Former Denver Broncos general manager Neal Dahlen has died at the age of 85, according to confirmation from his family.
Dahlen served as the Broncos’ director of player personnel during their first two Super Bowl victories and later became the team’s general manager from 1999 to 2001. Over his NFL career, he won seven Super Bowls, including two with the Broncos in Super Bowl XXXII and Super Bowl XXXIII, and five with the San Francisco 49ers.
During his time as a front office executive, Dahlen also held the position of director of football administration before retiring. He maintained a perfect record in Super Bowls, going 7-0 throughout his career.
“I attribute my good fortune to three key elements: Joe Montana, Steve Young and John Elway,” Dahlen told Sam Farmer of the Los Angeles Times in 2018.
Dahlen is tied with Tom Brady for the second-most Super Bowl wins by an individual in NFL history, behind only Bill Belichick. He previously held the record for most Super Bowl titles until Belichick surpassed him after winning Super Bowl LI with the New England Patriots in 2017.
Originally from California, Dahlen played quarterback at the collegiate level before moving into football administration. He earned both bachelor’s and master’s degrees from San Jose State University. After college, he coached baseball and football while teaching physical education at Hillsdale High School in California, leading its football team to four championships. He also played and coached at College of San Mateo.
In recognition of his achievements, Dahlen was inducted into several halls of fame: Hillsdale High School Hall of Fame, College of San Mateo Hall of Fame, and San Mateo County Sports Hall of Fame.
