WFT GM Candidate Profile: Hurney

Marty Hurney worked successfully with Ron Rivera twice in Carolina. He's a logical next option for Washington's open GM job - if he wants it.

ASHBURN, Va. -- Will Marty Hurney return home?

The former two-time Carolina Panthers general manager is a DC-area native born in Wheaton, Maryland, and attended high school at Good Council. 

He went to Catholic University in Washington and started his NFL career in public relations with the Washington Football organization. In addition, he once worked at the Washington Times with Rick Snider, who has done outstanding work for us here at SI.

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After leaving Washington, Hurney joined the Chargers organization with Bobby Beathard and then was on to Carolina, where he worked with Ron Rivera twice, side by side.

That leaves a natural path back to Washington and the Football Team if Hurney and Rivera want another go at it.

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One issue that we've heard that could prevent a reunion is the thought and belief that Hurney does not want to do the full load of a typical general manager and especially to fill the role that Rivera is ideally looking for. 

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"There’s more to this position than meets the eye," Rivera told Grant Paulsen and Danny Rouhier this week on 106.7 The FAN & Radio.com. 

“There’s so much operational stuff that’s involved as well. There’s a lot to it. This is not just picking players and making decisions on contracts or hiring coaches or what have you. It is a big task.”

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If you didn't know before, now you know. Rivera isn't looking for someone just to grind tape. If he was, he might consider top staffer Kyle Smith. He's not. It's two totally different jobs and if Hurney does not want to the administration logistics anymore, he might not be the fit Rivera is looking for. 

We've heard about a possibility that Rivera could hire someone as a GM but also add Hurney as a senior personnel executive. Perhaps a Ryan Cowden and Hurney combination? 

Either way,  it's very likely that Rivera and Washington will be tapping into Hurney's expertise in some way, even if not in an official capacity. Our understanding is that they not only talk very regularly but Rivera leaned on Hurney and Bills GM Brandon Beane for help in transitioning the Washington front office and navigating some difficult waters.