Bears exec Champ Kelly to interview for two GM jobs

Kelly has deep ties to Denver, where boss John Elway just announced plans to hire a GM and give up final say on decisions.

Champ Kelly is the Bears’ assistant player personnel director.

Bears assistant player personnel director Champ Kelly interviewed via Zoom for the Panthers’ vacant general manager job Thursday. NFL Network said he’ll do the same for the Broncos’ job on Friday.

Kelly has deep ties to Denver, where boss John Elway just announced plans to hire a GM and give up final say on decisions. Kelly spent 2007-14 with the Broncos where, for the final five seasons, he served as assistant pro personnel director. He was a scout for one season and an assistant coordinator of pro and college scouting for two. When he joined the Bears, he reunited with former head coach John Fox.

Kelly interviewed with the Jets’ vacant general manager job two years ago.

Were Kelly to land a job, the Bears would receive draft picks. Per a rule agreed to in November, any NFL team that loses a personnel executive who becomes a GM will receive compensatory third-round picks in each of the next two drafts.

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