Broncos triumvirate Greg Penner, George Paton and Sean Payton will be joined at the leadership positively beyond 2026, most probably past 2030, perhaps to the completion of Mile High Stadium III and possibly even after Cherry Creek runs dry.

General manager Paton, who turned 56 Tuesday, has just signed a five-year contract extension; head coach Payton, who will be 63 Dec. 29, is in the fourth season of a five-year agreement; and CEO Penner, whose 57th birthday is Dec. 18, could have a lifetime pact to own the franchise.

The three P’s in the pod aren’t going anywhere soon or later.

Except they certainly wish to go to one, two, three or more Super Bowls, maybe even one eventually in a Denver stadium.

Paton’s salary was not revealed, but he will be receiving approximately $20 million overall because of the leverage he gained when his former team, the Vikings, became very attentive. Payton has a $90 million contract, and Penner’s financial worth is valued at more than $3 billion.

Their quarterback, Bo Nix, will receive a total of $5.07 million in base pay, the annual prorated signing amount and roster bonus in 2026. Maybe he will still be with The Big Three Bosses for years and secure a billion Broncos bucks – if ankle controversy and the tacky coaching connection are cleaned up.

Meanwhile, Paton deserved an extended employment and an expensive raise.

But, after his first two or three seasons (2021-2023) in Denver it seemed the football fanatic who started his pro career as a scouting subordinate with the Bears in 1997 might be back sleeping on a sofa.

He hired dipstick Nathaniel Hackett as coach and brought in busted quarterback Russell Wilson in one of the most preposterous trades ever, then signed him to a Count of Monte Cristo treasure. By George, he also gave free agent waste Randy Gregory a fortune.

I was among the masses who believed he should be canned like potted meat.

However, Paton saved himself by drafting Patrick Surtain II, Quinn Meinerz, Jonathon Cooper, Nik Bonitto and all five picks in 2023 that remain with the team. He had serious help from coach Payton (who chose Nix and a plethora of veteran free agents), owners willing to spend a cornucopia of coinage and scouts who uncovered undrafted free agents. When the Broncos reached the playoffs in back-to-back seasons Paton had become an elitist executive instead of “GP manque GM.” He has recently traded for ace wide receiver Jaylen Waddle and drafted deftly. Paton and Associates are responsible for 40 players on the current roster.

Paton has ascended to one of the top six general managers among the 14 in the Broncos’ history since 1960.

Dean Griffing, the franchise’s first GM, made his mark as a player for the Toronto Balmy Beach Beachers. He drafted Broncos (including five quarterbacks who never played in the AFL) from football magazines, bought mustard-and-brown uniforms and vertically striped socks from a defunct college bowl and fought a fan in the stands over a football. Jack Faulkner took over as GM-coach in the third season, burned the uniforms in a bonfire and had a ghastly 4-22-2 record in 1963-64. Fred Gehrke, mostly known for personally painting logos on NFL helmets, was the general manager twice and the first to guide the Broncos to a Super Bowl in 1977. GM-coach Lou Saban taught the Broncos how to be professionals, but also said after a tie that “half a loaf is better than none.’

John Ralston was an outstanding judge of college talent, but couldn’t coach pros and was victim of mutiny on the Broncos. Former player Grady Alderman, who had no front office capability, was fired. Hein Poulus was a Dutch-Canadian attorney who never had witnessed a football game when he was named GM. He didn’t survive for a year, but John Elway was acquired in a trade by owner Edgar Kaiser Jr., and Hein did negotiate the settlement.

Former Broncos’ assistant coach John Beake was the team’s most successful GM from 1984-1998 under Pat Bowlen with Dan Reeves and Mike Shanahan as the Broncos played in five Super Bowls and won two.

Neal Dahlen, Ted Sundquist, Jim Goodman and Brian Xanders were in quasi-power for 11 seasons without a title.

The Broncos’ greatest player, John Elway, returned as general manager, vice president and president for 10 seasons and led the Broncos to signing Peyton Manning and playing in two Super Bowls, winning one.

Elway, Gehrke and Beake were the best of the bunch.

Then Paton was picked.

Penner, Payton and Paton must forge their legacy.