Scott Pioli

Scott Pioli (born March 31, 1965 in Washingtonville, New York) is a professional American football executive, most recently as general manager for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League (NFL), until his release on January 4, 2013. Pioli was previously a front office executive for the Cleveland Browns, Baltimore Ravens, New York Jets, and New England Patriots. Pioli served as Director, and later Vice President of Player Personnel for the Patriots from 2001 to 2008 helping the Patriots franchise win three Super Bowl championships, and the NFL's only 16-0 regular season to date. However, because of the Chiefs' struggles during his time with the team, his management style has received intense scrutiny from journalists and fans alike.

Early years
Pioli grew up in Washingtonville, NY and attended Washingtonville High School where he played linebacker and defensive line before graduating in 1983. Between 1983 and 1987 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 2005, Central Connecticut inducted Pioli into their hall of fame. 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).

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

New York Jets
In 1997, Pioli rejoined Belichick and was hired by the New York Jets as the team's Director of Pro Personnel. Pioli was credited with the signing of a number of veteran free agents 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. The 1998 Jets recorded a franchise-high 12 wins and their first division title since 1968.

New England Patriots
When Belichick accepted the Patriots' head coaching position in 2000, Pioli became vice president of player personnel. 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." From 2000–2008, 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.

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. 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 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.

Kansas City Chiefs
The Chiefs under Pioli were the worst team in the AFC West in 2009, 2011 and 2012 and the best team in 2010.

2009
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. Pioli reportedly sought "total control" if hired, which seemed to conflict with Chiefs owner Clark Hunt's desire to hire someone to be in charge of just football operations. Hunt had kept his search almost entirely leak-proof, instructing subordinates that only he is to speak to the situation, and after reports that talks between the Chiefs and Pioli were intensifying, 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 and refused to comment on the long-term status of Chiefs head coach Herman Edwards. On January 23, 2009, Pioli fired Edwards.

To replace Edwards, Pioli hired Arizona Cardinals offensive coordinator Todd Haley as head coach on February 5, 2009. Soon after, Pioli acquired quarterback Matt Cassel from the Patriots; Cassel had led the Patriots to an 11–5 record in 2008 after starter Tom Brady suffered a season-ending injury in Week 1. In July 2009, Pioli and the Chiefs agreed to a six-year, $62.7 million contract extension with Cassel. Pioli also organized a trade with former colleague Thomas Dimitroff, later the general manager of the Atlanta Falcons, that sent longtime Chiefs tight end Tony Gonzalez to Atlanta in exchange for a draft pick that brought Javier Arenas to the Chiefs.

Despite the offseason moves, the Chiefs in 2009's record of 4-12 was only two games better than the franchise worst 2-14 season of 2008.

2010
Following the season, Pioli hired former Notre Dame head coach Charlie Weis as offensive coordinator and former Cleveland Browns head coach Romeo Crennel as defensive coordinator; both held the same roles in New England for each of the three Super Bowl winning seasons during Pioli's tenure with the Patriots. In 2010, the Chiefs won their first AFC West division title since 2003 and completed the season 10-6. The move from worst to first in the AFC West earned him NFL Executive of the Year honors.

2011
The Chiefs were 7-9 in the 2011 season. Chiefs main passing receiver Tony Moeaki was injured in the last preseason game (against Green Bay which the Chiefs lost 20-19. The Chiefs were 4-3 in Week 8 after a four game winning streak.  Matt Cassel broke his hand in Week 13 in a loss against Denver and was out for the remainder of the season.   After a 37-10 loss to the New York Jets in Week 14, Pioli fired coach Todd Haley and elevated defense coordinator Crennel to acting coach.  In Week 15 the Chiefs stunned the defending Super Bowl champion Packers 19-14 in the Packers only defeat of the regular season.  The Chiefs remained mathematically eligible for the AFC West championship in a weak division clear to the next to the last week of the season and they defeated the eventual AFC West winner Denver Broncos in the final game of the season.

