DENVER — The Broncos new ownership group added another big name on Monday.

Rob Walton of the Walton-Penner group, which purchased the franchise for $4.65 billion last month, pending NFL approval, announced that former U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is joining the ownership group.

"A highly respected public servant accomplished academic and corporate leader, Secretary Rice is well known as a passionate and knowledgeable football fan who has worked to make the sport stronger and better. She is the daughter of a football coach and served on the inaugural college football playoff committee. She moved to Denver with her family when she was 12 years old and went on to attend the University of Denver for both college and graduate school. Her unique experience and extraordinary judgment will be a great benefit to our group and the Broncos organization," Walton said.

As Walton described, Rice has a longstanding connection to football and Denver. Her family moved from Alabama to Colorado in 1967. She enrolled in the University of Denver after high school, first showing interest in music before finding her passion in political science. Her love for football came from her father, according to multiple stories. She watched Alabama Crimson Tide and Cleveland Browns games with him growing up. Her father was a high school football coach.

At one point a few years ago, Rice was rumored to be a candidate for a front-office job with Cleveland.

Rice received the National Football Foundation Gold Medal in 2015 for her connection to the sport, the first woman to earn the honor in the organization's 69-year history.

Rice currently is the director of the Hoover Institution at Stanford University. She is most well known for serving in the U.S. government, including as Secretary of State for President George W. Bush from 2005-2009.

"It is an honor to be part of this ownership group. Football has been an integral part of my life since the moment it was introduced to me, and I am thrilled to be a part of the Broncos organization today," Rice said in a statement released by the Hoover Institution. "I spent much of my younger years in Denver, so to be able to combine my love of the game with my love for this great city and team is an adventure of a lifetime and a great opportunity."

She joins Mellody Hobson, who is president of co-CEO of Ariel Investments and serves as the chairwoman of Starbucks, as the only members of the ownership group not connected to the Walton family. Rob Walton spearheaded the purchase of the team — it is the highest-paid price for a North American sports franchise — with his son-in-law Greg Penner and Walton's daughter Carrie Penner expected to be involved in the daily operations.

This story was originally published by KMGH in Denver, Colorado.

A former NFL lineman was sentenced to 16 years in prison on Thursday for shooting a Colorado woman in 2019, according to the Denver Post and USA Today.

Justin Bannan was found guilty last September of attempted first-degree murder, attempted second-degree murder, and two counts of assault.

On Oct. 16, 2019, the former Denver Broncos player told police after he'd been arrested that he thought the Russian mafia was after him when he hid in an acupuncturist's treatment room at Black Lab Sports and shot her when she opened the door, KMGH reported.

The news outlet reported that the woman told police that she had no prior relationship with Bannan before he shot her.

Bannan was initially to be sentenced on Nov. 5, but the sentencing hearing was delayed multiple times due to COVID-19 issues, the news outlets reported

According to the news outlets, the victim, Ashley Marie, has filed a civil lawsuit against Bannan, but it was paused until the criminal trial had concluded.

As the 2021-22 NFL season ends, familiar faces will be coaching on different sidelines next season as several NFL teams go on a hiring spree.

The head coaching carousel didn't take off as fast as it typically does, with NFL Network's Judy Battista pointing out that the first hire didn't occur until 18 days after the regular season ended.

Nine teams announced they were searching for a new head coach, which is two more than last year, ESPN reported.

Three of the teams, the Minnesota Vikings, Houston Texans, and New Orleans Saints, have yet to fill their vacancies.

Below you'll find a list of all the teams that have hired new head coaches:

Chicago Bears - After going 6-11 this season, the Bears fired head coach Matt Nagy. They became the second team to choose a new head coach when they hired Indianapolis Colts defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus on Jan. 27. The 51-year-old has 13 years of NFL coaching experience, having spent time in Cleveland and Dallas. This will be his first-ever head coaching gig.

Denver Broncos - The Broncos were the first team to make a splash when they announced they'd hired Green Bay Packers offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett. On Jan. 27, the 42-year-old became its 18th head coach, its fourth head coach in seven years. The team has struggled at the quarterback position, with the team having 11 different starters since 2016, KMGH's Troy Renck reported.

