Anthony "Champ" Kelly joined the Miami Dolphins in 2025 as senior personnel executive and served as interim general manager for the second half of the season. The 2025 season marks his 19th in the NFL.
Prior to the Dolphins, Kelly served as assistant general manager for the Las Vegas Raiders for three years (2022-24), including as interim general manager during the 2023 season.
Kelly joined the Raiders after seven seasons with the Chicago Bears (2015-21). He served as assistant director of player personnel from 2017-21 after spending the prior two seasons as director of pro scouting. During his time with the Bears, Chicago totaled 21 Pro Bowl selections. Kelly helped build a 2018 Bears team that won the NFC North division title for the first time since 2010 and earned eight Pro Bowl selections, which tied for the third most in franchise history.
Kelly began his NFL career in Denver, where he served eight seasons (2007-14) in the Broncos personnel department. He joined the team as a college scout in 2007, was promoted to assistant coordinator of pro and college scouting in 2008, then promoted again to assistant director of pro personnel in 2010. As assistant director of pro personnel, Kelly helped the Broncos reach the postseason in each of his last four seasons with the club (2011-14), winning the AFC Championship game in 2013 and advancing to Super Bowl XLVIII.
Before entering the NFL, Kelly was certified by the NFLPA as a contract advisor. He also served as general manager and wide receivers coach of the Lexington Horsemen of United Indoor Football (UIF) during their 2007 campaign, helping lead the Horsemen to United Bowl III.
A former wide receiver and defensive back at the University of Kentucky (1998-2001), Kelly continued his playing career with the Horsemen from 2003-06 as a defensive standout and was two-time first-team UIF All-Star. He also served as Lexington Christian Academy's offensive coordinator in 2002 and continued that role through his playing career with the Horsemen.
A native of Campbellton, Fla., Kelly graduated with a bachelor's degree in computer science from the University of Kentucky in 2001 and earned a master's degree in business administration in 2003. In addition to his football career, Kelly also worked for IBM in Lexington, Ky., from May 2002 through July 2005 as a software/quality engineer.
Kelly was a member of the 2001 Southeastern Conference "Good Works Team" and earned a postgraduate scholarship for his community work. During his final season with the Horsemen, Kelly received the UIF Man of the Year Award, recognizing his leadership on the field and in the community.
Kelly and his wife, Stephanie, have three daughters, Claire Alaina, Chloe Grace and Caroline Elise. The couple founded Heart Power in 2010, a non-profit corporation that has hosted youth programs in Alabama, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Kentucky and Las Vegas.
