INDIANAPOLIS — Much has been made about the Bill Walsh coaching tree.
Less recognized, but becoming increasingly formidable within the NFL industry is the Rich McKay general manager tree.
During his 15 seasons as general manager of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Atlanta Falcons, McKay groomed five future and current GMs — Chicago’s Jerry Angelo, Seattle’s Tim Ruskell, St. Louis’ Billy Devaney, Tampa Bay’s Mark Dominik and the Broncos’ Brian Xanders.
Devaney, Dominik and Xanders all received their first GM jobs within the past two months.
“I’m proud of Brian because Brian worked it from every angle,” McKay said here Wednesday where the league’s scouts, coaches and executives have gathered for the NFL scouting combine.
Dominik is rooted in pro scouting. Angelo and Ruskell are based in college scouting. Devaney had been a long-time front-office assistant for Bobby Beathard and McKay.
“I think Brian’s unique because he has a coaching background, he was in quality control where he would spend 20-hour days poring over film, he’s been in the salary cap — he’s seen the whole business,” McKay said.
Nevermind Broncos coach Josh McDaniels branching off from Bill Belichick. Xanders grew from a GM family where McKay, Angelo and Ruskell have all built teams that reached the Super Bowl.
Only now, for the first time, Xanders won’t be merely recommending players. He will be listening to recommendations and picking the players. Big difference. The toughest part about having the biggest desk in the front office?
“It’s finding a way to build a consensus that gets to the right player,” McKay said. “Brian has seen different people do that in different ways. If you don’t build that consensus, then you wind up drafting a player that, as soon as he shows any flaws, he will not be embraced by other people in your organization.”
