The Denver Broncos, on behalf of the Walton-Penner Family Ownership Group, announced on Monday that former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice was joining their ownership group. In a statement, the Group stated that “Secretary Rice is well known as a passionate and knowledgeable football fan who has worked to make the sport stronger and better:”
The Walton-Penner Family Ownership Group is pleased to welcome former Secretary of State @CondoleezzaRice to its ownership group.
Statement » pic.twitter.com/yqVHrPhC2M
— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) July 11, 2022
In June, the Broncos reached a sale agreement with the Walton-Penner Family Ownership Group, bringing to a close eight years of legal proceedings regarding the ownership of the franchise.
Dr. Rice’s career has seen her move from the halls of academia, to the world stage, and yes, the College Football Playoff Selection Committee. After serving as the provost at Stanford University, Dr. Rice was named the National Security Advisor by President George W. Bush, and she served in that role from 2001 through 2005.
President Bush nominated her to be Secretary of State, and following her confirmation by the Senate, Dr. Rice served in that role during President Bush’s second term.
Following her service in the Bush Administration, she returned to academics, but began to take on more of a role in the sports world. She was selected as one of the 13 inaugural members of the College Football Playoff Selection Committee, serving through the 2016 season. She was also rumored to be a candidate for the Cleveland Browns head coaching position, a rumor which she denied in 2018.
However, she has expressed an interest in serving as the NFL Commissioner, a position she once described as her “dream job.” Perhaps joining the Broncos ownership group will get her one step closer to that goal.