Quarterback Russell Wilson #3 of the Denver Broncos poses with his family (L-R), Sienna, Future, Win and Ciara following an introductory press conference at UCHealth Training Center on March 16, 2022 in Englewood, Colorado.
Quarterback Russell Wilson #3 of the Denver Broncos poses with his family (L-R), Sienna, Future, Win and Ciara following an introductory press conference at UCHealth Training Center on March 16, 2022 in Englewood, Colorado.

The final sale price of the Denver Broncos is expected to set a new record for U.S. sports franchises by a wide margin. Bids to purchase the NFL team are due by late Monday afternoon, the highest of which is rumored to be $4.5 billion.

The winning bid for the Broncos will go to Rob Walton, an heir to the Walmart fortune, according to Forbes. The report states that Walton will buy the Broncos for $4.5 billion, nearly doubling the sale price of the last NFL team that was sold.

David Tepper purchased the Carolina Panthers for an NFL-record $2.275 billion in 2018. Less than two years ago, Steve Cohen bought the New York Mets for $2.4 billion, setting the record for a standalone purchase of an American sports team.

Executive Vice Chairman of Alibaba Joe Tsai bought the Brooklyn Nets and Barclays Center for a combined $3.3 billion in 2019. The Nets were valued at around $2.35 billion in the sale.

Four groups are expected to enter bids in the Broncos’ sale. Other reports indicate that there’s still a chance for a group to exceed Walton’s price.

The Broncos’ sale will shatter the previous record and exceed Denver’s previous valuation. Prior to the 2021 season, Forbes estimated the Broncos to have a value of $3.75 billion, which ranked 10th among all NFL teams.

The Broncos have not made the playoffs since winning Super Bowl 50 in February 2016. Denver is considered to have a strong shot to reach the playoffs after trading for quarterback Russell Wilson.

Russell Wilson, Denver Broncos

Photo: Justin Edmonds/Getty Images