The Washington football team is expected to make Marty Hurney its new general manager, sources confirmed to ESPN.
The move, which was first reported by the NFL, offers another familiar face to coach Ron Rivera.
Hurney spent five seasons with Rivera in Carolina, being fired twice. He hired Rivera in 2011 and spent another year there before being fired.
He returned in 2017 as interim general manager and remained in that job until he was fired in December, in part because his “old school” methods clashed with owner David Tepper’s desire to find someone more aligned with an analysis and data approach.
Rivera will continue to have the power of football in the organization, being hired to provide a “coach-centered” model, according to owner Dan Snyder. But Washington wanted to add another person to its main office to take on some of Rivera’s administrative work. Hurney handled the salary cap in Carolina, among other duties. Outside of last season, Washington hired former Carolina assistant Rob Rogers to take on the role.
Washington also spoke with former Detroit general manager Martin Mayhew, Tennessee vice president for player staff Ryan Cowden and Washington professional director Eric Stokes, among others. Rivera did not interview Kyle Smith, the 11-year-old vice president of the Washington players’ staff.
Hurney returns to an organization he used to cover as a sports writer. He spent four years covering the team for The Washington Times before moving to the team’s public relations department. He became assistant general manager in San Diego in 1990.
Washington has hired 12 former Carolina coaches, plus head athletics coach Ryan Vermillion, after Rivera landed. He also hired Rogers, Stokes and professional scout Donnie Warren, who had also been with the Panthers.