ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — His first career Pro Bowl nod is tantalizingly within reach for nine-year NFL veteran Garett Bolles, whose renaissance on the gridiron mirrors his awakening off the field.

The Broncos’ left tackle has polished the rough edges of his game over the years to go from a raw latecomer to football (he was a lacrosse star as a kid) to one of the league’s best blindside protectors.

He anchors one of the best offensive lines in football and is a big reason the Broncos are 11-2 and perched atop the AFC playoff race heading into this weekend’s marquee showdown with the Green Bay Packers (9-3-1) at Empower Field.

Honored to be this years nominee for Walter Payton Man of the Year. This recognition means the world, but the real reward is giving back to the community. Grateful for the support and ready to keep making a difference. 🙏🏽 #WPMOY pic.twitter.com/hQ8esJS4Je

— Garett Bolles (@gbolles72) December 5, 2025

Early on, he was derided by Broncos fans for his propensity for penalties. “Holding, offense, No. 72” practically became his motto. He no longer draws that ire — or many flags, for that matter.

He’s been whistled just four times in 871 snaps this season and he hasn’t allowed a single sack of second-year passer Bo Nix.

Bolles credits the many mentors he’s had, Hall of Famer Mike Munchak among them, for refining his technique and his overall game, and he credits his experience overcoming a troubled adolescence for helping him navigate the negativity that started to surround him as a rookie in 2017 facing a steep learning curve.

“Well, No. 1, I’ve been down before,” Bolles said. “I’ve been down to where nothing’s coming my way and everything is against me and the odds are against me, people have counted me out, people have doubted me, people have continued to beat me up with words. I’ve been down. I’ve been to where I’ve had nothing and I feel like no one is there for me. And so, those moments in football, that’s just how my career’s been, that’s how my life’s been.”

Through all the tribulations, Bolles said he always knew he’d come out a better player and person.

“I never want to let anyone down,” he said. “And I didn’t want to let this city down. I didn’t want to let this team down and this organization because they’ve given me so much, not only to have a voice and a platform but to be able to play this game at a high level and I needed to change.”

Aside from the physical adjustments, Bolles had a mental and emotional roadmap for this renaissance from his time as a troubled youth, which included several school suspensions and expulsions, drug and alcohol use and even jail time for vandalism.

He was kicked out of his home at 19 and turned his life around after his former lacrosse coach, Greg Freeman, and his wife, Emily, took him in and gave him structure, mentorship and a chance to focus on family, faith and football.

“When you’ve been doubted in life, not only do you have to prove to yourself that you can be successful, but you’ve got to prove to others that you can be counted on, you can be reliable and you can continue to work hard through your work ethic and through your love that you show people and your kindness,” Bolles said. “And that was my goal and I’m going to continue to do that and I’ve obviously seen the results from it.”

From the start of his career, Bolles has been deeply involved in mentoring teens in the Arapahoe County Juvenile Probation Court, providing renovations to the hearing spaces and a shoulder to lean on.

“The way I grew up, I wanted to give back to kids who were very similar to me,” Bolles said. “Because, when you live that lifestyle, a lot of people just end up giving up on you, and they don’t love you and they don’t appreciate you — and I know how that feels. As I started talking to these kids I just realized these kids are just like me; they just need someone to love them and to cheer them on and to be there for them and to have someone in their corner.”

Bolles and his wife, Natalie, also founded the GB3 Foundation in 2021 to support children with learning differences and speech disorders, inspired by their son Kingston, now 8, who was diagnosed five years ago with childhood apraxia of speech. This fall, the Bolles funded the Bjorem & Bolles Apraxia Training Center in Parker, Colorado, a facility dedicated to training educators and speech-language pathologists who serve children with CAS.

For those efforts, the Broncos named Bolles their Walter Payton Man of the Year nominee this month.

Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph, who was a first-year head coach in Denver when Bolles was selected 20th overall out of Utah in the 2017 NFL draft, said he sensed right away Bolles would apply that same determination that helped him overcome so much off the field to becoming the polished player he is today.

“As a player, he’s obviously one of the great tackles, his physical traits when we drafted him kind of spoke to that. He needed time on task to polish his tasks,” Joseph said. “And he’s always been a wonderful person. He’s been a father since the day I met him. He’s a great husband. He is the best teammate. … He is really a good person and he is absolutely a great player.”

Garett Bolles got the job done against the Texans’ elite edge rusher duo 🛡️ https://t.co/N6ViMkn6ju pic.twitter.com/BJmwrlq0k5

— PFF (@PFF) November 3, 2025

You’d think an NFL football player taking time to go see them would make Bolles a hero for so many troubled youth. But it’s actually the other way around; they inspire him, so much in fact that he said he plays football as much for them as he does his teammates.

“I love football, don’t get me wrong. I truly do love football, I love everything about it, it’s truly a passion of mine,” Bolles said. “But nothing brings me more joy than being able to help these kids.”

