Broncos' GM Search 2021: Everything you need to know about the candidates

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — The search to find John Elway’s replacement as the next general manager of the Denver Broncos is underway.

Elway, Joe Ellis, Vic Fangio and Patrick Smyth—the four members of the Broncos that are leading the charge—are in the process of finding the next person who will have the final say on Denver’s draft, free agency and 53-man roster.

Here are the candidates and the up-to-date information on where the Broncos’ general manager search stands.

Most recent updates

Wednesday, Jan. 12

• The Broncos are finalizing a six-year contract for George Paton to become their next general manger, according to Adam Schefter.

Tuesday, Jan. 12

• Terry Fontenot had his second virtual interview with the Broncos Tuesday morning, according to Ian Rapoport.
• George Paton landed in Denver and had an in-person interview with the Broncos Tuesday afternoon.
• George Paton is flying to Denver on Tuesday to meet with the Broncos’ search committee in person, according to Adam Schefter. The Vikings’ assistant general manager and vice president of player personnel will be the first person to have an in-person interview with Denver.
• Terry Fontenot will have a second interview with the team on Tuesday, a source confirmed to DNVR. Fontenot’s second interview, however, will be virtual as he is not allowed to have in-person interviews since the New Orleans Saints are still in the playoffs.

Monday, Jan. 11

• The search committee is in the process of deciding whether to do a second round of interviews with their initial candidates or expand their search to include more candidates, according to Brandon Krisztal.

Sunday, Jan. 10

• Dave Ziegler has withdrawn his name from Denver’s search as he is committing to New England, according to Ian Rapoport.
• The Broncos interviewed Brian Stark virtually on Sunday.

Saturday, Jan. 9

• The team will interview Brian Stark virtually on Sunday.
• Denver interviewed Dave Ziegler and Terry Fontenot virtually on Saturday.

Friday, Jan. 8

• Ellis, Elway, Fangio and Smyth interviewed George Paton and Champ Kelly virtually on Friday.

Thursday, Jan. 7

• Champ Kelly will interview with the team on Friday, per Ian Rapoport.
• The Broncos will interview Champ Kelly and George Paton on Friday and Terry Fontenot, Dave Ziegler and Brian Stark on Saturday, per Mike Klis.

MEET THE BRONCOS’ NEW GENERAL MANAGER

George Paton — HIRED

Current position: Vikings’ assistant general manager and vice president of player personnel.

Current candidacy status: Hired to be the Broncos’ next general manager with a six-year contract. Paton had his second interview, and his first in-person interview, with the Broncos in Denver on Tuesday afternoon. Paton had his first interview with the team virtually on Friday.

Connection with Broncos: Rob Paton, George’s nephew, is a college/pro scout with the Broncos.

Connection with Vic Fangio: N/A

Interviews with other teams: Paton interviewed with the Lions on Wednesday. Falcons and Panthers also reportedly have interest in him. Paton withdrew from the Browns’ general manager opening last year after it was believed he was a frontrunner.

Resume

• Assistant general manager and vice president of player personnel
  • Minnesota Vikings
  • 2007-present

• Director of pro personnel
  • Miami Dolphins
  • 2001-2006
• Assistant director of pro personnel
  • Chicago Bears
  • 2000
• College and pro scouting department
  • Chicago Bears

MEET THE OTHER CANDIDATES

Champ Kelly

Current position: Bears’ assistant director of player personnel.

Current candidacy status: Kelly had a virtual interview with the Broncos on Friday.

Connection with Broncos: Kelly entered the NFL with the Broncos and worked under three different general managers during his eight years with the team from 2007-2014. His final four years in Denver, as the assistant director of pro personnel, were spent with Elway.

Connection with Vic Fangio: During Fangio’s four years as the Bears’ defensive coordinator, Kelly was in Chicago’s front office. The first two years, from 2015-2016, Kelly was the team’s director of pro scouting. In 2017, Kelly was promoted to Chicago’s assistant director of player personnel. Fangio became the Broncos’ head coach following the 2018 season.

Interviews with other teams: Kelly interviewed with the Panthers on Thursday.

Resume

• Assistant director of player personnel
  • Chicago Bears
  •  2017-present
• Director of pro scouting
  • Chicago Bears
  •  2015-2016
• Assistant director of pro personnel
  • Denver Broncos
  • 2010-2014
•  Assistant director of pro personnel
  • Denver Broncos
  • 2008-2009
• College scout
  • Denver Broncos
  • 2007
• General manager and wide receivers coach
  • Lexington Horsemen (United Indoor Football league)
  • 2007

Terry Fontenot

Current position: Saints’ assistant general manager and vice president of pro personnel.

Current candidacy status: Fontenot had his second virtual interview with the Broncos’ search committee Tuesday morning. He is not allowed to have in-person interviews until the Saints are eliminated from the playoffs. Fontenot had his first virtual interview with the Broncos on Saturday.

Connection with Broncos: N/A

Connection with Vic Fangio: N/A

Interviews with other teams: Fontenot completed an interview with the Falcons and Lions. The Jaguars have also requested to interview the long-time Saints executive.

Resume

• Assistant general manager and vice president of pro personnel
  • New Orleans Saints
  • 2015-present
• Pro scout
  • New Orleans Saints
  • 2008-2014
• Pro scout assistant
  • New Orleans Saints
• Player personnel assistant
  • New Orleans Saints

Brian Stark

Current position: Broncos’ director of college scouting.

Current candidacy status: Stark had a virtual interview with the Broncos on Sunday.

Connection with Broncos: Stark has been with Denver since 2012 when he joined the organization as their west coast scout. He held that role for three seasons before becoming the western scout in 2015. The following year, he was promoted to national scout before landing the position he currently holds, which he’s had since 2017. He has been in Elway’s personnel staff his entire time with the Broncos and is highly-viewed within the organization.

Connection with Vic Fangio: Stark has been the team’s director of college scouting the entire time Fangio has been Denver’s head coach. Fangio and Stark have worked together in Denver for two full seasons.

Interviews with other teams: N/A

Resume

• Director of college scouting
  • Denver Broncos
  • 2017-present
• National scout
  • Denver Broncos
  • 2016
• Western Scout
  • Denver Broncos
  • 2015
• West Coast scout
  • Denver Broncos
  • 2012-2014
• Offensive coordinator
  • Yale University
  • 2009-2011

Dave Ziegler — OUT

Current position: Patriots’ assistant director of player personnel.

Current candidacy status: Ziegler withdrew his name from Denver’s search on Sunday as he will remain in New England. He interviewed with the Broncos on Saturday.

Connection with Broncos: Much like Kelly, Ziegler entered the NFL with the Broncos. Before leaving for New England, Ziegler was with the Broncos from 2010-2012, including two years working with Elway.

Connection with Vic Fangio: N/A

Interviews with other teams: Ziegler is thought to be a potential natural replacement for Nick Caserio as the Patriots’ top personnel executive after Caserio became the Texans’ general manager.

Resume

• Assistant director of player personnel
  • New England Patriots
  • 2020-present
• Director of pro personnel
  • New England Patriots
  • 2016-2019
• Assistant director of pro scouting
  • New England Patriots
  • 2013-2015
• Broncos’ scouting department
  • 2010-2012

Other potential candidates to keep an eye on

• Adam Peters, 49ers’ vice president of player personnel
• John Spytek, Buccaneers’ director of player personnel
• Rick Smith, former Texans’ executive vice president of football operations
• Thomas Dimitroff, former Falcons’ general manager