Commanders GM Adam Peters Reveals Lessons Learned from 49ers
The Washington Commanders haven't won a playoff game in 18 years. In that same timespan, the San Francisco 49ers have won 11 such games.
The Commanders hired general manager Adam Peters away from his role as 49ers assistant general manager. He's tasked with replacing Martin Mayhew, who similarly ventured from the Bay area to the national's capital three years ago.
Peters' first priority is finding a head coach in the aftermath of Ron Rivera's firing, but thereafter, he'll shift his focus to rebuilding a team fresh off a 4-13 season that concluded with eight straight losses.
Washington Commanders general manager Adam Peters.
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It's a stark contrast from Peters' situation in San Francisco, which secured the No. 1 seed in the NFC after a 13-4 campaign and boasts one of the league's finest rosters.
Now, his task becomes translating similar success to Washington - and he believes his time with the 49ers equipped him with the recipes needed to do exactly that.
"It's having an aligned vision, having collaboration, having inclusions with everybody, everybody pulling in the same direction," Peters said. "That's how we did it in San Francisco. The good times are easy, but that's what allows you to get through the tough times as well."
Peters' experience with winning organizations extends beyond San Francisco.
The 44-year-old won Super Bowls while working in the front office with the New England Patriots and Denver Broncos before helping general manager John Lynch turn around the 49ers.
"Adam's a winner," Commanders owner Josh Harris said. "He's won everywhere he's been. First in Boston, then in obviously Denver, then in San Francisco, and he's learned from a lot of great leaders."
Both Peters and the Commanders are hoping he can continue his winning ways - and with a proven track record of doing it, each party is optimistic in what lays ahead.
"He's about excellence," Harris said. "He's about attracting the best people and then holding them accountable. He's about building edges. He's inclusive. He wants people from a lot of different backgrounds, a lot of different perspectives.
"So, it was a pretty easy decision from my point of view."
