A hidden gem of the Denver Broncos football operations literally avoids the spotlight.

Allow Pro Football Hall of Famer Steve Atwater to explain.

The former Broncos safety, a few times each NFL season, will seek out Denver’s personnel logistics manager for a friendly chat. Pam Papsdorf started with the team in 1987. She’s worked in a variety of roles for 37 years (and counting) under two ownership groups, seven general managers and 12 head coaches.

Papsdorf is foundational to the Broncos with a detailed but low-key work ethic.

“Her office is always dark,” Atwater told The Denver Gazette in a phone interview. “The lights are on the lowest possible level. You wouldn’t even know she was in there.”

Her bright and warm personality is the contradiction.

“She means the world,” Atwater continued. “She helps the whole thing go.”

Papsdorf, a Greeley native, provided a rare glimpse into her world as the Broncos’ second-longest tenured employee behind only senior Midwest area scout Scott DiStefano (45 years). There were only 37 team employees, not counting coaches and players, when she first joined the organization. Now, there are nearly 300 team employees.

Papsdorf currently handles all logistics — flights, hotels, rental cars, meals, etc. — for players, scouts, coaches and executives throughout the season. Her main responsibilities are the NFL scouting combine, “Top-30” prospect visits, college All-Star games and pro timing days.

Papsdorf will speak with every Broncos’ pick in the upcoming NFL draft and free agency to coordinate their arrival in Denver.

“If we’re doing tryouts or we’re signing somebody and bringing them in, typically, I’m one of the first people that they talk to. That’s kind of fun for me,” Papsdorf told The Denver Gazette. “Whoever talks to them is representing the organization. We’re on the front line. You have to make that as good of an experience as you possibly can. I consider myself lucky that I get to do that.”

Papsdorf has roots throughout the organization, because in the late 1980s, a small group of Broncos administrative staff members did it all from human resources to facility upgrades. She transitioned to the scouting department in the early 1990s. Papsdorf said: “I used to call the players on draft day. I was the very first person they would talk to. It’s really cool.”

But NFL scouting before analytics and digital video also presented challenges.

“We used to get college tapes, hundreds of college tapes, and we had to catalogue all of them,” Papsdorf said. “We had a room with all of the college tapes on the wall. I would type out every single game that we had in that library so that people could find them. … We would do thick draft books and have two of for each side of the ball.”

She experienced plenty of NFL highs to begin her time with the franchise, including eight Super Bowl appearances and three Lombardi Trophies. True to her prepared reputation, Papsdorf brought a printed list of her favorite Broncos over the years — Atwater, Elway, Davis, Lynch, Miller, Ware, and the names keep going.

“It’s kind of like picking your favorite children a little bit,” she said.

Papsdorf also endured one of the most turbulent decades of team history.

The Broncos failed to make the playoffs for eight consecutive seasons (2016-23) and cycled through five head coaches. George Paton replaced John Elway as general manager. Beloved team owner Pat Bowlen passed away and the franchise was purchased for $4.65 billion by the Walton-Penner ownership group.

“When there is a head coaching change or a personnel change, there’s always a little bit of uncertainty, because you don’t know how those people view things yet (or) what they expect,” Papsdorf said. “You have to adapt to all of that and it’s always going to be different than what you did before. The beauty of it is that you’re always growing and learning. … Is it a little bit stressful? Yeah. Because you’re hoping that what you bring to the table is something that they still want or need.”

Paton, in a phone interview with The Denver Gazette, explained why retaining Papsdorf was a no-brainer in 2021 when he assumed GM duties.

“I think the first time I met her was over the phone. She was getting me a flight out here (and) all the logistics that provide a lot of anxiety for your family,” Paton said. “I quickly knew she was a very vital cog in what we were trying to build here. Obviously, that’s why she’s been here for 37 years. You have to be really good at your job to last. … Everything is just so detailed and so organized.”

Paton described Papsdorf as the “glue” for Broncos’ football operations.

She is also one of several prominent women with important roles. That list includes Kelly Kleine Van Calligan, the team’s executive director of football operations and special advisor to the general manager, who was reportedly a candidate for the Raiders’ GM vacancy in January. Roya Burton also serves as the Broncos’ scouting coordinator.

“When I started, it was absolutely a male-dominated industry,” Papsdorf said. “Women were no more than secretaries. We weren’t given the ability to grow into different roles. … To see how women have grown, not just in the football part of it, but in all aspects… it would never have been that way back in the day.”

Paton added: “It just brings maybe a different perspective that we weren’t used to hearing for so many years. Obviously, they’re highly intelligent, great workers, organized and detailed. But they provide a different perspective for me and really my staff. We want a diverse staff, and they provide that, but they’re also great employees. They’re all really good at what they do.”

Papsdorf shared the joy of Broncos Country last season when rookie quarterback Bo Nix, second-year head coach Sean Payton, and a resurgent defense led them back into the NFL postseason. She’s grateful for a second ownership group that allows working mothers to pursue their football dreams.

Papsdorf’s job is to make life easy for players and coaches, but especially newcomers to the organization, like the 2025 Broncos draft class.

She means it when the greeting lands.

“Welcome to Denver,” Papsdorf said. “You’re going to love it here.”