Ex-Broncos GM John Beake, who helped team win two Super Bowls, dies at 87

In 22 seasons with the Denver Broncos serving in various roles in their player-personnel department, John Beake saw virtually everything.

Ownership changes — two of them, to be exact. Five trips to the Super Bowl — including the team’s first two world championships in 1997 and 1998. The trade for John Elway and the entire length of No. 7’s 16-season playing career. And the transformation of the Broncos organization from something of a mom-and-pop shop under the direction of Gerald and Allan Phipps to a top-flight organization that was set to move into the then-new stadium now known as Empower Field at Mile High.

Beake, who died recently at the age of 87, experienced it all.

His years with the team were highlighted by a 14-season run as general manager from 1985-98. Five of those campaigns ended in the Super Bowl, including wins in Super Bowls XXXII and XXXII. On his watch, the Broncos endured just two losing seasons, made the postseason eight times and won at least 10 games on eight separate occasions.

Beake first joined the club in 1979 as the team’s director of pro personnel. He was promoted to director of player personnel in 1981, then after the purchase of the team by Pat Bowlen, served as assistant general manager for a season. In 1985, he moved up to the GM slot.

Bowlen operated under the strong-head-coach philosophy, so Beake was typically working under a head coach who had final say on personnel. But he handled contracts and helped successfully navigate the transition into the salary-cap and free-agent era.

He concluded his career with the Broncos by serving two seasons (1999-2000) as the team’s vice president of administration.

BEAKE’S CAREER BEYOND THE BRONCOS REFLECTED A FOOTBALL LIFE WELL-LIVED

After serving as a graduate assistant at Penn State in 1962, Beake got his start working five seasons in the high-school ranks in the state of New York. In 1968, he got his big break, joining Hank Stram’s staff in Kansas City as the Chiefs’ offensive-backfield coach. In his second season, Beake earned his first Super Bowl ring.

Beake remained with the Chiefs for seven seasons before serving a year as Colorado State’s offensive coordinator in 1975. He returned to the NFL in 1976, joining Stram’s New Orleans Saints staff as backfield coach for two seasons. Beake then joined the Broncos in 1979.

Beake then left the Broncos in 2001 to help run NFL Europe, the league’s developmental circuit. He served as the league’s managing director of football operations. Beake worked there from 2001 through early 2004 before retiring.

Following the end of his full-time career, Beake served on the Broncos Ring of Fame selection committee.

“The Broncos are saddened by the passing of longtime executive John Beake, who made an enduring impact on our organization during more than two decades with the team,” the Broncos organization said in a statement.

“John helped guide the Broncos to five Super Bowl appearances, including back-to-back World Championships, and was a respected leader throughout one of the most successful eras in franchise history. Following his time in Denver, he remained an influential figure through his work with the NFL and on the Broncos Ring of Fame Committee. Our deepest condolences are with his wife, Marcia, his sons, Chip and Chris, and the entire Beake family.”

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