Washington Commanders owner Josh Harris is expected to make sweeping changes to the organization that he, along with his fellow minority partners, purchased for $6.05 billion back in July.
That means head coach Ron Rivera, who has a 26-36-1 record in four seasons with Washington, is likely gone after the season. Rivera is also the head of all football operations for the Commanders, meaning Harris is likely looking for a new general manager, too.
Sure, Martin Mayhew is Washington’s current GM, but he works for Rivera. Rivera hired Mayhew and has been the organization’s top football decision-maker since 2020.
Marty Hurney is another one of Rivera’s front-office hires. Rivera hired Hurney as Washington’s executive vice president of football for player personnel in 2021. Hurney, a former beat reporter who covered the then-Redskins in the 1980s, joined Washington’s PR department before following legendary GM Bobby Beathard to the Chargers. Hurney spent years working for Beathard before the Carolina Panthers hired him in 1998. In 2002, Hurney was promoted to general manager.
Hurney would have two stints as Carolina’s GM and is responsible for hiring Rivera as head coach there in 2011.
And, according to Kevin Sheehan of Team 980 in Washington, D.C, Harris has been leaning on Hurney in recent months.
“What I’ve learned is that Marty Hurney, who was a long-time executive in Carolina with Ron Rivera and a long and now has been with Rivera here for the last 2 ½ years, has become a trusted voice in the organization for Josh Harris,” Sheehan said Monday, per Lou DiPietro of Audacy. “And David Tepper, who Josh Harris knows and is the current owner of the Panthers, was apparently high on Hurney as well.”
Relax, Washington fans.
“Remember, Hurney has been in this league a long time and knows the key players, and while I’m not saying he’ll be the hire, as Josh Harris is looking for an opinion he trusts, he may be a voice of who to bring in for an interview and what names fill what buckets,” Sheehan continued.
What does this mean? Well, it could be as simple as Harris trusting Hurney, who has worked in the NFL for over 30 years in a variety of roles. It doesn’t mean Harris will promote Hurney. As Sheehan noted, Carolina owner David Tepper leaned on Hurney when he purchased the Panthers. Harris could be having Hurney evaluate Washington’s roster. He could also be questioning him about up-and-coming executives and coaches from around the NFL.
Rivera, Mayhew and Hurney know the deal. When a new owner took over, their job security was on the clock.
The Commanders have four games remaining on the 2023 schedule, and then the real work begins for Harris.