Walker Monfort says he wants the Colorado Rockies to look more like the Denver Broncos, Nuggets and Colorado Avalanche.
In a letter sent to season ticket holders Tuesday, Monfort pointed to the Broncos’ strong start and the Nuggets’ and Avalanche’s continued runs as the city’s standard and said his club is working to that bar.
“It’s been fun to see the Broncos off to a strong start and the Nuggets and Avalanche continuing their success,” Monfort wrote. “Like so many of you, we’re cheering them on — and working hard to put the Rockies back in that mix.”
Monfort, the son of owner Dick Monfort and the club’s top business executive, acknowledged seven straight seasons without a playoff berth and called 2025 “especially difficult from a wins and losses standpoint.” The Rockies went a major-league worst 43-119 this year, the franchise’s third 100-loss season in a row during that seven-year skid.
“Our focus is on becoming much more competitive on the field in 2026 and positioning the organization for sustained success,” he wrote. “We’re going to do everything within our means to make that happen.”
It’s a line, ‘sustained success,’ that was echoed through Jeff Bridich’s time running the Rockies. That never happened and he’s long gone and so too is his replacement general manager, Bill Schmidt, who was ousted as the offseason began.
Replacing Schmidt was Monfort first big step: the hiring of Paul DePodesta as president of baseball operations. The Rockies announced the move last week, bringing in the longtime executive best known for his “Moneyball” tenure with the Oakland A’s and most recently a decade as the Cleveland Browns’ chief strategy officer.
“Paul brings 30 years of experience in professional sports and a proven record of problem-solving, value engineering, and a type of visionary leadership that we know will change the course of the Rockies as we continue to build on this new chapter,” Monfort wrote. “His fresh perspective, analytical approach, and deep understanding of team building are exactly what we’ve been seeking.”
The outside hire marks a notable shift for a franchise long criticized for insular decision-making. After a 119-loss season, the Rockies dismissed Schmidt, vowed to look beyond the organization and watched two external finalists — Arizona’s Amiel Sawdaye and Cleveland’s Matt Forman — drop out before turning to DePodesta. It’s the first major baseball move under Walker Monfort’s watch, which began this past summer.
Monfort said the club has taken a “deep dive” into its baseball and business operations in recent months to build a roadmap for consistent winning. He praised the organization’s customer service and fan experience but said on-field improvement is “the biggest priority.”
“Together with Paul, our focus is on making meaningful progress and tangible improvements — both on and off the field,” he wrote. “We’ve already begun that work and look forward to sharing updates with you between now and spring training. It’s bound to be a busy and exciting offseason.”
The Rockies have not reached the postseason since 2018 and have struggled to sustain competitive pitching at altitude. DePodesta, who also has worked for the Dodgers, Padres, Mets and Guardians, is tasked with reshaping a roster and system that bottomed out in 2025.
Monfort closed by thanking fans for “standing with us through another tough season.”
“Your loyalty and passion are the foundation of everything we do,” he wrote. “We’re grateful to have you with us as we move forward.”
Loyalty or whatever is left of it is all the Rockies have with Denver fans, who can turn to the Broncos or Avalanche and their three championships or the Nuggets with their three-time MVP. Meanwhile, the Rockies haven’t won three playoff games since the 2007 Rocktober run.