National Football League General Managers: An Analysis of the Responsibilities, Qualifications and Characteristics

Abstract

One of the most desirable jobs in all of sports is undoubtedly that of General Manager (GM). The ability to control an organization and the possibility of leading it to a championship often makes the endless hours, duties, difficulties and lack of job security worth it. Not surprisingly then, there are people from all walks of life who work to obtain a GM position.

This article builds upon research done in our two prior articles. In the article Major League Baseball General Managers: An Analysis of Their Responsibilities, Qualifications and Characteristics, 18 NINE: J. BASEBALL HIST. & CULTURE 74 (2010) we discussed the role of Major League Baseball (MLB) GMs, while examining the evolving paths people have taken to obtain the GM position. In MLB, there has been a clear trend emphasizing younger, highly educated people with a statistical analysis approach, while placing less emphasis on playing or coaching experience. Similarly, in the article National Basketball Association General Managers: An Analysis of the Responsibilities, Qualifications and Characteristics, 18 VILL. SPORTS & ENT. L.J. 213 (2011), we discussed the role of a National Basketball Association (NBA) GM and examined the evolving paths people have taken to obtain the position.

This article will discuss the many duties of an NFL GM while also discussing the qualifications and characteristics that led them to the position. Not all NFL Clubs actually employ a person entitled “GM.” Additionally, in some Clubs, the GM does not have final say in player personnel decisions. This article focuses on those individuals with final say entering the 2012 NFL season. Finally, the article will conclude by discussing the most common paths to the NFL GM position, with an eye towards how these paths might change in the future.

Keywords: NFL, NFLPA, CBA, Collective Bargaining Agreement, GM, General Manager, Salary Cap