Bears to interview four general manager candidates
January 11, 2012
Bears to interview four general manager candidates
By: Larry Mayer | Last Updated: 1/11/2012 6:05 PM
In their search for a new general manager, the Bears have received permission and will interview four candidates: Chiefs director of college scouting Phil Emery, Patriots director of pro personnel Jason Licht, Chargers director of player personnel Jimmy Raye and Giants director of college scouting Marc Ross.
Since relieving Jerry Angelo of his duties Jan. 3, the Bears have been extensively researching viable replacements throughout the NFL, speaking to associates in ownership, management and coaching.
Here’s a closer look at the four candidates who will interview with the Bears:
Phil Emery
Chiefs director of college scouting
Emery first entered the NFL as an area scout with the Bears from 1998-2004. He later served as director of college scouting with the Falcons from 2004-08 before working as a regional scout for Atlanta leading up to the 2009 draft. Emery has spent the past three seasons as Kansas City’s director of college scouting.
The Garden City, Mich., native served as director of strength and conditioning services as well as an associate professor at the U.S. Naval Academy from 1991-98. He was responsible for the development, administration and supervision of all strength and conditioning activities for 4,000 Midshipmen.
Jason Licht
Patriots director of pro personnel
Licht is in his 16th NFL season. He re-joined the Patriots personnel department in 2009 after previously spending four seasons (1999-2002) with New England. In 2008, Licht served as a personnel executive for the NFC Champion Cardinals after spending five seasons with the Eagles as vice president of player personnel (2006-07) and assistant director of player personnel (2003-05).
Licht first joined the Patriots personnel department in 1999 as a college scout. In June 2001, he became the team’s national scout, responsible for evaluating top college prospects and NFL players. After the Patriots’ Super Bowl XXXVI championship in February 2002, Licht was promoted to assistant director of player personnel, a position he held through the 2002 season.
Jimmy Raye
Chargers director of player personnel
Raye oversees the Chargers’ pro and college scouting departments and assists on player personnel matters. He joined San Diego in 1996, spending four seasons as a scout from 1996-99 and eight as director of college scouting from 2000-07.
Raye was a wide receiver with the Los Angeles Rams in 1991 and later went to training camp with the Chargers in 1992 and Houston Oilers in 1993. His father, Jimmy Raye II, played for the Eagles in 1969 and spent 34 years as an NFL assistant, most recently with the 49ers in 2010.
Marc Ross
Giants director of college scouting
Ross is in his fifth season as Giants director of college scouting. He joined the organization in 2007 and ran his first draft in 2008.
Ross first worked in the NFL as a public relations intern with the Giants in 1995. He later joined the Eagles personnel department in 1996 before serving as the team’s eastern regional scout from 1997-2000, when at age 27 he became the NFL’s youngest college scouting director.
While Emery, Licht, Raye and Ross are scheduled for interviews, Bears director of player personnel Tim Ruskell also remains an in-house candidate to replace Angelo. The team has not ruled out additional candidates.
Bears to interview four GM candidates
