Where should “the buck stop” in NFL Front Office Management? Part II

A lot could be inferred from my last post, Where should “the buck stop” in NFL Front Office Management? Since leaving Denver in 2008 I’ve had a close, if not somewhat biased eye on the entire selection process in NFL Football Operations.

Point of reference

I interviewed with two clubs on this list for their General Manager’s position, and with two others while still with the Broncos.  This prefaces having actually sat down with the very people I’m speaking of, both at the management and ownership levels.  There is a knowledgeable understanding and background to draw upon.

For the record

The following tables show the 18 NFL clubs mentioned that made front office management and coaching changes since 2008.  A winning record is just that, over .500.  8-8 is not by its own definition a winning record.  An 8-8 record brought down a fourteen year regime in Denver, then turned around and sent them to the playoffs.  So go figure.

Not real pretty

Of the 18 teams that made changes; ATL, IND & PHI have had consistent overall winning seasons  since 2008.

Except for the above 3 teams, nothing here is impressive.  Seven teams have a single playoff appearance, San Francisco and Detroit appear to be on the upswing.  But to try and say otherwise is accepting mediocrity and or losing as success.  There are a number of other NFL cities that won’t let you get away with that.

Atlanta (43-21) 4-0 / 3 Playoffs  President/CEO Rich McKay

 Buffalo (23-41) 0-4  CEO Russ Brandon

 Chicago (35-29) 2-2 / 1 Playoff  President/CEO Ted Phillips

 Cleveland (18-46) 0-4  President Mike Holmgren  Exec VP of Business Ops Bryan Weidmeier

 Denver (28-36) 0-4 / 1 Playoff  President Joe Ellis

 Detroit (18-46) 1-3 / 1 Playoff  President Tom Lewand

 Indianapolis (38-26) 3-1 / 3 Playoffs  Owner/CEO Jim Irsay

 Jacksonville (25-39) 0-4  Chairman/CEO Shahid Khan (1st season)

Kansas City (23-41) 1-3 / 1 Playoff  Chairman/CEO Clark Hunt  President Mark Donovan

 Miami (31-33) 1-3 / 1 Playoff  Chairman Stephen Ross  CEO Mike Dee

 Oakland (26-38) 0-4  Chief Executive Amy Trask

 Philadelphia (38-26) 3-1 / 3 Playoffs  President Joe Banner

 San Francisco (34-30) 1-3 / 1 Playoff  President/CEO Jed York

 Seattle (23-41) 0-4 / 1 Playoff  President Peter McLoughlin

 St Louis (12-52) 0-4  Chairman Stan Kroenke  Exec VP of Football Ops/COO Kevin Demoff

 Tampa Bay (26-38) 1-3  Owner/President Malcolm Glazer

 Tennessee (36-28) 2-2 / 1 Playoff  Owner/President Bud Adams  Executive VP/COO Mike Reinfeldt

 Washington (23-41) 0-4  Owner Daniel Snyder