John Michael Dorsey (born August 30, 1960) is an

American football American football (referred to simply as football in the United States and Canada), also known as gridiron, is a team sport played by two teams of eleven players on a rectangular field with goalposts at each end. The offense, the team with ...

executive and former player who is a senior personnel executive for the

Detroit Lions The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit. The Lions compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) North Division. The team play their home games at Ford ...

of the

National Football League The National Football League (NFL) is a professional American football league that consists of 32 teams, divided equally between the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National Football Conference (NFC). The NFL is one of the ...

(NFL). He previously served as

general manager A general manager (GM) is an executive who has overall responsibility for managing both the revenue and cost elements of a company's income statement, known as profit & loss (P&L) responsibility. A general manager usually oversees most or all of ...

of the

Cleveland Browns The Cleveland Browns are a professional American football team based in Cleveland. Named after original coach and co-founder Paul Brown, they compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the American Football Conference ( ...

and

Kansas City Chiefs The Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Chiefs compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's American Football Conference (AFC) West division. The tea ...

. He is a former

player for the

Green Bay Packers The Green Bay Packers are a professional American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The Packers compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC North, North division. It ...

, and later served in the Packers' scouting department for more than two decades, including director of college scouting from 2000 to 2011. He served as the

Seattle Seahawks The Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle. The Seahawks compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's National Football Conference (NFC) West, which they rejoined in 2002 as ...

' director of player personnel in 1999, between two stints in Green Bay's front office.

College career

Dorsey was a four-year starter at linebacker for the

University of Connecticut The University of Connecticut (UConn) is a public land-grant research university in Storrs, Connecticut, a village in the town of Mansfield. The primary 4,400-acre (17.8 km2) campus is in Storrs, approximately a half hour's drive from Hart ...

Huskies, being twice named

Yankee Conference The Yankee Conference was a collegiate sports conference in the eastern United States. From 1947 to 1976, it sponsored competition in many sports, but was a football-only league from mid-1976 until its dissolution in 1996. It is essentially the an ...

Defensive Player of the Year as well as an NCAA Division I-AA

All-America The All-America designation is an annual honor bestowed upon an amateur sports person from the United States who is considered to be one of the best amateurs in their sport. Individuals receiving this distinction are typically added to an All-Am ...

n honors.

Professional career

Dorsey was a fourth-round pick by the

in the

1984 NFL Draft The 1984 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held May 1–2, 1984, at the Omni Park Cent ...

. He was also seventh-round draft pick by the

USFL The United States Football League (USFL) was a professional American football league that played for three seasons, 1983 through 1985. The league played a spring/summer schedule in each of its active seasons. The 1986 season was scheduled to be ...

's Philadelphia Stars in the

1984 USFL Draft The 1984 USFL Draft was the second collegiate draft of the United States Football League The United States Football League (USFL) was a professional American football league that played for three seasons, 1983 through 1985. The league played ...

. He played five seasons for Green Bay at linebacker and on special teams. His thirty-five special teams tackles for the Packers in 1984 is still a team record. Dorsey spent the 1989 season on the injured reserve list after suffering a knee injury during pre-game warmups of the Packers regular season opener, effectively ending his playing days. He totaled 130 tackles and two fumble recoveries during his five-year career.

Administrative career

Green Bay Packers

After his playing career ended, Dorsey chose to remain in football, taking a job as a college scout for the Packers in May 1991. He was later promoted to director of college scouting for the team in February 1997.

Seattle Seahawks

In January 1999, Dorsey followed former Packers coach

Mike Holmgren Michael George Holmgren (born June 15, 1948) is a former American football coach and executive. He began his NFL career as a quarterbacks' coach and later as an offensive coordinator with the San Francisco 49ers, where they won Super Bowls XXII ...

to the

, assuming the role of the team's director of player personnel. He resigned in 2000.

Second stint with the Packers

In 2000, Dorsey returned to the Packers, taking over again as director of college scouting. He remained in that position through 2011, and winning a

Super Bowl ring The Super Bowl ring is an award in the National Football League given to the team members of the winning team of the league's annual championship game, the Super Bowl. Since only one Vince Lombardi Trophy is awarded to the team (ownership) itsel ...

