The Broncos have been busy adding to their front office in recent days. Earlier this week, the organization announced that they’ve hired Kelly Kleine as Executive Director of Football Operations/Special Advisor to the General Manager and Roman Phifer as Senior Personnel Executive.
In her new role, Kleine is expected to be involved in every aspect of the organization’s day-to-day operations, especially in regards to pro and college scouting. She will also be “the primary liaison for the team’s football operations,” and she’ll oversee the video and equipment departments. As the team website notes, Kleine is believed to be the “highest ranking female in scouting in the history of the league.”
Kleine had spent the previous 10 years with the Vikings, including the past two as Manager of Player Personnel/College. Albert Breer of SI.com writes that Vikings GM Rick Spielman wanted to retain Kleine, but the opportunity was too good to reject. In Denver, she will report directly to George Paton, with the two having previously worked alongside each other during their stints in Minnesota. Tory Renck of Denver7 tweets that the GM had been looking to hire Klein since January.
Phifer won three Super Bowls during a 15-year NFL career. Following his retirement, he spent some time as a Broncos coach before joining UCLA as the football program’s director of player development. Phifer had been with the Detroit Lions since 2018, serving as the team’s West Coast Area Scout. In Denver, the 53-year-old is expected to split his time between Denver and the road.