Paul Kelly enters his fourth season as assistant to the head coach for the Denver Broncos in 2026. He was hired by the club on Feb. 21, 2023.
With Kelly on staff in 2025, the Broncos produced their 16th division title in team history and their first appearance in the AFC Championship Game since the 2015 season.
Accruing 25 years of NFL experience, Kelly joined the Broncos after spending 11 seasons as director of football operations for the Washington Commanders. He began his tenure with the team in 2010 under Head Coach Mike Shanahan and remained with the club through the 2020 campaign.
As director of football operations, Kelly was responsible for coordinating the team's daily operations, including travel and accommodations. He also managed the budget for all football departments, coordinated training camp logistics and oversaw the football schedule throughout the year.
With Kelly on staff, Washington won the NFC East division three times (2012, '15, '20), with their division title in 2012 being the franchise's first since 1999. During his time in Washington, Kelly worked with four head coaches: Shanahan (2010-13), Jay Gruden (2014-19), Bill Callahan (2019) and Ron Rivera (2020).
Prior to his stint in the nation's capital, Kelly spent five years as assistant to the head coach/football operations for Tampa Bay (2004-08), helping organize the club's day-to-day football operations. In his five seasons, the Buccaneers captured two NFC South titles in 2005 and '07.
Getting his start in the NFL with Oakland, Kelly spent six years with the Raiders, starting as a coaches assistant (1998-2001) before transitioning to assistant to the head coach for two seasons (2002-03). Helping the franchise capture three consecutive division titles and the second most wins (33) in the NFL from 2000-02, Kelly assisted Head Coach Bill Callahan as he guided the franchise to an appearance in Super Bowl XXXVII.
A native of San Diego, Kelly graduated from California State University, Hayward in 1990 with a bachelor's degree in business administration with an emphasis in new ventures and small business management. Kelly and his wife, Catherine, have two sons, Colin and Hunter, and one daughter, Lauren.
