Jerry Reese won two Super Bowls with the New York Giants. Thomas Dimitroff built six playoff teams in 12 full seasons with Atlanta. And Rick Smith won four division titles with Houston.
But as the general manager hiring cycle continues to churn, none of them have even been rumored as a finalist for the multiple openings in the NFL.
It continues an interesting trend of men getting second chances as a head coach, but general managers getting one shot.
The Broncos (George Paton) and Houston (Nick Caserio) hired first-time general managers, although a caveat is required — Paton has 24 years of NFL experience and Caserio was Bill Belichick’s long-time right-hand man in New England. They handled many of the GM duties without the title.
Detroit also went the first-time route by hiring Los Angeles Rams college scouting director Brad Holmes. As of Friday, New Orleans assistant general manager Terry Fontenot, who interviewed with the Broncos, was trending toward Atlanta.
What gives? Why didn’t the experienced general managers get more of a shot?
“I don’t know the answer to that, I really don’t,” said Randy Mueller, who was the general manager in New Orleans (2000-01) and Miami (2005-07). “I do know, the longer you’re in the business, the more perspective you have the better you should be at your job. It’s definitely a different dynamic.”
In the NFL this year, there were only two second-time general manager-types — Dave Gettleman (previously Carolina, currently the Giants) and Belichick (previously Cleveland, currently the Patriots). There were seven head coaches who had previous experience: Belichick, Andy Reid (Kansas City), Jon Gruden (Las Vegas), Pete Carroll (Seattle), Ron Rivera (Washington), Bruce Arians (Tampa Bay) and Mike McCarthy (Dallas).
Teams should be commended for thinking outside the box and giving deserving candidates the opportunity of a lifetime. But if I was advising Paton and others I would prioritize previous general manager experience in hiring their chief of staff.
round the Broncos21st in special teams. NFL writer Rick Gosselin unveiled his annual special teams rankings, compiled using an average of 22 kicking-game categories.
The Broncos, under coordinator Tom McMahon, finished 21st for the second consecutive year (376 points in 2019 and 413 1/2 points in ’20). The Broncos were second in punt returns (13.4), last in kickoff starting position (23.6-yard line) and tied for last in point-after percentage (83.3).
Six playoff teams were among the top nine in special teams, but New England was first. In the AFC West, Las Vegas was 16th, Kansas City tied for 19th and the Los Angeles Chargers last.
Rare company. Broncos rookie center Lloyd Cushenberry was the only offensive player to play all 1,100 snaps. In the last five years, he was the only rookie center to start all 16 games, joining Corey Linsley (Green Bay, 2014), Russell Bodine (Cincinnati, 2014), Ryan Kelly (Indianapolis, 2016) and Garrett Bradbury (Minnesota, 2019).
Cushenberry and Tampa Bay left tackle Tristan Wirfs (1,161) were the only rookies to play all of their team’s offensive snaps.
Fangio interviewing Staley. A good postscript from our story on Los Angeles Rams defensive coordinator Brandon Staley. The defensive coordinator at Division III John Carroll (Ohio), Staley interviewed with Vic Fangio and the Chicago Bears after the 2016 season.
How did Staley know he was on track to being hired?
“I was teaching probably one of my favorite things — the No. 1 coverage that (Fangio) called a ton in San Francisco and something I’ve spoken a lot about at clinics,” he said. “I’m into it and nearing the end and he finally stopped me and said, ‘Let me show you something.’ He put on his teaching tape and he’s like, ‘Have you ever thought about doing it like this?’ It was a disguise within a coverage. Nobody else did it. I knew he wouldn’t have shown it to me if I wasn’t getting the job.”
Russell’s favorite games. Outgoing Broncos director of player personnel Matt Russell, who stepped down Jan. 4 when general manager John Elway moved aside, was asked for his top games (not including the Super Bowl 50 win) to watch in his nine years with the club.
“One of the loudest I’ve heard the stadium and the most exciting was when Tim hit Demaryius on the slant against the Steelers to win the game,” said Russell, citing Tebow-to-Thomas for 80 yards in a 29-23 January 2012 playoff win. “That one stands out.”
Two-plus years later, Russell said: “And also CJ Anderson’s toss sweep from Brock (Osweiler) down the left side of the field against New England.” Anderson’s 48-yard touchdown gave the Broncos a 30-24 overtime win in November 2015.
round the NFLMeyer takes on NFL. Urban Meyer as the Jacksonville Jaguars’ coach will be a fascinating success or fascinating failure. There will be nothing in between considering Meyer’s track record as a college coach and the ability to draft quarterback Trevor Lawrence first overall.
“People that know me know I’m not going to jump into a situation where I don’t believe we can win,” Meyer said Friday. “The NFL has always been an intrigue. I’ve had some opportunities in the past, but it wasn’t the right time and wasn’t the right situation. I believe this is the place (to win).”
Old vs. old. The marquee game of the weekend is the final game — Tampa Bay at New Orleans. It marks the first time in playoff history that both quarterbacks are age 40 or older (Tom Brady is 43 and Drew Brees 42). Their combined age of 85 years, 169 days is the oldest of opposing starting quarterbacks in any regular season or playoff game.
New Orleans won both meetings this season — 34-23 in Week 1 and 38-3 in Week 9. But the Bucs, led by Brady, will pull off the upset.
Texans’ mess. Former Houston receiver Andre Johnson, arguably the best player in franchise history, took to Twitter to lambaste the team for “wasting players’ careers,” and ripping executive Jack Easterby.
“Pathetic!!!” Johnson wrote.
Owner Cal McNair’s mistake was telling quarterback Deshaun Watson he would be involved in a general manager/coaching search. That is a tough promise to walk back. Watson should be more upset about how poorly the team has been built, which has risked Watson becoming this generation’s Archie Manning (great player on a lousy team).
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Pagano coached 18 years apiece in college and the NFL, including six years as the Indianapolis’ head coach.
“As much as I love coaching, it takes a lot of time away from your family and loved ones,” Pagano said in a statement. “I’m excited to start a new chapter of my life.”
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