The Buffalo Bills have promoted from within, naming Doug Whaley the organization's newest general manager on Thursday, according to Chris Brown of the team's website.
Bills name Doug Whaley new general manager
Buffalo is handing the reigns over to Whaley, who, along with new head coach Doug Marrone, form what the Bills hope will be a dynamic duo of Dougs.
USA TODAY Sports
The 41-year-old Whaley, writes Brown, has been an integral member of the Bills’ front office and NFL Draft team for three years. He will replace Buddy Nix, who took himself out of the position on Monday. Nix will, according to the report, remain on staff with the Bills as a special assistant.
Whaley began in Buffalo as the assistant general manager/director of pro personnel and worked primarily in scouting draft prospects and NFL free agents. It’s a promotion that, as CBSSports.com’s Jason La Canfora notes, was being prepped by the Bills for awhile. Whaley, it seems, was their guy from the get-go.
Some of Buffalo's recent moves include the signings of quarterback Kevin Kolb, defensive tackle Alan Branch and linebacker Manny Lawson. The Bills also cut quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick in March. They made a splash by trading down in the first round of the 2013 NFL Draft, selecting the first quarterback off the board, Florida State's E.J. Manuel, at No. 16. Draft gurus graded the Bills' overall draft anywhere from a C- to a B.
The announcement signals Buffalo's complete regime change. Along with a new general manager in Whaley, the Bills hired former Syracuse head coach Doug Marrone back in January to replace Chan Gailey. Before joining the Bills, Whaley was a pro scouting coordinator for his hometown Pittsburgh Steelers for 11 years. He has two Super Bowl rings from his time with the Steelers.
More from SB Nation:
See More:
