The new NFL expansion team, the Omaha Fortune, has announced it’s new front office and coaching staff. The group will be made up of past NFL executives, players, and coaches. As discussed in last week’s article, they are not otherwise currently employed by the NFL or NCAA. This article will only deal in the front office, with the next one being the coaching staff.
New NFL Expansion Team, Part Two: Front Office
General Manager
The General Manager of the newly-made Omaha Fortune is a rookie to the position, but not to the game of football. The choice of Peyton Manning is not made lightly. The eighteen-year veteran quarterback called it quits in 2016 after winning Super Bowl 50. Since then, he’s made a myriad of TV appearances and kept purposely quiet about his future plans. In an interview with NBC’s Peter King in 2019, Manning left his options open but revealed that teams had come to him in the past.
He’s a well known, well-liked figure in the entire sports world, not just football. His connections and history with the game will lead to a good reputation at one of the hardest jobs someone could ask for. As a rookie at this position, he’s helped by the rest of his front office and coaching staff and put in a position to succeed for a new NFL expansion team.
Director of Pro Personnel
The Director of Pro Personnel is an undervalued job in the NFL. It’s their job to know every player already in the NFL and if they could help their team. The Omaha Fortune had the ability to recruit former coach and executive, Tom Coughlin. Coughlin has experience running an expansion team, as he was the first Head Coach and de facto General Manager of the Jacksonville Jaguars. He’s since led the New York Giants to two super bowl rings, as well as rebuilt the Jaguars in 2018 as vice president of football operations. He’s going to serve as Manning’s number two. He’ll be filling out the roster and serving in an advisory role as to how to run a team. His guidance will be crucial to the running of this team and the development of Manning into an executive.
Director of College Scouting
The Director of College Scouting for the Fortune will be former Tampa Bay Buccaneers General Manager Mark Dominik. Dominik was GM from 2009 to 2013 and hasn’t worked in the NFL since. Following his tenure, he was an analyst for ESPN and now leads an online sports management teaching course. It’s his job to look into the depth of college football and find the young stars for the Omaha Fortune. While he hasn’t technically been in this position in the NFL, he was a pro scout for his first thirteen years in the league. As a GM, he was responsible for the draftings of Lavonte David, Gerald McCoy, and Doug Martin, among others.
The next article will feature the core of the coaching staff as well as the stadium planning.
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