Brian Xanders

Brian Xanders (born April 10, 1971) is an American football executive and former Florida State football player. He is the former general manager for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). The Broncos executed the third best franchise improvement in NFL history (hiring new coach, winning AFC West, defeating the Pittsburgh Steelers in the playoffs). There were also six Broncos named to the 2012 Pro Bowl: Von Miller, Elvis Dumervil, Brian Dawkins, Champ Bailey, Ryan Clady and Willis McGahee. The Broncos' draft selections from 2010-2012 led the NFL in playtime percentage. The Broncos also acquired productive free agents from 2008-2012, notably 4-time MVP Peyton Manning, Brian Dawkins and Willis McGahee.

Career
Xanders worked in the NFL for 18+ seasons for the Falcons and Broncos, generating an extensive background in all areas of player personnel, college scouting, pro scouting, coaching and football operations. He was a member of the defensive coaching staff during the Falcons' only Super Bowl appearance.


 * Player Personnel Evaluator/Team Building


 * College Scouting (16 NFL Drafts)


 * Pro Scouting (11 years of evaluations of UFA classes)


 * Contract Negotiations/Player Cost Management/Agent Relations (10 years)


 * Strategic Planning/Diverse Industry Knowledge/Trades


 * Innovative Football Technology/Project Management

Summary of Experience


 * Directed the club's college scouting and pro personnel departments, managed staff and implemented new scouting system standards


 * Executed high-producing NFL Draft classes over the last three years:  2010-2012 Playtime: 40.9% (#1), Starts: 276 (#2), Plays: 20,265 (#2), including 9 current starters -- WR Demaryius Thomas, WR Eric Decker, OG Zane Beadles, OC J.D. Walton, OT Orlando Franklin, DE Derek Wolfe, LB Von Miller [2011 Defensive Rookie of the Year], FS Rahim Moore and CB Chris Harris


 * Broncos (2011) were only the third team since the 1970 NFL merger to win its division and a playoff game with a new head coach following four or fewer wins the previous season


 * Broncos have won the AFC West Division for the last two years (2011-2012) -- 51/61 players on active/reserve list were acquired through the draft or free agency from 2009 to May, 2012


 * Draft choices/CFA's (2009-12) who started for Denver:  Career (GP/GS) -- DE Robert Ayers (57/24), G Zane Beadles (48/46), S David Bruton (61/4), SS Quinton Carter (19/10), CB Tony Carter – CFA (23/1), P Britton Colquitt – CFA (48 GP), CB Perrish Cox (28/9), WR Eric Decker (46/28), T Orlando Franklin (32/32), TE Virgil Green (27/5), CB Chris Harris – CFA (31/16), RB Knowshon Moreno (44/30), S Darcel McBath (34/1), LB Von Miller (31/31), FS Rahim Moore (31/22), TE Richard Quinn (30/4), QB Tim Tebow (33/16), WR Demaryius Thomas (37/23), TE Julius Thomas (9/1), DT Mitch Unrein – CFA (16/1) CB Cassius Vaughn – CFA (35/11), OC J.D. Walton (36/36), DE Derek Wolfe (16/16)


 * 32/35 drafted players and 13 college free agents made the opening day roster from 2009-2012


 * Pro Bowl Signings/Extensions:  CB Champ Bailey (re-signed, 2011), OT Ryan Clady (1st round, 2008), SS Brian Dawkins (UFA, 2009-11), DE Elvis Dumervil (re-signed, 2010), WR Brandon Lloyd (FA, 2009-11), QB Peyton Manning (FA, 2012), WR Brandon Marshall (re-signed, 2010), RB Willis McGahee (FA, 2011)


 * Other Starting Free-Agents Signed:  S Mike Adams (2012), DT Justin Bannan (2010, 12), RB Correll Buckhalter (2009-2010),  DT Brodrick Bunkley (trade, 2011), TE Joel Dreessen (2012), TE Daniel Fells (2011), CB André Goodman (2009-11), FS Renaldo Hill (2009-10), DE Jason Hunter (2010), G Chris Kuper (re-signed, 2010), LB Joe Mays (trade, 2010), CB Tracy Porter (2012), WR Brandon Stokley (2012), TE Jacob Tamme (2012), DT Kevin Vickerson (2010), DT Jamal Williams (2010), LB Wesley Woodyard (re-signed, 2012)


 * Acquired eight new defensive starters in 2009, as the unit improved its NFL ranking in points allowed (12th from 30th), yards allowed (7th from 29th) and takeaways (9th from 32nd)


 * Served on NFL College Advisory Committee, NFL Combine Selection Committee and the NFL Statistics Committee


 * Head Coaches worked with:  June Jones (1994-96), Dan Reeves (1997-2003), Wade Phillips ( 2003), Jim Mora ( 2004-06), Bobby Petrino ( 2007), Emmitt Thomas (2007), Mike Smith ( 2008), Mike Shanahan (2008), Josh McDaniels ( 2009-10), Eric Studesville (2010), John Fox ( 2011-12)


 * Football Executives worked with:  Ron Hill (1998-05), Bobby Beathard (2002-03), Rich McKay (2003-07), Thomas Dimitroff (2008), Tim Ruskell (2004), Les Snead (1998-08), Billy Devaney (2006-07), Phil Emery (2004-08), John Elway (2011-12)


 * On January 28, 2013 Xanders was hired by the Detroit Lions front office as a Senior Personnel Executive.

Florida State
Xanders played for Bobby Bowden at Florida State University from 1989–92, he was a member of four bowl-winning teams with the Seminoles that had a 42-7 combined record. He was an All-Atlantic Coast Conference academic team selection.

+ Master of Business Administration, Florida State University, 1994, Graduated in top 10% of class, Dean's List

+ Bachelor of Science -- Business Management, Florida State University, 1993, Dean's List

+ Attended Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business Program on Management (2005), and gave speeches at multiple universities on labor economics and player personnel issues

Personal
Xanders lives in Atlanta, Georgia, and is married to the former Amy Lynne Ascher and the couple has two children, son Reid and daughter Mary Claire.