2012
Despite high hopes following the 2011 season and the Chiefs floundered to franchise worst 2-14 season in the 2012 giving it its first #1 pick in franchise history. The Chiefs started the season tying the tying the 1929 record of Buffalo Bisons for most games without ever leading in regulation time (8 games). Aggravated Chiefs fans were accused of cheering an injury of Cassel in a Week 5 loss against Baltimore. Chiefs fans wore black to games and hired a plane to fly a banner over Arrowhead proclaiming "Restore Hope: Fire Pioli."

On December 1, 2012 Pioli despite objections from security guards was the first person to confront Jovan Belcher when he walked to the entrance of the team's practice area adjoining Arrowhead pointing a gun at his head after Belcher had killed his girlfriend a few minutes earlier. Pioli was joined by Chiefs coach Crennel. Belcher shot himself in the head. Belcher was reported to have told Pioli, "I came here to tell you thank you...Thank you for my chance. I love you, bro." Pioli had signed Belcher has an undrafted free agent in 2009. Pioli gave a eulogy at Belcher's Kansas City funeral service.

The Chiefs won the game the following day against the Carolina Panthers -- the Chiefs only home game victory of the season. There were no protests on the day of the game and both Crennel and Pioli received positive comments on how they had handled the situation.

However the Chiefs won no more games for the rest of the season.

Both Crennel and Pioli were fired at the end of the season with Pioli formally being fired January 4, 2013. Pioli had one year left on his contract.

The Chiefs had five players on the 2013 Pro Bowl team (Eric Berry, strong safety; Jamaal Charles, running back who set various NFL and franchise records during the season; Dustin Colquitt, punter; Tamba Hali, outside linebacker; Derrick Johnson, inside/middle linebacker). Berry and Hali were designated starters. Only 4 NFL teams had more Pro Bowl picks (San Francisco (9), Houston (8), New England (7), Baltimore (6)). Those four teams made the playoffs. Berry was the only Pioli pick (drafted #5 in the 2010 NFL Draft).

Pioli was responsible for the hiring of Cassel and his back up Brady Quinn as quarterbacks. The Chiefs had the worst record in the NFL for interceptions (20) in 2012 (Cassel threw 12 and Quinn threw 8). The Chiefs had the worst record in the NFL in offensive passing.

During Pioli's term, more than half the Chiefs back office personnel left the organization including club president Denny Thum who was team president and had been with the organization since 1974.

Awards and honors
Pioli is the youngest and one of only three NFL executives to win the Sporting News' George Young NFL Executive of the Year Award in consecutive years, a feat he accomplished after winning the award for the second straight year following the 2004 season.

On June 24, 2009, ESPN.com announced its All-Decade Moments naming Scott Pioli Personnel Man of the Decade. "No one in the league does a better job of scouting their own team, and [at the Patriots] Pioli was orchestrating all of that."

2001 season

 * Dallas Morning News – NFL Executive of the Year Award

2003 season

 * Pro Football Weekly – NFL Executive of the Year Award
 * Sporting News – George Young NFL Executive of the Year Award
 * Sports Illustrated – NFL Executive of the Year Award

2004 season

 * NFL Players Association – Executive Achievement Award
 * San Francisco Chronicle – Executive of the Year Award
 * Sporting News – George Young NFL Executive of the Year Award
 * Sports Illustrated – NFL Executive of the Year Award
 * USA Today – NFL Executive of the Year Award

2007 season

 * Dallas Morning News – NFL Executive of the Year Award
 * Pro Football Weekly – NFL Executive of the Year Award
 * San Francisco Chronicle – Executive of the Year Award

2010 season

 * Pro Football Weekly – NFL Executive of the Year Award
 * Sports Illustrated – NFL Executive of the Year Award

Personal
Pioli and his wife Dallas have a daughter named Mia Costa. Dallas is the daughter of former NFL head coach Bill Parcells.

He currently serves on the board of directors for various non-profit foundations and serves on the board of directors for the College for Every Student Foundation, a national non-profit organization that partners with public schools in high-need communities to raise student aspirations and performance.

He established the Rose Pioli Scholarship in the name of his grandmother to benefit children of educators, professional firefighters, police and other emergency medical service providers.