Washington officially named Martin Mayhew as general manager Friday, announcing he will report to coach Ron Rivera.
The team also announced the hiring of former Panthers general manager Marty Hurney, who will be Washington’s new executive vice president of player personnel.
Mayhew, 55, is best known for being the former general manager of the Detroit Lions, helping rebuild an 0-16 team that eventually made the playoffs twice throughout his eight-season tenure (2008 to 2015). He joins Washington from the San Francisco 49ers, where he served as the team’s vice president of player personnel.
Mayhew, a former Redskins cornerback who played for the team for four seasons, was one of six known candidates to interview for the position.
“Martin is a proven general manager who will bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to the organization,” Rivera said in a statement. “He will be an integral part of running the daily football operations and will allow me the opportunity to focus more on coaching. He impressed both myself and Mr. (Dan) Snyder during the interview process and we both believe he will be a tremendous fit here.
“He is a man of high character and integrity and was part of the rich history and tradition of this great franchise as a member of the Super Bowl championship team in 1991.”
Hurney, 65, who was believed to be the front-runner for the general manager spot before reports emerged Thursday that Mayhew would technically have the title, joins Washington’s front office and will now collaborate with Rivera and Mayhew.
Hurney got his start in Washington, where he was hired as a public relations assistant after working for The Washington Times. He served as Carolina’s general manager from 2002 to 2012 and later in 2017 until he was fired in December.
In a statement, Rivera said Hurney is an “excellent talent evaluator” and someone he could trust.
“He knows the amount of hard work it takes to operate a successful personnel department,” Rivera said. “Marty has a proven track record as a successful scout and general manager and will be a vital part of shaping our roster. Both myself and Mr. Snyder agreed that he would bring an enormous amount of experience to our operation. It is also fitting that Marty started his career here working for the legendary Bobby Beathard. I look forward to collaborating with both Marty and Martin in the years to come.”
Both men are expected to work closely with Rivera. Washington runs a “coach-centric” approach, meaning Rivera has final say over football matters. Rivera led the general manager search this offseason, as well.
Mayhew is now the NFL’s third Black general manager. Washington is the only team to have minorities as team president (Jason Wright), coach (Rivera) and general manager (Mayhew).
• Matthew Paras can be reached at mparas@washingtontimes.com.
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