What the Broncos’ Incredible Comeback Taught Me About Leadership and Resilience

This past Sunday, my middle daughter and I were at Mile High, surrounded by 76,000 fans watching the Broncos go down 19–0 to the Giants.

The offense couldn’t get anything going. Costly penalties kept Giants drives alive. The mood in the stands? Flat. Frustrated. Booing echoed across the stadium. It felt like it was over.

But trailing 26–8 with under six minutes to play, something shifted. A touchdown. An interception. Another touchdown. A defensive stop. Suddenly — the Broncos had the lead.

Then, just as the stadium came alive, the Giants answered. A deep pass interference call. First and goal at the two. Touchdown. 32–30, New York. 37 seconds left. Their sideline was celebrating now.

But the Broncos believed.

A few quick passes from Bo Nix to Courtland Sutton got them into field goal range — and the rest is history. 33 points in the fourth quarter. A franchise record. From hopeless to historic in minutes.

Later that night, I made a quick social video — a reenactment of the emotional rollercoaster every Broncos fan experienced that day. Funny? Hopefully. But also real. Because behind the memes and the madness, that game was a lesson.

And I was so grateful my daughter got to see it unfold in person.

Sports is a microcosm of life. In that chaos, I was reminded of three truths that extend far beyond football — about business, leadership, belief, and growth.

1. Don’t Let a Bad Stretch Define You.

Every team, business, or person goes through rough stretches — the 19–0 moments when nothing clicks.

But the difference between those who stay stuck and those who surge is simple: they keep showing up.

Momentum can flip in an instant.

It doesn’t come from wishing or waiting — it comes from believing that even when it’s ugly, there’s still time to turn it around.

2. Leaders Lead Louder When It’s Quiet.

When doubt creeps in, teams look to the people who stay composed, confident, and consistent — the ones who radiate contagious energy even when the scoreboard says otherwise.

That’s what great leaders do.
They don’t panic.
They set tone and belief when it’s hardest to find either.

In the fourth quarter, the Broncos’ sideline came alive.

That’s not coincidence — that’s leadership at work.

3. Belief Is Built, Not Borrowed.

One of my favorite quotes from Stoic philosopher Marcus Aurelius is this:

“You have power over your mind—not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength.”

Belief doesn’t show up because someone tells you to have it.

It’s built through effort, through adversity, through reps in the dark.

The Broncos’ comeback wasn’t luck. It was built — one play, one stop, one moment at a time.

That game reminded me why I love sports so much — not just for the wins, but for what they reveal.

The resilience. The leadership. The belief.

Whether it’s a football team, a business, or a personal pursuit, the formula is the same: Don’t let the bad stretch define you. Lead louder when it’s quiet. And keep building belief.

Because the obstacle is the way.