Houston Texans - The team fired David Culley after just one season in which the Texans went 4-13, ESPN reported. According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport and Fox Sports' Jay Glazer, the team is set to hire former Bears head coach Lovie Smith.

Jacksonville Jaguars - In December, Urban Meyer was fired before finishing his first season as an NFL head coach. The franchise is looking to the future because the fifth team announced a new head coach when they added former Philadelphia Eagles coach Doug Pederson on Feb. 3. During his time with the Eagles, Pederson led the team to a Super Bowl LII victory.

Las Vegas Raiders - On Oct. 11, Jon Gruden resigned as head coach midway through the season after a report published by The New York Times stated that Gruden had made homophobic and misogynistic comments in the past. Under interim head coach Rich Bisaccia, the team clinched their first playoff berth since 2016.

On Jan. 31, the team named New England Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels its next head coach. This isn't McDaniels' first head coaching job. He served as the Broncos head coach from 2009-10.

Miami Dolphins - In January, the team fired head coach Brian Flores after he led the Dolphins to a 24-25 record over three years. On Feb. 1, Flores filed a class-action lawsuit against the league alleging racist hiring.

As the team looks to the future, they hired San Francisco 49ers offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel. McDaniel, who identifies as multiracial, is the first minority head coach hire in the 2022 cycle, the Washington Post reported.

Minnesota Vikings - The Vikings fired head coach Mike Zimmer on Jan. 10 and are expected to name Los Angeles Rams offensive coordinator Kevin O'Connell its next head coach, according to CBS Sports and Sports Illustrated.

New York Giants - The Giants became the third team to announce they've hired a new head coach when they picked Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator Brian Daboll. The 46-year-old takes over from Joe Judge, who was fired on Jan. 11 after two seasons. This will be his first head coaching job, but he has 20 years of NFL coaching experience, including stops in Cleveland, New England, Miami, and Kansas City.

New Orleans Saints - After spending 15 seasons with the team and leading them to a Super Bowl championship in 2010, head coach Sean Payton announced on Jan. 25 that he was stepping down as head coach. They have yet to name a new head coach.

DENVER, Colo. (KMGH) — Former NFL coach Dan Reeves died Saturday after a long battle with dementia.

He was 77.

His family released a statement to NFL Network.

"Legendary NFL player and coach Dan Reeves passed away early this morning, peacefully and surrounded by his loving family at his home in Atlanta, GA. He passed away at age 77 due to complications from a long illness. His legacy will continue through his many friends, players and fans as well as the rest of the NFL community. Arrangements are still to be determined."

Reeves helped the Denver Broncos become the class of the AFC in the 1980s. He led the franchise to three Super Bowls, failing to win any, but creating a brand of excellence along with quarterback John Elway that made the Broncos a national draw.

Reeves ranks second among Broncos coaches in wins (110), trailing only Mike Shanahan, his former assistant. Both are Ring of Famers. Reeves entered in 2014.

Reeves returned Denver to its late 1970s glory. He posted 10 wins seven times and was a regular in the postseason, posting only one losing season during his Denver career from 1981-92. Those Broncos were known for tough defenses, and the athleticism and late-game magic of Elway, who arrived in 1983 via trade. With Elway fueling the charge, the Broncos won three AFC West titles.

Reeves delivered a 13-7 playoff record with the Broncos.

Reeves later coached the Giants and Falcons. He faced the Broncos in Super Bowl 33 with Atlanta but fell short as Denver won back-to-back titles. Reeves participated in nine Super Bowls as a player and coach.

Reeves grew up on a farm in Georgia and attended college at South Carolina. He played seven seasons with the Dallas Cowboys, learning from Hall of Fame coach Tom Landry. As a rushing and receiving threat, Reeves led the league in touchdowns with 16 in 1966. He helped the Cowboys win Super Bowl VI in 1972.

An injury ended his NFL career but launched a successful coaching run. Reeves posted a career record of 201-174-2, making him one of seven coaches with 200 victories.

This story was originally reported by Troy Renck on thedenverchannel.com.