--- title: 2025 Broncos Playoffs - Climb Higher | 8th Hashtag Sports Awards description: Global awards recognizing excellence in fan engagement and celebrating creativity across sports marketing, media & entertainment image: https://www.hashtagsports.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Assets-AF-2025/EbBvBboO-Q4Ku69gKFM-file.jpg --- 2025 Broncos Playoffs - Climb Higher | 8th Hashtag Sports Awards [The 8th Annual Awards](https://www.hashtagsports.com/awards/shortlist-2026?hsLang=en) # 2025 Broncos Playoffs - Climb Higher [Denver Broncos](https://www.denverbroncos.com) ![trophy-icon-silver](https://www.hashtagsports.com/hubfs/brand/trophy-icon-silver.svg) Fan's Voice Winner - Best Integrated Campaign ![Image](https://www.hashtagsports.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Assets-AF-2025/EbBvBboO-Q4Ku69gKFM-file.jpg?width=1920&height=1080&name=EbBvBboO-Q4Ku69gKFM-file.jpg) Share [** ](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.hashtagsports.com%2Fawards%2Fshortlist-2026%2F2025-broncos-playoffs-climb-higher) [** ](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.hashtagsports.com%2Fawards%2Fshortlist-2026%2F2025-broncos-playoffs-climb-higher&text=2025+Broncos+Playoffs+-+Climb+Higher+%7C+8th+Hashtag+Sports+Awards) [** ](https://www.linkedin.com/sharing/share-offsite/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.hashtagsports.com%2Fawards%2Fshortlist-2026%2F2025-broncos-playoffs-climb-higher) ABOUT THIS ENTRY We developed a fresh postseason creative look anchored by the rallying cry Climb Higher; a message meant to inspire players on the field, fans in the stands and Broncos Country far and wide. Every element leaned into upward movement: elevated compositions, rising textures, amplified gradients, and player photography that felt intense, raw, and focused. The campaign was crafted to visually mirror the psychological climb of postseason football. ![Image](https://www.hashtagsports.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Assets-AF-2025/EbBvBboO-Q4Ku69gKFM-file.jpg?width=1920&height=1080&name=EbBvBboO-Q4Ku69gKFM-file.jpg) How does this represent "Excellence in Engagement"? The *Climb Higher* playoff campaign sets a new benchmark for fan engagement by transforming a postseason push into a region‑wide movement. Instead of relying solely on hype content, the campaign created a fully integrated visual and emotional ecosystem; one that connected social media, in‑stadium energy, city infrastructure, and community rallies under a single inspirational narrative. The unified system allowed fans to experience the postseason build‑up everywhere they went, turning the climb toward the playoffs into a shared cultural moment. By grounding the creative in Denver’s altitude identity and translating “thin air” into a metaphor for elevated performance the campaign introduced a fresh model for how teams can use local identity to build postseason momentum. This work moves the industry forward by demonstrating how integrated design, consistent messaging, and community activation can become competitive advantages. It inspires future sports campaigns to think beyond one‑off playoff graphics and toward cohesive, multi‑layered storytelling that brings entire regions into the journey. *Climb Higher* proves that postseason campaigns can be more than hype. They can be a unifying force that strengthens home‑field advantage and deepens fan connection on every platform. Objective The Broncos 2025 playoff campaign was designed to rally an entire region behind a postseason push that energized fans, celebrated a hard-earned division title and the No. 1 overall seed and created unified momentum heading into the NFL Playoffs. Fans want to celebrate the journey that got the team there, but they also want an emotional spark that signals something bigger is ahead. Our insight was to use Denver’s unique altitude identity as a metaphor for postseason ambition and home-field advantage. The higher you go, the thinner the air — and the stronger the advantage. Strategy & Execution We developed a fresh postseason creative look anchored by the rallying cry Climb Higher; a message meant to inspire players on the field, fans in the stands and Broncos Country far and wide. Every element leaned into upward movement: elevated compositions, rising textures, amplified gradients, and player photography that felt intense, raw, and focused. The campaign was crafted to visually mirror the psychological climb