John Beake, the former Denver Broncos general manager who helped build back-to-back Super Bowl championships in 1998 and 1999, has died, the franchise announced Saturday. He was 87 years old.
No cause of death was provided.
Beake served as Broncos GM from 1985 until 1999, but worked for the team with different titles before and after that tenure. The Penn State graduate first joined the organization as director of pro personnel in 1979 and worked his way up to GM, then took on a new role as vice president of administration after the 1998-99 season.
The Broncos’ statement:
"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. 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."
It was in 1983, during Beake’s time as the director of player personnel, that he was in the room for the trade that would define the Broncos’ next two decades, landing No. 1 overall draft pick John Elway from the Baltimore Colts. Beake downplayed his role in the negotiations, calling himself “a support person.”
Two years later, Beake took over the Broncos front office following the resignation of then-general manager Hein Poulus. Under head coach Dan Reeves, the Broncos proceeded to reach the Super Bowl three times in four years, losing each time.
Reeves was fired in 1992 and was replaced by Wade Phillips, who was succeeded two years later by Mike Shanahan. That hire worked out well.
After his time with the Broncos, Beake took on an executive role with the ill-fated NFL Europe until his retirement in 2004. He remained connected to the Broncos organization in retirement.
Before landing in Denver, Beake served as an offensive backfield coach for the Kansas City Chiefs and New Orleans Saints. In total, he worked in some sort of NFL role for 35 years, interrupted only by a single-season stint as offensive coordinator at Colorado State.