For the first time ever The Pro Football Hall of Fame will be issuing a gold jacket to a posthumous inductee as Pat Bowlen, the late owner of the Denver Broncos will have one given to his family.
In the case of Bowlen, he was the first person to pass away after being chosen (February 2) but passed away (June 13) before the actual ceremony. As such, the Hall stated that they were already in the process of creating his jacket and ring, though due to Bowlen being in late-stage Alzheimer’s, he was not scheduled to attend.
The Pro Football Hall of Fame had previously never done this before. It was discussed in 2015 when Ken Stabler passed away and was nominated as a Senior Candidate six weeks later. The former Quarterback was chosen and the request of his family to have a gold jacket made was turned down as they clung to their policy of never having given one out posthumously.
In Bowlen’s case, the jacket and ring will be given to the family on October 13 during Denver's home game against the Tennessee Titans.
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