Scott Pioli

Scott Pioli (born March 31, 1965) is an American football executive who most recently worked as the assistant general manager for the Atlanta Falcons.

He was an NFL analyst for NBC Sports' Football Night in America, NBC Sports Network's Pro Football Talk, Sirius XM NFL Radio and the NFL Network.

He previously served as a front office executive for the Cleveland Browns, Baltimore Ravens, New York Jets, New England Patriots and Kansas City Chiefs.

Pioli's relationship with Belichick dated back to the mid-1980s, when as a student at Central Connecticut, Pioli would drive 90 minutes to the New York Giants training camp.

Through a mutual friend, Pioli was introduced to then-Giants defensive coordinator Belichick, who was impressed at Pioli's dedication to travel to each practice and offered him a place to stay.

In Cleveland, Pioli was responsible for the evaluation of both college prospects and veteran free agents, as well as negotiating various player contracts.

Pioli grew up in Washingtonville, New York and attended Washingtonville High School, where he played linebacker and defensive line before graduating in 1983.

Between 1983 and 1988 he attended Central Connecticut State University, graduating in 1988 with a degree in communications.

He was a three-time Division II All-New England selection as a defensive tackle.

In 1988, after graduating with a degree in communications, he accepted a two-year graduate assistant position at Syracuse University, where he also earned a master's degree from the S. I. Newhouse School of Public Communications.

Pioli served as a graduate assistant with the Syracuse football team from 1988 to 1989.

In 1990, he began a two-year stint at Murray State University as an offensive line coach in his first year (1990) and as a defensive line coach in his second year (1991).

In 1992, Pioli was hired as a pro personnel assistant by Bill Belichick, then the head coach of the Cleveland Browns.

When the Browns moved to Baltimore after the 1995 season, Pioli stayed with the team and was promoted to Pro Personnel Coordinator for the Ravens' 1996 season and was part of the personnel staff that drafted eventual HOFers Jonathan Ogden and Ray Lewis.

Pioli was credited with the signing of a number of veteran free agents, including Kevin Mawae, Vinny Testaverde and Bryan Cox, who played critical roles in the Jets' rebuilding process which helped the team rebound from a 1–15 record in 1996 to a 12–4 record in 1998.

In 1997, Pioli rejoined Belichick and was hired by the New York Jets as the team's director of pro personnel.

The 1998 Jets recorded a franchise-high 12 wins and their first division title since 1968.

When Belichick accepted the Patriots' head coaching position in 2000, Pioli became vice president of player personnel.

From 2000 to 2008, the Patriots had an NFL-best record of 102–42 (.708) and registered 14 playoff victories.

Pioli worked in close coordination with Belichick, bringing players to the Patriots who fit into the framework of the club's team concept.

Pioli and Belichick's teams were noted for the depth of talent at all the positions and used an effective combination of draft picks, free-agent signings, and trades to continually upgrade their roster.

The most-notable selection in an NFL Draft by Pioli and Belichick was quarterback Tom Brady, who was chosen 199th overall in the 2000 NFL Draft.

Pioli served as the director – and later vice president – of player personnel for the Patriots from 2001 to 2008 when the franchise won three Super Bowl championships.

The two eventually became the first personnel director/head coach tandem in league annals to win three Super Bowls during a four-year span (2001–2004).

He and Belichick split the duties usually held by a general manager on most other NFL teams, though Belichick had the final say.

Pioli's skills as a talent evaluator helped create a consistent championship contender in New England.

He was regularly recognized for his ability to build a team, not simply collecting individual talent, helping to make the Patriots a "model franchise".

In his tenure with the Patriots, Pioli earned promotions from assistant director of player personnel to director of player personnel in 2001, and to vice president of player personnel in 2002.

In 2005, Central Connecticut inducted Pioli into their hall of fame.

Also, Pioli earned a contract extension in 2005 after being pursued by several NFL teams to become general manager.

In 2007, the Patriots finished their regular season with a 16–0 record, a first in NFL history.

The team advanced to Super Bowl XLII but lost famously to the New York Giants 17–14 and failed to finish the season with a perfect 19–0 record.

Prior to the season, Pioli executed trades to acquire wide receivers Wes Welker and Randy Moss, both of whom helped the Patriots set multiple NFL records on offense.

After the 2008 Patriots season, Pioli was interviewed by the Cleveland Browns to replace the recently fired Phil Savage as the team's general manager.

Though initially seen as a long-shot, Pioli was also interviewed by the Kansas City Chiefs and was reportedly the number one candidate to succeed Carl Peterson as general manager.

The Chiefs confirmed that Pioli was hired on January 13, 2009.

Later that day, Belichick released the following statement to the press:

"To sum up in words everything Scott Pioli has meant to this organization and to me personally would be difficult, if not impossible. From the day I met him, he has demonstrated a passion for football and respect for the game that is second to none. It has been extremely gratifying for me to follow Scott's career ascension from the bottom of the totem pole in Cleveland to his place as a pillar of championship teams in New England. Now with the opportunity to steer his own ship and a vision of building a winner, there is no more capable, hardworking, loyal, team-oriented person than Scott Pioli. On a personal level, the Belichick-Pioli bond runs far deeper than our workplace, as we and our families have shared countless memories away from football. Working side by side with one of my best friends for almost two decades is special enough in itself. But to help each other achieve success beyond our dreams is a blessing and something I will always remember and appreciate."

Pioli was introduced at a press conference in Kansas City the following day.

On January 23, 2009, Pioli fired head coach Herman Edwards.