The Washington football team hired Chris Polian on Monday, adding another experienced voice to his renovated office. Polian, the third former general manager Washington added this off-season, will serve as director of professional staff.
Polian played a similar role to Jacksonville from 2013 to ’19; he left the NFL last season. Polian served as general manager at the Indianapolis Colts from 2009 until ’11. His father, Bill, made the Hall of Fame for his work as NFL general manager.
Washington recently promoted its former professional personnel director, Eric Stokes, to the position of senior player personnel director.
Last month, Washington hired Martin Mayhew as its new general manager, a job he once held at the Detroit Lions. He also hired Marty Hurney, who held the Carolina Panthers title, to be his new senior vice president of staff.
Polian first joined the NFL in 1994 as a staff assistant with Carolina and was a professional research director, assistant general manager and director of football operations throughout his career. He also has experience working with the salary cap, which was another factor in his decision to hire him.
He has never worked with Mayhew, Hurney or Washington coach Ron Rivera in the past.
Last month, Washington allowed its former player personnel director, Kyle Smith, to take on a similar job with the Atlanta Falcons. He also parted ways with Assistant Director of Advanced Scouting / Coordinator Jeff Scott, National Researcher Cole Spencer and Personnel Coordinator / Pro Researcher Brian Zeches.