hall of Fame to keep that coverage in place, though many would like it changed.
Oakland Raiders owner Mark Davis is one who expects the Bowlen decision leads to an alteration in the policy for all deceased members.
”David Baker and the Hall of Fame made the perfect choice, and I believe it opens the door to reconsidering awarding rings and jackets to the families of all deceased enshrinees,” Davis told ESPN.com’s Paul Gutierrez on Tuesday night. ”It opens the door to making it appropriate for different households, like Junior Seau’s and Kenny Stabler’s.
”There is no reason I must have my dad’s ring and Bruce Allen does not have his. As a brand new member of the NFL owners Hall of Fame Committee, I’ll continue to advocate for the families.”
Whether the Hall of Fame board — an organization separate from the NFL — considers that a change should be made remains to be seen.