Take us with you, wherever you go.

Download the new & improved KSL Sports app from Utah’s sports leader. You can stream live radio, video and stay up to date on all of your favorite teams.

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — The City of Corpus Christi has finalized an agreement that allows the Oso Pony League to continue operating at the Southside Sports Complex while expanding access to more community groups. The facility, located at 1901 Paul Jones Avenue, will now serve more youth sports organizations under an affordable rental model.

Under the new License Use Agreement, nonprofit organizations can rent fields starting at $4.25 per hour or $5.25 per hour with lights. The low-cost structure aims to help youth sports groups focus on programming rather than fundraising efforts.

The city will handle facility maintenance through its Athletic Fields Maintenance Team within the Parks & Recreation Department. Fields are available for practices, tournaments and company events.

“Our goal is to remove barriers and maximize the public benefit of our city-owned assets,” Robert Dodd said.

Dodd serves as Parks and Recreation Director for the city.

“This new model ensures equitable access for all groups and prioritizes the youth sports programs that are so vital to our community’s future, all while keeping rental rates affordable,” Dodd said.

The approach mirrors the successful structure already in place at the Greenwood Sports Complex and follows best practices recommended by the National Recreation and Park Association.

Organizations interested in renting fields can find more information by visiting the city’s sports fields webpage.

For the latest local news updates, click here, or download the KRIS 6 News App.

Colorado Springs, Colo. (December 12, 2025) – USA Ultimate confirmed today the full calendar of 2026 Championship Events. The first event of the year will be the Beach Championships, returning to Virginia Beach on May 9-10. The event, which has seen record growth the past four years, has taken place in Virginia Beach 10 of the last 11 years. The 2025 event marked the biggest USA Ultimate beach event to date, with growth across nearly all divisions.

Many other previously announced events are returning to familiar locations in 2026, with both the Masters Championships and the Youth Club Championships taking place in Aurora, CO. 2026 also marks the final year of a three year agreement to host the National Championships in San Diego, CA – which has hosted the event since 2018.

USA Ultimate has a full calendar of premier events scheduled for 2026 – in collaboration with a number of trusted local partners – offering the ultimate community opportunities to compete at the highest level across all disciplines and divisions.

The full 2026 Championship Events Schedule is listed below.

MUSKEGO, Wis.—Former Director of Tryouts for the Croatian Eagles Soccer Club in Franklin, Justin Kagerbauer faces federal sex crime charges.

According to federal investigators, 41-year-old Kagerbauer was caught in an undercover operation for allegedly communicating with a 9-year-old girl in the U.K. He planned to travel there to have sex with her.

In reality, the girl Kagerbauer was messaging was actually a government agent operating under the Eastern Regional Special Operations Unit.

Police and federal agents were able to find and arrest Kagerbauer at Chicago O’Hare International airport where he already had purchased a ticket to England.

According to the indictment, Kagerbauer is charged with attempted foreign travel to engage in illicit sexual conduct with a minor, using a computer to engage in unlawful sexual activity, and distributing child pornography.

If convicted of Count One, Kagerbauer faces up to thirty years’ imprisonment.

If convicted of Count Two, he faces a mandatory ten years’ imprisonment or up to life imprisonment.

If convicted of Count Three, he faces a mandatory five years’ imprisonment, up to twenty years’ imprisonment.

Kagerbauer may also face a $250,000 fine for each count. He also may be required to register as a sex offender under state and federal law.

Hillsborough Democrats announced their municipal slate for next year as they seek to flip the township committee from GOP hands. 

The 2026 Hillsborough committee slate will consist of incumbent Committeewoman Samantha Hand and US Army Veteran and community volunteer Meghann Valeo. The Somerset County town is currently held by Republicans in a 3-2 margin, but Democrats in the town are looking to build upon their strong 2025 and wrest control from the GOP. 

“We could not have two better candidates for Township Committee in Samantha and Meghann, two women who embody Hillsborough’s long history of community volunteerism,” said Hillsborough Democratic Organization Chair Michele Kidd. “Whether coaching youth sports, raising funds for our local fire departments, or fighting on foreign battlefields, Hand and Valeo have proven their commitment to public service.”

Last month, Democrat Jill Gomez defeated incumbent Republican John Ciccarelli 55%-45%.

Hand, a corporate executive, first won election to the committee in 2023. Valeo, an Army veteran, served as a Military Police platoon leader in Baghdad during Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2005 and received a Bronze Star, according to the announcement.

Democratic Gov.-elect Mikie Sherrill won Hillsborough by about 13 percentage points last month. In 2021, it went for Republican Jack Ciattarelli by nearly 5 points.

“Samantha and Meghann understand the true meaning of affordability because they live it, raising families, coaching teams, and supporting neighbors who are feeling the strain of rising costs,” said Somerset County Commissioner Paul Drake, a former Hillsborough Township Committee member. “I’m honored to share the ballot with such high-caliber leaders as I run for reelection this year.”