INDIANAPOLIS — Scott DiStefano, a Broncos’ scout for going on his 43rd season, will receive the prestigious C.O. Brocato Memorial Award for distinguished service to scouting Wednesday as part the NFL Combine awards night, a league source told 9NEWS.
Brocato, who was 85 when he died in 2015, was a longtime Houston Oilers/Tennessee Titans scout who mentored many of the NFL scouts who are still active today.
DiStefano is currently a Broncos’ Midwest area scout and senior consultant who started with Broncos in 1982. Among the early sleeper prospects he recommended to coach Dan Reeves were North Dakota State defensive back Tyrone Braxton, who was selected in the 12th round of the 1987 NFL Draft, and South Dakota State inside linebacker Bruce Klosterman, who was taken in the 8th round of the 1986 draft.
There have been countless other Broncos who DiStefano laid eyes on, and pounded the table for, while working behind the scenes for an organization that until recently was one of the NFL’s most successful for more than four decades. The Broncos played in seven Super Bowls, winning three, during DiStefano’s ongoing term.
Before he joined the Broncos, DiStefano was a backup quarterback for Colorado State head coach Sark Arslanian in 1980-81. DiStefano had a chance to play for the Hamilton Tiger Cats of the Canadian Football League but instead accepted a scouting offer from Broncos’ director of player personnel John Beake to join Denver’s personnel staff.
C.O. Brocato winners:
2024: Scott DiStefano, Broncos
2023: Jeremiah Davis, Giants
2022: Mark Gorscak, Steelers
2021: Alonzo Highsmith, Seahawks
2020: Jeff Shiver, Bears
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