DENVER — Condoleezza Rice, who served as President George W. Bush's secretary of state from 2005-2009, has joined the Broncos' new ownership group.
Rob Walton, who bought the Denver Broncos for $4.65 billion last month pending expected approval from NFL owners, announced Rice's addition Monday morning.
Rice joins Mellody Hobson as the second prominent Black woman to join the Broncos' new ownership group. Rob Walton is the controlling owner with his son-in-law Greg Penner expected to be in charge of the team on a day-to-day basis, along with Walton's daughter, Carrie Walton-Penner.
Hobson, 53, is chairwoman of Starbucks and co-CEO of Ariel Investments. She is also married to Star Wars creator George Lucas.
Rice, 67, moved with her family to Denver when she was 12 years old. She graduated from St, Mary's Academy, an all-girls Catholic high school, then received her bachelor's degree cum laude and Ph.D. in political science from the University of Denver.
Rice released the following statement on Monday:
"It is an honor to be a part of this ownership group. Football has been an integral part of my life since the moment it was introduced to me, and I am thrilled to be a part of the Broncos organization today. I spent much of my younger years in Denver, so to be able to combine my love of the game with my love for this great city and team is an adventure of a lifetime and a great opportunity.
Rice first joined the Bush administration as National Security Advisor for the President's first term from 2001-05, then replaced Colin Powell as Secretary of State for Bush's second term.
Broncos' outgoing CEO and president Joe Ellis is George W. Bush's first cousin.
She is currently the director of the Hoover Institution on War, Revolution and Peace at Stanford University. Greg and Carrie Penner each got their master's degrees from Stanford.
"It is an honor to be part of this ownership group,'' Rice said in a statement through Stanford's Hoover Institute. "Football has been an integral part of my life since the moment it was introduced to me, and I am thrilled to be a part of the Broncos organization today. I spent much of my younger years in Denver, so to be able to combine my love of the game with my love for this great city and team is an adventure of a lifetime and a great opportunity."
Rice is a football fan, to the point ESPN reported in 2018 that the Cleveland Browns wanted to interview her for their head coaching position. Rice responded by saying she had no interest in coaching.
NFL ownership is expected to hold a special meeting next month to vote on the Walton-Penner group as the league's new owners. Rob Walton is the oldest son of Walmart founder Sam Walton. Sam had one brother, Bud. Bud Walton's oldest daughter, Ann Walton Kroenke, is married to Stan Kroenke, owner of the NFL Los Angeles Rams, NHL Colorado Avalanche and NBA Denver Nuggets.
Rob Walton released a statement announcing Rice's addition:
“We’re pleased to welcome former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to our ownership group. A highly respected public servant, accomplished academic and corporate leader, Secretary Rice is well known as a passionate and knowledgeable football fan who has worked to make the sport stronger and better. She is the daughter of a football coach and served on the inaugural College Football Playoff Committee. She moved to Denver with her family when she was 12 years old and went on to attend the University of Denver for both college and graduate school. Her unique experience and extraordinary judgment will be a great benefit to our group and the Broncos organization.”
The Fritz Pollard Alliance is a nonprofit that advocates for diversity in the NFL. Its members include scouts, coaches and front office personnel. Executive Director Rod Graves released this statement Monday:
"We applaud Condoleezza Rice and the Denver Broncos' new ownership group, which includes Mellody Hobson. Their ownership represents a huge step toward greater inclusion. Rice embodies the key attributes of a great NFL owner: integrity, fairness, and love of the game."
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