New Washington Commanders general manager Adam Peters got his first NFL job back in 2003 with the New England Patriots. After one year as a graduate assistant at his alma mater UCLA, Peters joined the Patriots as a scout in 2003.
The man who gave Peters his first NFL job was Scott Pioli. In 2003, Pioli served as New England’s vice president of player personnel. Essentially, Pioli was the general manager, but that title belonged to head coach Bill Belichick. Still, Pioli was Belichick’s top personnel guy.
Belichick and Pioli built a dynasty with the Patriots. Not only did New England win multiple Super Bowls over two decades, but the Patriots also developed several future general managers.
Pioli was a guest on the “The Hoffman Show” on Team 980 Friday and discussed hiring Peters. Pioli said he and Belichick first met Peters on a scouting trip to UCLA while Peters was a grad assistant. Pioli remained in contact with Peters and later hired him.
The former Patriots executive and Chiefs GM explained that Belichick liked football players who were former walk-ons, such as Peters at UCLA. Belichick appreciated the work ethic and it showed that the player loved football, which was one of several reasons why Peters appealed to the Patriots.
As far as the Commanders hiring Peters, Pioli praised the move.
“Personally, I’m really excited for Adam,” Pioli said. “I’ve known him for so long, and I’m happy for him and his family. I am also excited for Washington. I have so much respect for that franchise,” he said while noting he grew up a fan of the New York Giants.
“I’ve always loved the franchise,” Pioli said of Washington. “I’ve always respected the franchise. I’m excited and truly hopeful this works out well for everybody.”
So, what should Washington fans expect from Peters?
“He understands his role is to find and acquire talent,” Pioli said of Peters. “Draft it, sign it, get it under contract, and help the head coach develop it. I think Adam’s philosophy is he knows what wins in this league; he’s seen it in New England, he’s seen it in San Francisco. He also knows that the most important part of a general manager and someone who acquires talent is to humble themselves and make sure that they’re finding the talent that fits the head coach’s needs and what the scheme’s needs are.”
Peters has won with the Patriots, Broncos and 49ers. He’s won working for different head coaches, most notably Belichick and Kyle Shanahan. What the Commanders have lacked for years is a general manager and coach working together to draft and sign players who fit their schemes. The previous regime spent big free-agent dollars on a cornerback that didn’t fit their scheme, yet tried to make it work. It failed miserably. It happened years before with Josh Norman, too.
Don’t expect that from Peters. If the Commanders don’t sign the biggest-name free agent, don’t worry because Peters will be aligned with the coaches on bringing in the free agents who can best help the Commanders win.
A new day in Washington, indeed.