Screen grab of John Dorsey (left), Clark Hunt (right) from Monday’s presser
For the second straight Monday, the Chiefs formally presented a new face, signaling a new era of team leadership.
Head coach Andy Reid took the spotlight seven days ago; this week the spotlight fell on the new general manager.
“Sitting here today, just 14 days into 2013, we are excited to officially welcome one of the top personnel men in the league to the Chiefs, our new general manager John Dorsey,” Chiefs chairman and CEO Clark Hunt said in opening remarks. “John is an experienced player personnel executive who has helped shape some outstanding football teams over the last 22 years.”
Dorsey joins the Chiefs from the Green Bay Packers, where he previously served as the director of football operations, and his strong reputation in the NFL surrounds his ability to evaluate talent.
The Chiefs’ sixth general manager in franchise history made his name identifying players as the Packers director of college scouting, an area of expertise that Hunt lauded.
“From 2000 to 2011, John oversaw the Packers college scouting operations before being elevated to director of football operations in Green Bay last year,” Hunt said. “During a time as director of college scouting, several of Green Bay’s most important players were selected, including Pro Bowlers [linebacker] Clay Matthews, [wide receiver] Greg Jennings, [defensive tackle] B.J. Raji and most notably quarterback Aaron Rodgers.”
Other notable players Dorsey identified and contributed to Green Bay’s drafts in recent years include wide receivers Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb, tight end Jermichael Finley and linebacker A.J. Hawk.
Meanwhile, Dorsey said he’s excited to reunite with Reid, as both got their NFL starts under then-Packers coach Mike Holmgren in the 1990s.
Additionally, Dorsey said he’s honored to be in Kansas City and called his new position a “dream job.”
“I consider this franchise one of the crown jewels of the National Football League,” Dorsey said he told Hunt during their six-hour interview. “You have an owner that’s willing to win.
“You have a fan base that is as passionate and loyal as any fans there are in all of sports. And a support staff that is willing to roll their sleeves up and do the little things in order for this franchise to succeed. And of course, the deep history of this organization, the rich history of this organization.”
With Dorsey and Reid officially in place, the Chiefs can shift attention to turning around a franchise that suffered through a 23-41 record in the last four seasons under former general manager Scott Pioli.
The glaring hole remains at the quarterback position and Dorsey pointed out the importance of having the right player under center on today’s NFL.
“The quarterback is a very important part of any franchise as you note in the last couple of weeks in the playoffs,” Dorsey said. “I figure the quarterback position is a very important position to the success, the long-term success of an organization.”
[Related: Dorsey, Reid right duo to select next Chiefs QB.]
Still, much like Reid did last week during an introduction press conference, Dorsey stressed the importance of selecting the right player and wouldn’t commit to using the team’s No. 1 pick overall on a quarterback during April’s NFL Draft.
“Pick the best available player,” Dorsey said when asked by a reporter what he planned to do with the selection.
In the meantime, the Chiefs have a lot of work to do in the coming months, which includes putting together a plan for free agency and preparing for the NFL Draft.
And while the recent hires are a step in the right direction to get the Chiefs back on track, Dorsey also had a message to the team’s supporters.
“I’d like to make a promise to all the fans out there today that I am going to do everything within my God-given ability to ensure that we have as completive of a team in the National Football League as anybody in the NFL,” Dorsey said. “And I want to remind them, please be patient. This is not a sprint, it is a marathon.”
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