Brian Carney was a lifelong fan of the Denver Broncos. He had tickets to Super Bowl 50 and made his way to the Bay Area but passed away due to a pulmonary embolism before the game.
While Carney didn’t get the chance to see his favorite team win the Super Bowl, the Broncos decided to honor Carney by bringing the Vince Lombardi Trophy to his funeral.
According to ESPN’s Darren Rovell, the Super Bowl trophy was brought in by representatives of the Broncos, including former cornerback Billy Thompson.
Understandably, the incident was emotional for Carney’s daughter Cindy.
“When I saw the Lombardi Trophy, I cried even more,” Cindy said, per Rovell. “People who had known my dad who didn’t care for football told me they just became Broncos fans.”
A tip of the cap goes to PrimeSport, who, according to Rovell, informed the Broncos about Carney’s death.
The Denver organization also deserves a lot of credit for this incredibly classy move. While Carney was a longtime fan of the Broncos, he had no apparent affiliation with the team beyond that. They certainly deserve praise for honoring one of their fallen fans in such a touching way.