Sports · American Football · 46 mins ago
Former Denver Broncos general manager John Beake dies at 87
Former Denver Broncos general manager John Beake has died at 87, the team said.
He spent more than two decades with Denver, including 14 years as the team's general manager.
During his time there, the Broncos reached five Super Bowls and won two championships.
Beake also won a Super Bowl as a coach with the Kansas City Chiefs and worked in football for more than four decades.
He is credited with helping Denver trade for quarterback John Elway in 1983; Elway later became the winningest quarterback in franchise history.
No cause of death has been announced, and the team paid tribute to his lasting impact on the organization.
John Beake, a longtime Denver Broncos executive and former general manager, has died at 87, the team announced on Saturday.
Beake spent more than two decades with the Broncos and led the team as general manager from 1984 to 1998, according to Pro Football Rumors.
During his tenure, Denver reached five Super Bowls and won championships in the 1997 and 1998 seasons.
Beake was among the Broncos staff involved in acquiring quarterback John Elway in a trade.
The sources differ on the length of his general-manager tenure: Pro Football Rumors says 15 years, while the Daily Mail says 14.
- Who
- John Beake, a former Denver Broncos general manager and NFL executive, died at 87.
- What
- The Broncos announced his death.
- When
- The team announced it on Saturday, October 17, 2026.
- Where
- Not stated.
- Why
- Not stated.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Beake joined the Broncos’ front office as pro personnel director.
Beake was credited with helping the Broncos trade for John Elway.
Beake served as the Broncos’ general manager, according to Pro Football Rumors.
The Broncos won championships during Beake’s general-manager tenure.
The Broncos announced Beake’s death.
- Age at death
- 87
- Broncos front-office start
- 1979
- General-manager tenure
- 1984–1998, according to Pro Football Rumors
- Super Bowl appearances with Denver
- 5
- Broncos championships
- 1997 and 1998
- Broncos record under Beake
- 152-86-1 regular season; 14-7 playoffs
2 sources
What people are saying
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
Our deepest condolences are with his wife, Marcia, his sons, Chip and Chris, and the entire Beake family
pivotal figure in the franchise's history