Raiders Reportedly To Hire McKenzie For GM Role
OAKLAND (CBS Sports) -- Green Bay Packers director of football operations Reggie McKenzie will become general manager for the Oakland Raiders, according to a national report.
McKenzie, a Raiders alum, has deep roots with the team.
The Raiders drafted him in the 10th round out of the University of Tennessee in 1985, and he played four seasons as a linebacker with the team when it was located in Los Angeles.
He played in a total of 58 games for the Raiders, with 40 starts.
Following the death of team owner Al Davis on Oct. 8, coach Hue Jackson operated essentially as the general manager and personnel director in addition to head coach and offensive coordinator. He only needed approval from Mark Davis, Al's son, and CEO Amy Trask to pull the trigger on deals that brought linebacker Aaron Curry and quarterback Carson Palmer.
McKenzie, who comes with the recommendation of a pair of former Raiders talent execs, Ron Wolf and Ken Herock, operates in a Green Bay system in which the front office procures talent and the coaching staff takes care of everything on the field.
In that system, Jackson would have input, but the final decision for draft picks and free agency in terms of stocking a roster would belong to McKenzie as the general manager, or whatever title the Raiders decide to bestow upon a front office czar.
Oakland has never operated with a general manager, with Al Davis getting input from scouts and coaches and making decisions for the franchise.
Mark Davis does not have the football background of his late father and is looking for someone to run the football operation and presumably collaborate with Jackson to get the Raiders back in the playoffs.
Following a season-ending loss to San Diego in a game that could have given the Raiders the AFC West title, Jackson vowed to take a stronger hand within the organization.
At his season-ending press conference, Jackson conceded he had no knowledge of how the Raiders would proceed in terms of an organizational structure.
"I would hope the organization understands that I have a pretty good idea of where we need to go," Jackson said. "If not, then I shouldn't be sitting where I'm sitting. I think I know exactly what this team needs and how they need to do it."
Jackson said he is more than willing to share the role with someone who shares his vision.
"I don't have any other vision or any other ego," Jackson told Sirius XM NFL Radio. "My whole thing is about winning and whatever it takes to win. Do I want to make sure I have an idea and have some input on who I put on a team? Yes. But if the chain of command starts with the GM when it comes to those decisions, I'm fine with that, too."
The Raiders have had nine head coaches since returning to Oakland in 1995, with Jackson getting his shot in 2011, succeeding Tom Cable.
"I'm not going to get caught up in who we hire and who we bring in here," Jackson said. "I know how that works. I know people say, 'If they hire a GM, then he's going to want to bring in his head coach.'
"If that's what Mark decided to do, that's his right. I don't think that's the case."
In November, McKenzie, a Raiders inside linebacker from 1985-88, discussed with the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel the possibility of going to Oakland but indicated he wouldn't take a lateral move and would want general manager responsibilities.
"It's interesting because of my history," McKenzie said. "They allowed me to come in to the NFL. I'm forever grateful. I had some good years up there."
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