. In 2012, he was named Director of Football Operations. He is credited with making the Packers one of the best drafting teams in the NFL, helping choose star players like

Aaron Rodgers Aaron Charles Rodgers (born December 2, 1983) is an American football quarterback for the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League (NFL). Rodgers began his college football career at Butte College in 2002 before transferring to the ...

, Clay Matthews and

Greg Jennings Gregory Jennings Jr. (born September 21, 1983) is a former American football wide receiver who played in the National Football League (NFL) for ten seasons, primarily with the Green Bay Packers. He played college football at Western Michigan an ...

Kansas City Chiefs

On January 13, 2013, Dorsey became the

of the

. The move reunited Dorsey with new Chiefs head coach

Andy Reid Andrew Walter Reid (born March 19, 1958) is an American football coach who is the head coach for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League (NFL). Reid was previously head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles from 1999 to 2012. From 200 ...

. The pair served on the Green Bay Packers coaching staff together from 1992 to 1997. It had previously been announced that Reid would have the final say in football matters when he came over from Philadelphia, but the Chiefs then announced that Dorsey would have the same authority over personnel as other NFL general managers. However, Dorsey and Reid reported on an equal basis to chairman and CEO

Clark Hunt Clark Knobel Hunt (born February 19, 1965) is part owner, chairman and CEO of the National Football League's Kansas City Chiefs and a founding investor-owner in Major League Soccer. Hunt is chairman of Hunt Sports Group, where he oversees the ope ...

, unlike past years in which the coach reported to the general manager. On June 22, 2017, the Chiefs organization and Dorsey agreed to part ways, after posting a 43–21 record and three trips to the postseason in his four seasons as GM for the Chiefs. Shortly before leaving the Chiefs, former Chiefs wide receiver

Jeremy Maclin Jeremy Maclin (born May 11, 1988) is a former American football wide receiver. He played college football at Missouri, where he was a two-time consensus All-American, and was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the first round of the 2009 NF ...

said that Dorsey informed him of his release on a voicemail, which drew criticism from Maclin himself and the media. After he was fired, it was reported he was fired due to his management style, communication, as well as the Chiefs salary cap issues. His management of the salary cap led to several long term and fan favorite Chiefs players being released or traded, including

Jamaal Charles Jamaal RaShaad Jones Charles (born December 27, 1986) is a former American football running back. He played college football for the University of Texas, where he won the 2006 Rose Bowl, and was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in the third ro ...

and

Derrick Johnson Derrick O’Hara Johnson (born November 22, 1982) is a former American football linebacker. He played college football at the University of Texas at Austin, where he earned consensus All-American honors twice. He was drafted by the Kansas City ...

Cleveland Browns

On December 7, 2017, Dorsey became the general manager of the

, hours after

Sashi Brown Sashi Brown (born May 15, 1976) is an attorney and American football executive who is the president of the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League (NFL). Brown began his NFL career with the Jacksonville Jaguars and Cleveland Browns. Care ...

was relieved of his duties; a press conference announcing Dorsey's hiring was held the following day with team owner

Jimmy Haslam James Arthur Haslam III (born March 9, 1954) is an American businessman and sports executive. He is the chairman of the board of the Pilot Flying J truck stop chain. He and his wife Dee own the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League ...

. Dorsey drafted quarterback

Baker Mayfield Baker Reagan Mayfield (born April 14, 1995) is an American football quarterback for the Los Angeles Rams of the National Football League (NFL). Following a stint with Texas Tech, Mayfield played college football at Oklahoma, where he won the Hei ...

(Oklahoma) with the 1st overall selection in the 2018 NFL Draft, followed by cornerback

Denzel Ward Denzel Nehemiah Ward (born April 28, 1997) is an American football cornerback for the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Ohio State. Early life Ward attended Nordonia High School in Macedonia, ...

(Ohio State) with the 2018 4th overall selection, then running back

Nick Chubb Nicholas Jamaal Chubb (born December 27, 1995) is an American football running back for the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Georgia and was drafted by the Browns in the second round of the ...

(Georgia) in the 2nd round, wide receiver

Antonio Callaway Antonio Callaway (born January 9, 1997) is an American football wide receiver for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Florida, and was drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the fourth round of the ...

