Raiders GM search: Get to know Kelly Kleine Van Calligan

Interesting general manager candidate in Las Vegas

The Las Vegas Raiders interviewed Kelly Kleine Van Calligan of the Denver Broncos this week. She is one of seven known candidates to replace the fired Dave Ziegler. Let’s get to know Kleine Van Calligan:

Current job:

She is in her third season as the Broncos’ executive director of football operations/special advisor to the general manager.

Age:

32.

NFL experience:

Kleine Van Calligan was with the Minnesota Vikings from 2012-20 in various scouting roles. She finished her tenure in Minnesota as manager of player personnel/college scout.

Known for:

Being a diligent executive who has worked in several roles for two teams and and who is strong with her daily roles in all front-office aspects.

Possible history:

If hired, Kleine Van Calligan would become the first woman general manager in NFL history.

Raiders history:

It makes sense that it’s the Raiders who are interviewing Kleine Van Calligan. Led by the late Al Davis, the Raiders are famous for diversity and being leaders in that area. They had the first Latino head coach (Tom Flores), first African- American coach (Art Shell), first woman executive (Amy Trask), first openly gay player (Carl Nassib), first African-American women president (Sandra Douglass Mogan). Now, there is potential for Kleine Van Calligan to join that list.