Jerry Angelo
Personal information | |
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Born: | 1949 (age 74–75) |
Career information | |
College: | Miami (Ohio) |
Career history | |
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As an executive: | |
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Jerry Angelo (born c. 1949) is a former
Early career
Angelo began his career in the NFL as a scout for both the New York Giants and the Dallas Cowboys in the early 1980s. Four years later he moved on to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, a team that had experienced brief success. An expansion team established in 1976, the Buccaneers lost the 1979 NFC Championship Game to the Los Angeles Rams. What followed were a chaotic series of player tragedies and setbacks that sent the team into a slump. A succession of coaches and numerous roster changes failed to revive the team throughout the 1980s. Angelo was associated with the appearance of front office divisions and management mistakes. By the late 1990s his 14-year tenure in Tampa Bay was perceived as successful, as the Buccaneers made the playoffs three times from 1997 to 2000. With new ownership of the franchise, Angelo moved on to the Chicago Bears.
Chicago Bears
Angelo became the Chicago Bears' general manager in 2001.
After firing Dick Jauron, Angelo sought a new coach. The short list was Nick Saban, Russ Grimm, and Lovie Smith. Nick Saban was the frontrunner, but wanted the GM powers Angelo just acquired. Saban went on to a short tenure with the Miami Dolphins prior to returning to college football. Russ Grimm was the second choice but was not hired.
Lovie Smith was hired by Angelo as the coach of the Chicago Bears in 2004. The Bears went from 5–11 in 2004, to 11–6 in 2005 (including a playoff loss to the Carolina Panthers) to a team in 2006 that went 15–4 after losing Super Bowl XLI to the Indianapolis Colts. Angelo was ranked as the eighth best general manager in professional sports in February 2007.[2]
Following the 2007 Super Bowl run, the Bears were mired in player personnel controversies. First, many players, media and fans were upset that head coach Lovie Smith was not given a contract extension, despite being the lowest paid head coach in the NFL and taking his team to the Super Bowl. The Bears eventually relented, granting Smith a 4-year extension after at times bitter negotiations. Then, Angelo traded his leading rusher and locker room favorite, Thomas Jones, plus the Bears 2nd round draft pick, for the Jets' second round draft pick. Further damping the Bears off-season was a prolonged contract battle with star linebacker Lance Briggs, who eventually had the franchise tag placed on him.
2007
The
2008
The Bears drafted
The 2008 Chicago Bears finished with a 9–7 record, and missed the playoffs after losing their season finale to the Houston Texans.[12] After the season conclusion, Angelo parted with many of the team's defensive coaches, and hired Rod Marinelli.[13] He also commented on the team's need to acquire a stable quarterback, dismissing rumors that Kyle Orton was the franchise's long-term solution.[14] In an interview in January 2009, he stated, “It’s all about the quarterback... You don’t win because of wide receivers. You don’t win because of running backs. You win because of the quarterback. We have to get that position stabilized. We’re fixated on that.”[15]
2009
In March 2009, Angelo, along with several other NFL teams, expressed interest in acquiring Pro Bowl quarterback
2010
A clause in the 2006 collective bargaining agreement with the NFL established that there would be no salary cap in 2010. Thus, teams would be able to spend as much money as they wanted towards their players' salaries without having to worry about penalties or restrictions. On the first day of free agency, the Bears signed Pro Bowl defensive end Julius Peppers, running back Chester Taylor, and tight end Brandon Manumaleuna.[21] Angelo hired Mike Martz to replace Ron Turner as the Bears offensive coordinator, and promoted defensive line coach Rod Marinelli to defensive coordinator.[22]
2011
Angelo was fired by the Bears on January 3, 2012. The reason for his firing was due to a combination of poor drafting and questionable free agent signings, with the team stating they wanted to "close a talent gap" to stay competitive with the rival Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions in the NFC North.[23] He left with a 95-81 record as the Bears' general manager. He was succeeded by Phil Emery on January 29, 2012.
Domestic abuse comments
In an October 2014 USA Today interview, Angelo said that during his years in professional football, he and other executives overlooked "hundreds and hundreds" of instances domestic violence. The Chicago Bears quickly released a statement, "We were surprised by Jerry's comments and do not know what he is referring to." The newspaper stands by the quote as attributed.
References
- ^ Miami University: Notable Alumni Archived July 25, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Front Office Bio Archived August 6, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Mayer, Larry (2008-06-18). "Signings show Bears feel free agency begins at home". chicagobears.com. Archived from the original on 2012-07-17. Retrieved 2009-01-06.
- ^ Mayer, Larry (2007-12-31). "Smith sees QB stability as critical issue with Bears". chicagobears.com. Archived from the original on 2008-01-03. Retrieved 2008-03-05.
- ^ Mayer, Larry (2008-01-08). "Benson insists competing for top job won't faze him". chicagobears.com. Archived from the original on 2008-01-12. Retrieved 2008-03-05.
- ^ Dillon, Dennis (2008-02-25). "Re-signing Grossman doesn't improve Bears". sportingnews.com. Sporting News. Archived from the original on 2008-05-02. Retrieved 2008-03-05.
- ^ Seligman, Andrew (2008-06-09). "Bears waive Benson following 2nd arrest". Yahoo! Sports. Retrieved 2008-06-10.[permanent dead link]
- ^ Back spasms KO top pick Williams Archived July 29, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Chris Williams : USA Today.com Archived May 8, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Williams' back issue no secret to Bears Archived September 3, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Bears rally behind Grossman to keep Lions winless". Associated Press. 2008-11-02. Retrieved 2008-11-02.
- ^ Biggs, Brad (2008-12-19). "Bears have no one to blame but themselves after loss". Chicago Sun-Times. Archived from the original on 2009-01-01. Retrieved 2009-01-01.
- ^ Cotsonika, Nicholas (2009-01-07). "Could Marinelli clan be headed for Windy City?". freep.com. Retrieved 2009-01-08. [dead link]
- ^ Mayer, Larry (2008-12-30). "Solidifying QB position remains one of Angelo's top priorities". chicagobears.com. Archived from the original on 2008-12-31. Retrieved 2009-01-01.
- ^ Hayes, Neil (2009-01-07). "Angelo is right, time to change Bears' identity". Chicago Sun-Times. Archived from the original on 2009-01-17. Retrieved 2009-01-08.
- ^ Williamson, Bill (2009-02-28). "Source: Spurned Cutler wants to be traded". ESPN.com. Archived from the original on 2009-03-02. Retrieved 2009-03-01.
- ^ Schefter, Adam (2009-02-28). "Cutler upset over potential deals to Detroit, Tampa Bay". NFL.com. Retrieved 2009-02-28.
- NFL.com. Retrieved 2009-04-02.
- ^ Mayer, Larry (2009-04-02). "Bears agree to terms with seven-time Pro Bowler Pace". chicagobears.com. Archived from the original on 2012-04-06. Retrieved 2009-12-21.
- ^ Mitchell, Fred (2009-02-26). "Bears President Ted Phillips backs Jerry Angelo, Lovie Smith". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2011-01-04.
- ^ Clayton, John (2010-03-06). "Peppers, Bears finalize deal". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2013-01-29.
- ^ Mitchell, Fred (2010-08-15). "Marinelli, Martz have plenty to look at". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2011-01-04.
- ^ Biggs, Brad (2012-01-03). "Bears cite talent gap in firing Angelo". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2012-01-03.
- ^ Former NFL exec: Teams hid 'hundreds' of abuse incidents; by Josh Peter, USA Today, 9 October 2014
- Profootballtalk.com. Retrieved 2014-10-20.