patrick smythThe Denver Broncos' PR staff won the top PR honor from the Pro Football Writers of America for 2016.

It is the second win of the Pete Rozelle Award in three seasons for the unit, which includes VP of PR Patrick Smyth, senior manager of media relations Erich Schubert, media relations coordinator Seth Medvin and corporate communications manager Rebecca Villaneuva.

Smyth has been with the team for the past 10 years, rising through the ranks from media information coordinator.

Denver's PR team, which guided communications as the team won the Super Bowl, edged PR units of the Arizona Cardinals, Cincinnati Bengals, Miami Dolphins and New York Giants.

ESPN.com Broncos writer Jeff Legwold said, "Uncommon success on the field has not deterred the Broncos handling the day-to-day requests from both national and local media with a high level of professionalism as well as a common sense approach that allowed all involved, on both sides of the interviews, to do their jobs efficiently and effectively."

The award is named for the former NFL commissioner who started out in sports PR.