Champ Kelly
Anthony "Champ" Kelly is an American football executive who is the assistant director of player personnel for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League (NFL). Prior to joining the Bears in 2015, Kelly was a member of the Denver Broncos. Additionally, he has worked with the Kentucky Horsemen of the United Indoor Football (UIF) as a general manager, coach, and player.
Chicago Bears | |
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Position: | Assistant director of player personnel |
Career information | |
College: | Kentucky |
Career history | |
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As coach: | |
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Executive career
Lexington Horsemen
Kelly was a player from 2003 to 2006, as a well as coach and general manager in 2007.[1] Under Kelly's leadership, the Horsemen won the Indoor Bowl IV in 2004 and were runner-up in United Bowl II and United Bowl III.
Denver Broncos
Kelly was hired by the Broncos in 2007 as a Northeast College scout, eventually working his way up to the position of Assistant Director of Pro Personnel.[2]
Chicago Bears
Kelly joined the Chicago Bears in 2015 as the team's director of pro scouting.[3] He was promoted to Assistant Director of Player Personnel in 2017.[4] His main responsibilities are grading the top 100 draft prospects, leading the team's efforts in free agency, and advance scouting.[5] In 2019, Kelly was a candidate in the New York Jets' general manager search.[6]
Personal
Kelly is married to his wife, Stephanie, and they have three daughters. He is a native of Campbellton, Florida. He attended the University of Kentucky on a football scholarship, where he played wide receiver and defensive back for the football team from 1998 to 2001.[7] Kelly is active in the community and founded a non-profit corporation, Heart Power, which has hosted youth programs in Illinois, Colorado, Florida, and Kentucky.[8][9] He graduated from Kentucky with a master's degree in business administration and a bachelor's degree in computer science. Kelly worked for IBM as a software/quality engineer from 2002 to 2005.[10]
References
- "The Ride and Fall of the Horsemen: Rowdiest rivals tested title team's mettle". www.kentucky.com. Retrieved November 15, 2020.
- "Broncos got lucky with 2014 free agency signings". www.broncoswire.usatoday.com. Retrieved February 6, 2020.
- "The Chicago Bears announce three personnel moves". www.windycitygridiron.com. Retrieved May 15, 2014.
- "2017 Bears Front Office Promotions". www.chicago.suntimes.com. Retrieved February 11, 2020.
- "Through football and family, Bears executive Champ Kelly has found his calling". www.theathletic.com. Retrieved September 14, 2020.
- "Jets Complete Interview with Champ Kelly for GM Position". www.newyorkjets.com. Retrieved June 3, 2019.
- "Anthony Kelly, UK Bio". www.ukathletics.com. Retrieved February 6, 2020.
- "C.H.A.M.P. Camps". www.profootballweekly.com. Retrieved February 6, 2020.
- "Champ Kelly Scouts the Right Path". www.profootballweekly.com. Retrieved February 11, 2020.
- "Champ Kelly: Assistant Director of Player Personnel". www.chicagobears.com. Retrieved February 6, 2020.
Further reading
- Vaught, Larry (June 25, 2012). "A True Champ: Kelly's camp brings out the best in former football players". The Advocate-Messenger. Retrieved November 17, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
- Vaught, Larry (May 9, 2013). "Champ camp: Former Wildcat Kelly wants to help youngsters improve". The Advocate-Messenger. Retrieved November 17, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
- Vaught, Larry (January 28, 2014). "Champ's Time: Kentucky ties with Broncos only add to Kelly's Super Bowl dream". The Advocate-Messenger. Retrieved November 17, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
- Vaught, Larry (May 2, 2014). "Kelly wants hard work to pay off at free camp". The Advocate-Messenger. Retrieved November 17, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.