The Cleveland Browns shook up their front office Tuesday, firing general manager Michael Lombardi to replace him with assistant general manager Ray Farmer, the team announced via Twitter. The Browns have a press conference scheduled for 11:30 a.m. ET to announce the organizational changes.
Browns fire Michael Lombardi, promote Ray Farmer to GM
General manager Michael Lombardi and president Joe Banner will leave the Browns after just one full season with the team.
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Joining Lombardi on his way out of the organization is Joe Banner, the team’s president, who will “transition out” of his position over the next two months, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.
Farmer, 39, was considered a finalist for the Miami Dolphins general manager job, and even commented to the Cleveland Plain Dealer that he likely would have received the job had he not pulled his name from consideration. Instead, Farmer elected to stay on as the assistant general manager in Cleveland, where he says the Browns are "in position to redefine the history books."
Banner became CEO of the team in October 2012, and hired Lombardi and head coach Rob Chudzinski the following January. Chudzinski was fired after just one season, and now Banner and Lombardi will join him on the way out of Cleveland.
Farmer will have two first-round selections to work with in the 2014 NFL Draft, including the fourth-overall selection. The Browns acquired the 26th overall pick from the Indianapolis Colts during the 2013 season in a trade that sent away running back Trent Richardson.
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