(Florida) in the 4th round, and others. Dorsey also traded for star wide receiver

Jarvis Landry Jarvis Charles Landry (born November 28, 1992) is an American football wide receiver for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at LSU and was drafted by the Miami Dolphins in the second round o ...

, previously a member of the Miami Dolphins. After finishing 7-8-1 in the 2018 season and missing the playoffs, Dorsey went on to trade for star wide receiver

Odell Beckham Jr. Odell Cornelious Beckham Jr. (born November 5, 1992), commonly known by his initials OBJ, is an American football wide receiver who is a free agent. Born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Beckham played college football at LSU and was drafted by the ...

(previously a teammate of Landry's at LSU), as well as acquiring other assets via trade and the draft (cornerback

Greedy Williams Andraez Montrell "Greedy" Williams (born December 3, 1997) is an American football cornerback for the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at LSU and was drafted by the Browns in the second round of ...

, running back

Kareem Hunt Kareem AJ Hunt (born August 6, 1995) is an American football running back for the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Toledo and was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in the third round of the ...

, defensive tackle

Sheldon Richardson Sheldon Adam Richardson (born November 29, 1990) is an American football defensive tackle who is a free agent. He played college football at Missouri, and was drafted by the New York Jets in the first round of the 2013 NFL Draft. Richardson has ...

, and defensive end

Olivier Vernon Olivier Alexander Vernon (born October 7, 1990) is an American football defensive end and outside linebacker who is a free agent. He was drafted by the Miami Dolphins in the third round of the 2012 NFL Draft and has also played for the New Yor ...

). On December 31, 2019, the Browns announced the firing of Dorsey.

Detroit Lions

After consulting for the

Philadelphia Eagles The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia. The Eagles compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's National Football Conference (NFC) East division. The team plays ...

in 2020, Dorsey was hired by the

as a senior personnel executive on January 27, 2021.

Personal life

Dorsey is a son of former Maryland state senator Walter B. Dorsey and

Jeanne Dorsey Mandel Jeanne Blackistone Dorsey Mandel (May 11, 1937 – October 6, 2001) was a First Lady of Maryland and second wife of former Maryland Governor Marvin Mandel, whom she had met in January 1963. She was a native of Leonardtown, St. Mary's Coun ...

, who remarried in 1974 to

Maryland Governor The Governor of the State of Maryland is the head of government of Maryland, and is the commander-in-chief of the state's National Guard units. The Governor is the highest-ranking official in the state and has a broad range of appointive powers ...

Marvin Mandel Marvin Mandel (April 19, 1920 – August 30, 2015) was an American politician and lawyer who served as the 56th Governor of Maryland from January 7, 1969, to January 17, 1979, including a one-and-a-half-year period when Lt. Governor Blair L ...

. Dorsey attended and graduated from St. Mary's High School in Annapolis. He earned bachelor's degrees in Political Science and Economics from the University of Connecticut. Dorsey has two adult sons from his first marriage and has a son and daughter with his current wife, Patricia. The couple first met in Kansas City while Dorsey was on a scouting trip for the Packers. After several years of dating, they were married in 2005. Dorsey has competed in multiple marathon races and is an avid water skier.

Honors

* 1987 – Green Bay Packers "Man of the Year" for civic contributions * 1998 – Selected to the University of Connecticut 100th Anniversary All-Time Football Team * 2002 – Inducted into the

Anne Arundel County, Maryland Anne Arundel County (; ), also notated as AA or A.A. County, is located in the U.S. state of Maryland. As of the 2020 United States census, its population was 588,261, an increase of just under 10% since 2010. Its county seat is Annapolis, whi ...

Sports Hall of Fame * 2016 – Inducted into

Fork Union Military Academy Fork Union Military Academy (abbreviated as FUMA) is a private, all-male, college preparatory military boarding school located in Fork Union, Virginia. Founded in 1898, Fork Union is considered one of the premier military boarding academies in th ...

Sports Hall of Fame

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Dorsey, John 1960 births Living people American football linebackers UConn Huskies football players Green Bay Packers players Green Bay Packers executives Kansas City Chiefs executives Seattle Seahawks executives National Football League general managers People from Leonardtown, Maryland Players of American football from Maryland Cleveland Browns executives Detroit Lions executives Green Bay Packers scouts