In a surprising about-face from previous reports, the Washington Football Team announced the hiring of former player and 20-year NFL executive Martin Mayhew as general manager.
Mayhew held the same title previously with the Detroit Lions from 2008 – 2015.
Most recently, he was the Vice President of Player Personnel with the San Francisco 49ers. The 49ers were in the Super Bowl last year.
Mayhew is remembered by fans who recall the Joe Gibbs years and Washington’s last Super Bowl. As a cornerback on the “Redskins” from 1989 through 1992, Mayhew started on the Super Bowl XXVI team that defeated the Buffalo Bills.
Previous reports had linked former Carolina Panthers GM Marty Hurney, to the position with Washington. Hurney has a long history with Head Coach Ron Rivera from their time in Charlotte together. Overnight all of that changed to fans’ delight, and Mayhew was named to the post with Hurney expected to join the organization in a different executive role.
Rivera stated that Mayhew would be an integral part of running the daily football operations and allow himself to focus more on coaching.
“Martin is a proven general manager who will bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to the organization,” said Rivera. “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. 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.”
Mayhew’s hire continues a trend of diversity hires for Washington. Over the past summer, the team hired Jason Wright as Team President. He is the first Black team president in the history of the NFL and currently is the youngest team president in the League.
Washington hired Julie Donaldson to run their media structure as Senior Vice President of Media & Content and become the first female to do so in the NFL.
The team also announced the full-time hiring of assistant coach Jennifer King on Thursday. King recently spent the 2020 season as a coaching intern for Washington. She is the first full-time African-American female coach in NFL history.
Rivera is one of four minority head coaches in the NFL, with more possibly on the way.
Mayhew has held several positions over his career. He is a graduate of Florida State University and also has a law degree from Georgetown University.
Here is a timeline of Mayhew’s career:
2021: General Manager, Washington Football Team
2019-20: Vice President of Player Personnel, San Francisco 49ers
2017-18: Senior Personnel Executive, San Francisco 49ers
2016: Director of Football Operations/Special Projects, New York Giants
2008-15: General Manager, Detroit Lions
2004-07: Senior Vice President and Assistant General Manager, Detroit Lions
2003: Senior Vice President of Football Administration/Staff Counsel, Detroit Lions
2001-02: Senior Director of Football Administration/Staff Counsel, Detroit Lions
2000: Labor Operations and Legal Intern, National Football League
1999: Personnel Intern, Washington Redskins
1993-96: Cornerback, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
1989-92: Cornerback, Washington Redskins
1988: Cornerback, Buffalo Bills
