FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NFL-69                     11/1/00

JOHN BEAKE, a veteran administrator and personnel director of the Denver Broncos, has been appointed NFL Vice President of Player Development and Managing Director for NFL/NFL Europe League Football Operations, NFL Commissioner PAUL TAGLIABUE announced today.

Beake, who has coached on the NFL, collegiate and high school level, will assume his responsibilities immediately when he travels this week to London, England to participate in NFL Europe League football meetings.

"The hiring of John Beake is particularly timely," said Commissioner Tagliabue. "The NFL Europe teams are gearing up for the 2001 season with their London meetings this week. John will expand the work that he has handled out of Denver for several years regarding Europe and now will take complete responsibility for NFL-NFL Europe football operations. We expect him to work closely with NFL teams here and to supervise the six Europe League head coaches overseas. He will have broad responsibilities on both sides of the Atlantic."

Beake will assume the NFL Europe League football responsibilities handled last season by Bill Peterson, who resigned last week as NFL Europe League President. In addition, a managing director for NFL Europe business operations, based in London, will be named in the near future.

"John Beake will always be part of the Denver Broncos family", team owner PAT BOWLEN said, "When Commissioner Tagliabue asked for permission to speak to him regarding this dual position in New York and Europe, I had mixed emotions about encouraging John to take it. He has been a major asset to our organization for more than two decades. However, both he and I have been very committed to taking the NFL message to Europe. Now, John will do it on a full-time basis. We wish him only the best."

Beake, celebrating his 32nd NFL season and 41st overall season working in the sport, was in his 23rd campaign with the Broncos. During his tenure, the Broncos made five Super Bowl appearances (including victories in Super Bowls XXXII and XXXIII), won six division titles and made the playoffs in eight seasons.

In addition, John is the only upper level administrator in NFL history to earn a Super Bowl ring as an administrator and a coach. Beake was the running backs coach for HANK STRAM’s Kansas City Chiefs when they defeated the Minnesota Vikings in Super Bowl IV.

In 1991, Beake was named to the Board of Directors of the World League of American Football, now NFL Europe. NFL Europe is the only sports league outside American with the financial support of a professional sport in the United States.

Beake has coached on every level of the sport. He began his coaching career at Nyack (NY) High School where his teams lost only four games in six seasons. On the college level, he coached at Penn State and Colorado State. He joined the Broncos in 1979 as Director of Pro Personnel and became General Manager in 1985. He was named Vice President of Administration in 1999.