Neal Dahlen

Neal Dahlen
Dahlen c. 2019
Personal information
Born(1940-04-13)April 13, 1940
Spokane, Washington
DiedFebruary 15, 2026(2026-02-15) (aged 85)
Aurora, Colorado
Career information
High schoolCapuchino
CollegeSan Jose State
Career history
Executive profile at Pro Football Reference

Neal Dahlen (April 13, 1940 – February 15, 2026) was an American football administrator, who worked for San Francisco 49ers (1979–1996), and the Denver Broncos (1996–2003), and was general manager of the Broncos from 1999 to January 2002.

Dahlen's seven Super Bowl rings are tied with Tom Brady for the second most in NFL history, only trailing Bill Belichick by one. He earned five with the 49ers, and two during his time at the Broncos.

Life and career

Dahlen was born on April 13, 1940. He attended Capuchino High School in San Bruno, California. He then played quarterback at San Jose State University, where he graduated from in 1963 (and earned a master's in 1964). He then coached baseball and football at Hillsdale High School in San Mateo, as well as at the College of San Mateo.

He started working part-time for the 49ers in 1979, and earned increasing administrative responsibilities. He moved to Denver in 1996 to become director of player personnel, and later was named general manager in 1999. Ted Sundquist replaced him in early 2002, and Dahlen became the team's director of football administration until he retired the following year.

Dahlen died on February 15, 2026, at the age of 85.

Notes

  1. ↑ 1939 or 1940 (age 86–87) and 1940 or 1941 (age 85–86) show that he must have been born in 1940 for both to be true.

References

  1. ↑ Long, Colleen (January 28, 2002). "Broncos Name Sundquist As GM". Midland Daily News. Retrieved June 7, 2026.
  2. ↑ (January 29, 2002). Broncos' GM has AFA ties/ Denver promotes alum Sundquist[dead link], The Gazette (Colorado Springs), Retrieved December 2, 2010 ("He replaces Neal Dahlen, general manager since 1999, who becomes the team's director of football administration.")
  3. ↑ Gordon, Grant (February 19, 2026). "Neal Dahlen, former 49ers, Broncos exec with seven Super Bowl rings, dies at 85". NFL.com. Retrieved June 7, 2026.
  4. ↑ "Rings not everything to Fleming". Deseret News. February 3, 2008.
  5. ↑ (August 23, 1998). Broncos' Dahlen succeeds like clockwork: Lucky 7th ring perfect fit for player-personnel guru Archived October 24, 2012, at the Wayback Machine, The Denver Post, Retrieved December 2, 2010
  6. ↑ (August 4, 1999). Vikings perplexed by vanishing rookie Archived November 4, 2012, at the Wayback Machine, USA Today, Retrieved December 2, 2010 ("But when it comes to NFL jewelry, [Neal] Dahlen can top anyone in the league. Dahlen has more Super Bowl rings -- seven -- than anyone in history.")
  7. ↑ FitzGerald, Tom (July 15, 2019). "Ex-49ers exec Neal Dahlen has more Super Bowl rings than anyone but Bill Belichick". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved February 9, 2021. Dahlen, 79, retired in 2003.
  8. ↑ Farmer, Sam (February 1, 2018). "Neal Dahlen, 77, has 77 cents in his pocket — and seven Super Bowl rings". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved February 9, 2021.
  9. ↑ Durkin, Jimmy (August 11, 2016). "Former San Jose State quarterback is lord of Super Bowl rings". Mercury News. San Jose, California. Archived from the original on October 25, 2016. Retrieved November 20, 2016. Dahlen grew up in San Bruno and went to Capuchino High before going to San Jose State.
  10. ↑ Denver Broncos 2002 Media Guide Archived July 16, 2011, at the Wayback Machine, p.36 (2002), Retrieved December 2, 2010
  11. ↑ (June 17, 2003). Ringmaster Archived October 24, 2012, at the Wayback Machine, San Mateo County Times, Retrieved December 2, 2010
  12. ↑ (March 6, 1996). PERSONNEL EXPERT LEAVES 49ERS TO JOIN BRONCO Archived October 24, 2012, at the Wayback Machine, Rocky Mountain News, Retrieved December 2, 1996
  13. ↑ DiLalla, Aric (February 18, 2026). "Broncos mourn passing of former GM Neal Dahlen" (Press release). Denver Broncos. Archived from the original on February 19, 2026. Retrieved February 20, 2026.
  14. ↑ Branch, Eric (February 18, 2026). "Neal Dahlen, winner of 7 Super Bowls with 49ers and Broncos, dies at 85". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved February 20, 2026.