NEWSLETTER
Champ Kelly’s front office career started in Denver, and it looks like the Broncos are interested in bringing it full circle.
A formal interview request has been made:
Broncos have formally requested interview for their GM opening with Bears assistant director of player personnel Champ Kelly, per source.
Champ spent 8 years in Broncos personnel and 4 years working with Fangio in Chicago. More permission slips to come. #9sports— Mike Klis (@MikeKlis) January 5, 2021
Denver’s Mike Klis reports the Broncos are requesting an interview with Bears Assistant Director of Player Personnel Champ Kelly. The Broncos join the Carolina Panthers as teams to put in official requests to interview the Bears exec for their respective general manager openings. As we discussed earlier, Kelly figures to be a popular candidate and that getting early buzz shouldn’t be a surprising development to Bears fans monitoring the situation. And that a few Denver-based reporters seem to have handicapped the race with Kelly being a lead candidate really drives it home.
Kelly worked in the Broncos front office from 2007-14. He as a college scout in 2007 before finishing as the Assistant Director of Pro Personnel in 2014. After his time in Denver, Kelly joined the Bears in 2015. Since then, he has amassed valuable front office experience in his climb up the ranks. So much so, it’s felt like just a matter of time until he lands at the top of an organization.
I imagine more teams – beyond the Broncos and Panthers – will want to interview Kelly. But if I had to guess right now, it feels like the Broncos gig is his if he wants it. He has familiarity with lead exec John Elway and Head Coach Vic Fangio. It’s basically a perfect fit for all parties. But stay tuned to see what happens with Kelly, as well as potential compensation coming the Bears way.
