Beake, GM of Broncos’ back-to-back Super Bowl teams, dies at 87

Former Denver Broncos general manager and longtime front office executive John Beake has died at the age of 87, the team announced on Saturday. His family confirmed his death, though no cause was provided. Beake spent over two decades with the franchise, helping guide the Broncos to five Super Bowl appearances and back-to-back championships in Super Bowl XXXII and XXXIII.

Beake initially joined the Broncos organization in 1979 and became general manager in 1983, when he engineered the landmark trade with the Baltimore Colts for Hall of Fame quarterback John Elway. He later served as the team's vice president of administration before working in player development for the NFL league office and NFL Europe.