Washington Football Team will reportedly tab Martin Mayhew as GM

The Washington Football Team hired both Marty Hurney and Martin Mayhew to their front office. Until now, the exact role definitions for the two have been unclear.

With the two hires, Ron Rivera brought both a familiar face and an outside perspective to the Washington Football Team. Hurney worked alongside Rivera in two separate stints with the Carolina Panthers, and Mayhew encumbered front office experience with the Lions, Giants, and 49ers, serving as general manager in Detroit.

When the reports of Washington’s hires initially surfaced, it was unclear which one would be the general manager. But now, we have confirmation from ESPN’s John Keim. According to Keim, Martin Mayhew is set to be hired as the Washington Football Team’s general manager, while Hurney will be in a front office role that remains unspecified.

Hurney brings two decades of front office experience and almost a decade of general manager experience to the Washington Football Team, but his record doesn’t quite inspire. He logged a 41-63 record with the Lions from 2008 to 2016. Although he was hindered by Matt Millen, Mayhew does come with some uncertainty.

Having said that, Mayhew was considered a valued member of the 49ers front office that led its team to a Super Bowl after the 2019 season. According to Keim, an unnamed connection of Mayhew’s referred to him as “smart, analytical, and level-headed”. In a continuous rebuild, those qualities may be valued in a Washington Football Team organization that’s been a victim of tumult in recent years.

While Mayhew will take the reigns as general manager, the power division between Marty Hurney and VP of Player Personnel Kyle Smith remains unclear. Hurney may work in a close advisory role with Rivera, considering their history as co-workers. That leaves Smith to continue heading up college scouting.

At this point, definitive titles are needed for a few members. But we at least know who the general manager is. Martin Mayhew will be the top personnel executive beside Ron Rivera. Now that the first domino has fallen, it’s time to see how the department shakes out under him, and if any further changes are made.