Skip to content

Take Five: Rep. Mike Coffman

Back home, Coffman tours the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus in Aurora. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call File Photo)
Back home, Coffman tours the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus in Aurora. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

It’s time again for Take Five, when HOH talks with a member of Congress about topics relatively unrelated to legislative work.

This week, Rep. Mike Coffman, R–Colo., talks about the Super Bowl 50 champion Denver Broncos, skiing in central Europe and Rocky Mountain oysters.

Q: Who is your favorite player on the Denver Broncos?

A: Peyton Manning. A couple years ago, I met him and I think that I was just so impressed with him, how humble he was. I think he’s a good person, a great role model. It was at a fundraising breakfast for Boy Scouts of America, he was the keynote speaker. That’s where I had the opportunity to meet him. I don’t think he will play another season with this last game being the Super Bowl. In Colorado, [former Broncos quarterback] John Elway had two Super Bowl wins in 1997 and 1998. I think back to back is really hard to do, particularly in the way the NFL does the draft, they try and equalize things. Given the fact that Manning’s 39 years old, I think he’d be wise to retire. Talk about stepping out on such a high note.

Q: Where and with whom did you watch the Super Bowl on Sunday?

A: With family, back in Colorado.

Q: If you could be any profession other than a politician, what would you be?

A: I love my past two professions before I came here. I was in the Marine Corps, but I think I’m too old for that. And I was a small business owner. I love that, being an entrepreneur. If I could go back, I think I would go back to either one of those. I had a property management business that I started from scratch in 1983 and I sold it in 2000.

Q: Do you ski, and if so, when did you learn?

A: Even though I lived in Colorado growing up, I really didn’t get into skiing actually until I was in the United States Army. I joined the Army when I was 17 years old and I think when I was about 18 I was on the border of [the former] Czechoslovakia. And, we drew names out of a helmet to go away there for a week and I drew the winning number. And I got to learn how to do recreational skiing there. When I came back home and went to the University of Colorado, I got into skiing pretty heavily. I now like skiing in Vail.

Q: What is your favorite local Colorado food?

A: Rocky Mountain oysters, usually at a bar. It’s something we do back home; it’s kind of hard to explain. [Editor’s note: Rocky Mountain oysters are fried bull, pig or sheep testicles.]

Contact Gangitano at 


AlexGangitano@cqrollcall.com


 and follow her on Twitter at 


@AlexGangitano

Related:


See photos, follies, HOH Hits and Misses and more at Roll Call’s new video site.


Get breaking news alerts and more from Roll Call in your inbox or on your iPhone.

Recent Stories

Hillraisers and Spam dunks — Congressional Hits and Misses

Federal court dismisses challenge to TikTok ban

Photos of the week ending December 6, 2024

Trump publicly backs embattled DOD pick

Rep. Suzan DelBene will continue as DCCC chair for 2026

Seniority shake-up? House Democrats test committee norms