Garett Bolles has been on a mission for 14 years.

Bolles was 19 when his father threw him and all possessions to the curb outside their home in Lehi, Utah.

The dad told the son to get a life.

Garett got one. Now he lives and loves life as a long-time partner with his wife Natalie, as the father of a son and two daughters, as a resident of a beautiful home – with a hockey rink and a playground – in suburban Parker, as a 9-year pro football veteran whose current contract guarantees $59 million and could be worth $150 million, as the head of the Broncos’ Quarterback Protection Program at left tackle and as the team’s nominee three days ago, for the second time in three years, to be the recipient of the prestigious Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award.

Bolles was a bad lad who became a great guy.

He must be Tough Stuff Sunday in Las Vegas against Mad Maxx Crosby and the Raiders’ defense.

Once booed unrelentingly by Broncos Backers, nicknamed “Holding No. 72’’ by merciless media and initially denied a fifth-year option deal from franchise executives who had drafted him, Garett is a rare jewel in the crown of an offensive line. He is a popular, solid, strong and smiling player loved by peers, fans and the head coach. And someday he will be the second tackle and only the third lineman in the team’s Ring of Fame.

Garett’s latest mission is to be “Super Bowl Bolles,” which seemed to be an impossible dream from 2017-2023.

While Bolles sat on the sidewalk and cried in 2011 after being banished, he couldn’t dream beyond the end of the critical crossroad.

But, fortuitously, along came Greg Freeman – a coach for Bolles in lacrosse, not football – who stopped his car when he saw the strewn of clothing and the teenager with his head in his hands. Freeman called his wife Emily, and they agreed to add Bolles to their family of six – with stipulations: He had to attend the Mormon church each Sunday; he couldn’t be with his miscreant buddies; there would be a strict curfew, and he was to give up his cell phone nightly.

Greg also gave the mixed-up young man a job at his garage door opener repair shop. Bolles was on the way to an eventual good life.

***

Before mid-March of 2017 Bolles and I never heard of each other. Our fascinating telephone conversation lasted for 2½ hours.

Bolles told me he was going nowhere until being persuaded to do a Mormon Mission. He was going somewhere — Colorado Springs and Douglas County. “I fell in love with Colorado and the people, and hope to come back and play for the Broncos there,’’ he said.

The NFL draft was the next month.

The Bolles Folder has become storybook. He cut the Mission short. Later, it was suggested the 6-foot-5, 290-pound ex-fourth grade running back, who was suspended in high school from the team because he vandalized an opponents’ field and was arrested, try college football. He’d had a troubled youth associated with alcohol, drugs and authority issues while moving nine times and changing schools regularly. BYU coaches assisted Bolles in receiving the last scholarship at Snow Junior College. He became the JC player of the year, had a 3.5 grade-point average and was recruited by 20 national powers, including eight in the SEC. He turned down Nick Saban’s Alabama offer and took Utah’s.

The torrid, temperamental tackle led college football in penalties, but led himself into being a potential high draft choice.

After the talk, film study and research, I recommended the Broncos pick Bolles with the 20th choice. They desperately needed a left tackle.

The Broncos selected Bolles despite an unsavory background, a lack of playing experience (13 games with the Utes), his age (oldest player in the draft at 25) and the penalty problems.

Of the 14 tackles drafted in ’17, only three remain in the league, and two are backups. Bolles overcame his holding penalty difficulties (20 in first three years, only 18 in six seasons since). He has started all games in five of nine seasons. A broken leg limited Garett to only five games in ’22.

He hasn’t allowed a sack this season, is in the top 10 offensive tackle statistics in five categories and is a most worthy candidate for the NFL’s charity and community leader of 2025.

And Garett Bolles’ Super Bowl mission is possible.