Help with essay, football knowledge

[skinster]

I'm writing an essay about seemingly impossible dream jobs and why they are impossible. My dream job is an NFL GM, but despite the fact that there are only 32 of them, another requirement seems to be having actually played football at a reasonably high level. Before I say this, I'd like to know if anyone knows of any GMs/front office guys that didn't play football or grow up in a football family that could disprove what I say?

[mooby]

I can't back this up but I'm pretty confident that there's plenty of NFL gm's who didn't play the game at a high level.

[ArtMonkDrillz]

Did Mike Tannenbaum play anywhere? His wiki page is kind of vague. Mike Tannenbaum - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[30gut]

Originally Posted by skinster

I'm writing an essay about seemingly impossible dream jobs and why they are impossible. My dream job is an NFL GM, but despite the fact that there are only 32 of them, another requirement seems to be having actually played football at a reasonably high level. Before I say this, I'd like to know if anyone knows of any GMs/front office guys that didn't play football or grow up in a football family that could disprove what I say?

Nope can't say that I do, but I don't know many NFL execs/scouts.

I know of 1 scout that didn't play any football after highschool but he doesn't fit the bill because he's the son of a former NFL player and former NFL coach and consequently grew up around the league.

But lets take a few baby steps from GM.
It is not impossible to become an NFL scout.
But you must be willing to get paid close to nothing for awhile as your college buddies make good money.

Starting from where you are now.
First study the game.
Read as much as you can.
Coach.
Volunteer with closet football team near you.
Talk to the coaches and ask if you can help them.
Keep studying the game and listen.
Old coaches know a ton of football.
Then volunteer with your college football team in an capacity they let you.
Again, keep studying the game and asking questions.
Network and make as many connections as you can.
Apply to become a grad assistant in any capacity.
But make sure you let people know that your goal is scouting.(you might end up coaching for a little)
After your time as a grad asst/local/regional scout/recruiter and you progress up the ladder.
When you feel you're ready or more aptly the people around think you're ready you should mass mail every indoor league, arena league, CFL, NFL front offices your resume and follow up with a cold calling campaign where you more or less beg to work tirelessly for nothing.
Hopefully you would have made enough connections that you'll have some targeted places where you might have a foot in the door.

Oh, in the above scenario I'm assuming that you work extremely hard, are constantly learning and have a humble but driven mindset.
Once you get your foot in the door as an NFL intern or unpaid quality control person or driver or video coordinator or you make your own way with your productivity and football smarts.

[30gut]

[rypper11]

Charley Casserly started as an unpaid intern sleeping in his car at Redskin Park. A lot of college scouts are former backup college players. Mike Holmgrem was a high school coach and now runs the Browns. Only a few teams have former NFL players as GM or Team President. It is a position of have and have not though. A lot of guys work for free or very little for years and never get a decent wage position.

[Defensewins]

Originally Posted by skinster

I'm writing an essay about seemingly impossible dream jobs and why they are impossible. My dream job is an NFL GM, but despite the fact that there are only 32 of them, another requirement seems to be having actually played football at a reasonably high level. Before I say this, I'd like to know if anyone knows of any GMs/front office guys that didn't play football or grow up in a football family that could disprove what I say?

Not an important requirement. Football is not brain surgery. Over time you can learn football X and O's, scheme and how to film study.
But as Ryan Leif proves yet again (arrested) yesterday, this time for burglary, his probation status in Texas for an arrest in 2009 will be revoked and he is going to jail.
The most important ability of any Gm or talent evaluator is the ability to judge character and work ethic in direct conjunction to talent evaluation. Of course talent evaluation is critically important, but JaMarcus Russell's and Mike Vick's of the world are everywhere, the Tom Brady's are hiding and harder to find.

Order of GM skills needed:
1) Judge Character- hiring players, coaches and scouts
1A) Talent evaluation - of course
2) Organizational skills - to organize a draft, to properly scout hundreds of college players in a draft class and correctly order them on your draft board.
3) Football Knowledge - important but not tops on the list.

[That Guy]

you get there as either a coach or scout starting at the high school or college level in most cases i'd guess. get lucky or be good enough to jump up a couple times and hope it works out mel mcshay etc just basically watched a LOT of tape and managed to turn that into a career. I guess that's where the other half go, scouting services and espn. Also a very small market.

[GTripp0012]

Originally Posted by skinster

I'm writing an essay about seemingly impossible dream jobs and why they are impossible. My dream job is an NFL GM, but despite the fact that there are only 32 of them, another requirement seems to be having actually played football at a reasonably high level. Before I say this, I'd like to know if anyone knows of any GMs/front office guys that didn't play football or grow up in a football family that could disprove what I say?

A very small percentage of GMs played at a high level.

The thing is getting a foot in the door is really difficult and once your foot is in the door, you kind of have to be better than 98% of your peers to be able to climb that ladder quickly enough. The easiest way to ascend to a power position such as GM is to do it in a league that's small now, but will be big later. That's how the Mike Shanahan's and Sean Payton's of the world got their starts: they got in with really big name guys before they were big name guys.

I think being a GM is an attainable goal for someone like you or I, but being an NFL General Manager is probably not attainable. Broaden your search. If you are good at it, people will pay you boatloads of cash to make their decisions for them.

[backrow]

Originally Posted by skinster

I'm writing an essay about seemingly impossible dream jobs and why they are impossible. My dream job is an NFL GM, but despite the fact that there are only 32 of them, another requirement seems to be having actually played football at a reasonably high level. Before I say this, I'd like to know if anyone knows of any GMs/front office guys that didn't play football or grow up in a football family that could disprove what I say?

It's not hard or impossible! We all do it right here everyday here in Warpath land!


Now being President of the U.S. isn't hard either according to my son. If you get a seat on your local city council, you are only 5 (five) steps away from a potential Presidential bid. 1. City councilman, 2. Mayor (Maybe skip this step!) 3. Local state rep, 4. State Govenor, or U.S. Senate bid, 5. Potential Presidential bid

[FRPLG]

Well everyone has hit it on the head. But the key is you have to be good. You can want to be something a boatload but if you aren't any good you're out of luck.

[PWNED]

maybe see if you can call mike brown?

[Lotus]

Since you are writing an essay, the first line should be, "In October 1492 Christopher Columbus discovered the H-back position."