of postseason football. **Integrated Execution** - Social Media: Bold graphics, vertical animations, countdowns, and hype moments carrying the Climb Higher visual system. - In‑Stadium / Videoboard: Full playoff takeover with motion graphics, guest features, and atmospheric visuals emphasizing elevation and intensity. - City‑Wide Activations: Outdoor placements, civic displays, and community touchpoints that extended the campaign beyond gameday. - School & Fan Rallies: Mobile assets, banners, posters and rally materials that brought the Climb Higher message directly into Downtown Denver, classrooms and local fan hubs. ** Nominations ** - Best Integrated Campaign **Organizations** - Denver Broncos **Featured** - Aqib Talib - Peyton Manning - T.J. Ward **Credits** **[ Hailey Sullivan](https://www.linkedin.com/in/haileywusullivan) ** Chief Marketing Officer Denver Broncos **[ Erich Schubert](https://www.linkedin.com/in/erich-schubert-42662a14) ** Vice President, Communications & Content Denver Broncos **[ Whitney Hallock](https://www.linkedin.com/in/whitneyhallock) ** Sr. Director of Marketing Denver Broncos **[ Kevin Johnson](https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinjohnson0122) ** Creative Director Denver Broncos **[ Liz Coates](https://www.linkedin.com/in/lizcoates) ** Director of Game Entertainment Denver Broncos **[ Julian Mijares](https://www.linkedin.com/in/julian-mijares-05a204195) ** Art Direction/Design Denver Broncos **[ Parker Albin](https://www.linkedin.com/in/parker-albin-6a9059201) ** Art Direction/Design Denver Broncos **[ Fatima Knight](https://www.linkedin.com/in/fatima-knight-886936151) ** Art Direction/Design Denver Broncos **[ Dan Probst](https://www.linkedin.com/in/dan-probst-b8777994) ** Motion Graphics Denver Broncos **[ Tori Boykins](https://www.linkedin.com/in/toriboykins) ** Digital Design Manager Denver Broncos **[ Maddie Graham](https://www.linkedin.com/in/madisongraham-ux-ui-designer-denverbroncos/) ** UX/UI Designer Denver Broncos **[ Eric Allsopp](https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericallsopp) ** Sr. Graphic Designer Denver Broncos **[ Jamie Vaci](https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamiekingston2018) ** Creative Project Manager Denver Broncos **[ Austin Brink](https://www.linkedin.com/in/austin-brink-58252845) ** Director of Video Production Denver Broncos **[ Nick Young](https://www.linkedin.com/in/nick-young-00570b18) ** Manager of Strategic Productions Denver Broncos **[ Aaron Gunning](https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaron-s-gunning-4135924b) ** Content Producer/Editor Denver Broncos **[ Ike Enriquez](https://www.linkedin.com/in/ike-enriquez-1a8745196) ** Social Video Producer Denver Broncos **[ Jalen Bell](https://www.linkedin.com/in/jalen-bell-39981122a) ** Social Video Coordinator Denver Broncos **[ Caroline Deisley](https://www.linkedin.com/in/caroline-deisley-13a27969) ** Director of Social Media Denver Broncos **[ Kate Connors](https://www.linkedin.com/in/kate-connors) ** Social Media Programming Manager Denver Broncos **[ Aaron Fabis](https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaron-fabis-066214224) ** Manager of Thundervision Content & Production Denver Broncos **[ Josh Nevins](https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshua-nevins-03387786) ** Motion Graphics Producer Denver Broncos **[ Simon Clark](https://www.linkedin.com/in/simon-clark-ba2796255/?lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_search_srp_people%3BDrP4KK2NR9Co22oTMXlfAQ%3D%3D) ** Live Production & Graphics Coordinator Denver Broncos **[ Gabriel Christus](https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabriel-christus-406609192) ** Team Photographer Denver Broncos **[ Ben Swanson](https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-swanson-3258b638) ** Manager of Photography & Digital Assets Denver Broncos **[ Michael Agado](https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-agado-a88672140) ** Marketing Manager Denver Broncos **[ Bobby Strachan](https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-strachan-468b62159) ** Marketing Manager Denver Broncos **[ Javier Flores](https://www.linkedin.com/in/javierflores2024) ** Multicultural Marketing Coodinator Denver Broncos **[ Brad Post](https://www.linkedin.com/in/brad-post-35a79610) ** Mascot Coordinator Denver Broncos #### INSPIRED TO ENTER WORK? 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