A former White House Cabinet member will join Broncos’ ownership group

Some have talked about former U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice becoming an NFL commissioner. Being a part owner of an NFL team might be the next best thing.

Monday morning, the Broncos announced that Rice would join the Walton-Penner ownership group that is expected to receive league approval and assume the team’s reins later this summer. Her extensive resume includes a four-year stint as Secretary of State from 2005-09 in the George W. Bush Presidential administration, preceded by four years as National Security Advisor. She also was the provost of Stanford University for six years in the 1990s.

The Walton-Penner Family Ownership Group is pleased to welcome former Secretary of State @CondoleezzaRice to its ownership group.

Statement » pic.twitter.com/yqVHrPhC2M

— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) July 11, 2022

But Rice is also a lifelong sports enthusiast — and a keen and passionate observer of pro football in particular. This led to the Browns’ reported interest in reaching out to her about their head-coaching vacancy in 2018, according to a report by ESPN at the time. Nothing came of it, although last year she joked to Peyton and Eli Manning on a “Manningcast” that she would “never, ever call a prevent defense.”

“I’m really glad to see women in the front offices, (and) in the front office of the NFL as well. That’s a wonderful breakthrough,” she said on the “Manningcast” last year. “I think the next breakthrough is to see if women can find their way into position (coaching jobs) … You’re gonna have to have somebody who goes through that progression … You do not have to have played this game to understand it and coach it well.”

Rice’s ties to Denver date back to 1967, when she was 12 years old and her family moved to the Mile High City. She graduated from St. Mary’s Academy, then earned her bachelor’s degree at the University of Denver. She later returned to DU to earn a doctorate in political science in 1981.

Rice’s Broncos connections also go back to her DU matriculation. She was once engaged to Ring of Fame wide receiver Rick Upchurch before breaking it off.

Now, she’ll be in position to help oversee those who will call the shots.

Rice is the second minority to join the Broncos’ ownership group, joining business executive Mellody Hobson.

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