At five years old, Jake’s life changed forever. The year was 1964, and Jake’s family had just moved from New Mexico to Denver less than a year before. One day, as he was crossing the road, Jake’s shoe came untied and slipped off. As he turned back to retrieve it, brakes squealed, and the weight of a car collided with his small body.
The car accident left Jake with a severe spinal injury. Multiple surgeries were performed to manage pain, and years of physical therapy were followed to help him regain movement. Some procedures led to more complications, leaving Jake in even greater pain.
Jake attended a specialized school for children with physical and cognitive disabilities. This experience often made him feel isolated and different from his peers. “It was not always good, sometimes bad,” Jake remembered. “[It was] stopping me from growing.”
Finding joy amidst pain
But as a young boy, Jake realized that when he was watching football—especially the Denver Broncos—his pain faded and excitement surged. With every tackle, perfect spiral thrown by the quarterback, or dive into the end zone he watched, Jake fell in love with the game. He learned every athlete’s name, analyzed every play, and cheered for the Broncos through years of wins and losses, even when his sister made him go into another room to watch.
Despite his physical challenges and a school environment that didn’t always meet his needs, Jake persevered and graduated from high school. Attending college proved to be too complicated due to his condition, and he shared that his disability limited his job prospects as well. Nonetheless, Jake worked diligently throughout his life in various positions at Burger King, Wendy’s, and Marriott Hotels. He even filed papers for former Colorado Governor Richard Lamm.
Jake today: “The Broncos Man”
In the assisted living community that he’s called home since 1998, Jake is known as the person everyone can count on. He volunteers by distributing flyers for events and writing a monthly newsletter for residents. He picks up groceries and runs pharmacy errands for neighbors in need with the help of his electric wheelchair.
And his love of the Denver Broncos has only grown stronger. Whether or not it’s football season, Jake dresses in orange and blue. Every shelf, wall, and corner of his apartment is filled with vintage Broncos collectibles, memorabilia, and gear as a tribute to his beloved team. One of his favorite activities is visiting the 16th Street Mall in Denver, where he wears Broncos gear and interacts with fans who pass by.
“I’ve been known as the ‘Broncos Man’ for a long time,” said Jake. “Everybody says, ‘here comes the Broncos Man.’”
This was the Broncos super fan that Wish of a Lifetime staff met while distributing roses during an annual Cupid Crew delivery at Jake’s assisted living community. “When I met Jake, one of my favorite moments was seeing how excited he was to receive a rose,” remembered Rejane McNamara, Senior Wish Fulfillment Specialist. “He lit up as he talked with volunteers and staff, proudly sharing his enthusiasm as a Broncos fan … fully decked out in Broncos gear, head to toe, including a pair of Broncos-themed Converse.”
Rejane learned that Jake was always seeking ways to connect with the Broncos and had managed to have a few encounters with Broncos players over the years, including getting a poster signed by his favorite player, John Elway, and meeting former Broncos owner Pat Bowlen. But limited income and more pain due to a stranger who assaulted him on the street made it difficult for Jake to see the Broncos in person. And once, when his apartment was painted, his treasured John Elway-signed poster was accidentally destroyed.
Seeing the Broncos once again
Learning Jake’s story led Wish of a Lifetime to make Jake’s dream of seeing the Denver Broncos in person come true. Accompanied by his Social Services Program Manager, Cipriana, Jake took an Uber to Denver’s football stadium, Empower Field, to see the Broncos play the Jacksonville Jaguars just a few days before Christmas.
“As we moved through the crowd of Broncos fans, it was a joy to watch the energy between Jake and the people around him,” Rejane recalled. “He fed off their enthusiasm, and they fed off his. His excitement was contagious, and he charmed every person he met with his spirited ‘Go Broncos!’ cheers. Additionally, Jake’s resilience stood out to me. His life has been hard since he was young, and he has never given up throughout his life.”
After the wish
Several months after Jake’s wish was granted, Wish of a Lifetime staff surprised him with some new additions to his extensive collection of Broncos memorabilia: A signed Brandon McManus print, a photo signed “To the Broncos Man from Clinton Portis,” a miniature helmet signed by Bo Nix and John Elway, and a signed and framed John Elway jersey to replace his poster that was destroyed many years before.
We hope that as Jake shows off his new keepsakes, his joy and passion for the Denver Broncos will continue to shine for years to come.
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