Broncos mourn passing of former GM and two-time Super Bowl champion John Beake

John Beake, who helped build multiple Denver championship-caliber teams and served as Broncos general manager through the franchise’s Super Bowl XXXII and XXXIII victories, died at age 87, the team announced.

By The Apex Times Newsroom2 min readAI-assisted Apex article

The Denver Broncos announced the passing of longtime executive and former general manager John Beake, who died at age 87. Beake was credited by the team with helping guide the organization to five Super Bowl appearances and back-to-back world championships.

Beake served as the Broncos’ general manager for 14 years, a span that included Denver’s Super Bowl XXXII and XXXIII titles. The team said he also helped shape the front office during three additional Super Bowl appearances in the 1980s.

According to the Broncos, Beake began his 22-year run with the organization in 1979, holding multiple personnel roles before taking over as general manager. During his tenure, Denver won seven division titles and made 12 playoff appearances.

The team said Beake played a role in acquiring quarterback John Elway, helping complete a trade in 1983 for the future Hall of Famer who became the franchise’s winningest quarterback.

After leaving Denver in 2000, Beake transitioned into a Broncos vice president role and later worked in NFL leadership, including a stint as vice president of player development and managing director of NFL Europe’s football operations. The team also noted he remained involved in Broncos football through the organization’s Ring of Fame committee.

Earlier in his career, Beake coached in the NFL for both the Kansas City Chiefs (1968-74) and New Orleans Saints (1976-77) as an offensive assistant under Hank Stram. The Broncos said he also coached at Colorado State University for one season, and held roles in high school football and basketball, including leading Nyack (N.Y.) High School to three league championships.

Beake is survived by his wife, Marcia, his sons Chip and Chris, and multiple grandchildren, and was preceded in death by his daughter, Jerilyn, according to the team’s announcement.

Why It Matters

Beake’s front-office leadership defined one of the Broncos’ most successful eras, tying directly to the franchise’s two most recent Super Bowl titles under the team’s long-running power structure.
The passing of a central personnel architect underscores how the Broncos’ modern identity was shaped as much in the front office as on the field.
For franchise history, Beake’s work links the Broncos’ championship run to earlier roster-building decisions, including the Elway trade the team highlighted.
His NFL and player-development roles beyond Denver reflect the long reach of his personnel philosophy across the league, not only within Broncos operations.

Sources

Key Facts

John Beake died at age 87, according to a statement from the Denver Broncos.
Beake served as Broncos general manager for 14 years and was credited with guiding the team to Super Bowl XXXII and XXXIII championships.
The Broncos said Beake’s tenure included five Super Bowl appearances overall, seven division titles, and 12 playoff appearances.
The team said Beake helped engineer the 1983 trade for quarterback John Elway.
Before and after his general manager role, Beake held multiple Broncos and NFL leadership positions, including NFL Europe operations work.
The Broncos also said Beake remained active with the franchise through its Ring of Fame committee after retiring from his Denver role.