Immediately after officially taking ownership of the Denver Broncos, the Walton-Penner group set their sights on filling the front office. The Walton/Penner Group has done a good job as the first owner in professional sports and surrounded themselves with talented individuals who know sports and football in particular, many with some sort of connection to the state of Colorado.
At today’s press conference, CEO Greg Penner named Damani Leech as the new Broncos team chairman to replace the outgoing Joe Ellis. Penner said Damani “stood out,” while highlighting the organization’s reputation and the talent of its incoming president.
“As we sought to identify a dynamic, forward-thinking and inspirational leader to lead the Broncos into this exciting new chapter,” Penner said in a statement, “Damani stood out from among a number of highly qualified candidates. There was considerable interest in this opportunity with the Broncos.” , which speaks to the reputation of this organization and Damani’s strong references.
“Damani is highly regarded in the National Football League for his leadership, strategic vision and collaborative spirit. As a former college player with leadership experience at both the NFL and NCAA levels, Damani understands the value of teamwork and what it takes to win – on and off the field him. Most importantly, he leads with integrity, empathy and respect. I am confident that Damani will help the Broncos grow in all areas of our business and make our staff, partners and fans proud of this organization.”
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In Leech, the Broncos get a highly regarded executive with 25 years of NCAA and NFL experience, and someone with the drive and ability to lead the team forward as it enters an exciting new era on and off the field. . Fans may be surprised by the lack of a role for franchise icons John Elway and Peyton Manning, but under new ownership, the Broncos have tapped an experienced candidate with impeccable credentials and fresh ideas from outside the organization.
Leech’s hiring follows a press conference held Wednesday at the UCHealth Training Canter, where Rob Walton emphasized the importance of diversity on his staff. Leech’s resume is objectively impressive.
A Princeton graduate with a degree in public policy and international affairs, he also played football for the Tigers. Leech was a three-time All-Ivy League player at safety, was named a third-team All-American and ranks second in school history with 20 career interceptions for the Tigers. He holds a master’s degree in higher education administration from Indiana University Bloomington.
However, Leech had a calling off the court and spent 17 years in the NCAA from 1998-2015. He was first named Associate Director of Membership Services in 1999 and served for nearly four years.
In 2004, Leech was named director of baseball and football, a position he held for nine years, before being named general manager of championships and alliances in 2013. During his time with the NCAA, Leech ‘provided strategic oversight and direction’ for several NCAA championships, including FCS football, baseball, women’s volleyball and men’s ice hockey.
Leech was instrumental in increasing the profile of the FCS playoffs and the College World Series, as well as negotiating contracts with host cities and coordinating committees to ensure the various NCAA events ran smoothly. In 2014, he was named to the Sports Business Journal’s Forty Under 40 list, highlighting successful and emerging association or nonprofit professionals under the age of 40. He also received the NFL Commissioner’s Award for helping launch the Black Engagement Network for the league’s front office in 2018.
After 17 years at NCAA headquarters in Indianapolis, Leech spent nearly seven years in various roles in the NFL, where his star continued to shine. In 2015, he was named vice president of football strategy and business development, and in 2018 he was named senior vice president. of football strategy and business development, with a mandate to develop “strategic priorities for the future of the game, at home and abroad,” through a number of programs and initiatives.
In 2019, Leech was also named Chief Operating Officer of NFL International, where he has been instrumental in growing the game overseas over the past few seasons. He directed and oversaw the launch of the innovative International Home Market Area program, which began in 2021.
Leech was part of a strong push to raise the profile of the sport by promoting flag football at the 2028 Olympics, with a decision expected to be made by the International Olympic Committee later this year. Indeed, integral to NFL International’s strategy is to grow the sport and attract new fans and grow the international side of its operations to $1 billion over the next 10 years, and Leech has been at the forefront of the NFL’s efforts.
However, what Broncos Country should be most excited about are Leech’s own words, with a strong reference to the progressive mindset of the new ownership:
“It is a tremendous honor to join Broncos Country at such an exciting time for one of the premier franchises in all of sports,” Leech said in a statement. “Greg [Penner] and the other partners are visionary leaders and the confidence they have shown in me is deeply humbling. I am excited to support our outstanding ownership, management team and staff on this journey of driving innovation and growth across all areas of the Denver Broncos.”
“With championship history and heritage, the Broncos are a tremendous organization that has a special connection with their fans and community. Having spoken with George Paton during this process, it’s clear that this team is poised for success on and off the field. I Can’t Wait , to work alongside ownership, George, Coach Hackett, players and staff to help this premier franchise reach the next level of greatness.”
Since 2014, Ellis has held the role of General Manager and President of the Broncos and has been with the team for a remarkable 27 seasons in various roles. Perhaps Ellis’ lasting legacy is his careful management of the team at the Pat Bowlen Trust and his instrumental role in handing over the team to the Walton-Penner Group with record sales of any North American sports team.
“When I step down as president & CEO, it has been the honor and privilege of a lifetime to be a part of the Denver Broncos for 27 seasons. I am eternally grateful to our dedicated staff, players and coaches for making this franchise what it is today – one of the best organizations in all of sports,” Ellis said in a statement.
It was later announced that Ellis would have an advisory role with the Broncos’ new ownership group with the team for the 2022 season, further demonstrating the Walton-Penner group’s commitment to surrounding itself with the right people and placing them in the best possible ways. position for success.
The move to get Leech as chairman, however, represents something of a departure for the Broncos in their ownership structure. As president, Leech, along with Paton, will report directly to Penner. Leech will be responsible for the business operations of the Broncos and the stadium management company, which will be charged with the day-to-day running of the stadium.
Leach will also “remain present at both the UCHealth Training Center and Empower Field at Mile High,” with continued responsibilities of working with the Broncos’ ownership group and executive team.
More International Focus?
Given Leech’s background in international football development, it would not be surprising to see the Broncos look to expand their brand internationally and take better advantage of the opportunities available to them with the recent introduction of international domestic marketing zones. In December, the Broncos joined eight other NFL teams in acquiring Mexico as their international home market, and on Oct. To see also : Sean Payton talks about his expected return as an NFL coach. 30, the team will travel to London for the first time in 12 years to face the Jacksonville Jaguars in a week. 8 match abroad.
It could be that under Leech, the Broncos will be more aggressive in emerging markets such as China, Brazil, Ghana and Australia, as well as other regions such as Germany and the UK, but that remains to be seen for now.
While it won’t be immediate, the possibility of losing home games with international games may upset some in Broncos Country. It’s often a delicate situation to navigate with a fan base, but with longer seasons in the NFL and new marketing opportunities overseas, this is an opportunity for Broncos Country to grow and more people from around the world to fall in love with the sport of American football and find redemption in their fandom with the greatest team everyone, Broncos.
The team has to adapt to the challenges and opportunities presented by the international market and it is felt that this is an area that was neglected in the previous administration.
I wouldn’t be remiss if I didn’t talk about the late Pat Bowlen, who, in addition to being the best owner in professional sports, did a great job building the profile of the Broncos across the United States and was instrumental in turning Sunday football into what it is. today is the main game of the week. While the Bowlen legacy is remembered as the Walton-Penner era of Broncos ownership begins, perhaps the most appropriate way to build on Pat’s work is to raise the team’s profile overseas, and in Leech, Denver has someone with the talent, drive and ability to make the club more than just relevant. , but also leading the NFL in that regard.
It’s currently unclear when Leech will be officially unveiled, but it’s rumored to happen at some point next week. Early returns in the Walton-Penner period are encouraging, although fullness of time will be important.
However, the Broncos made an outstanding hire with a lot of potential in Leech.
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