The Seattle Seahawks have hired former Miami Dolphins general manager Jeff Ireland as a pre-draft consultant. Fox Sports first reported the news.
Ireland’s hiring comes days after Seahawks senior personnel executive Scot McCloughan resigned for personal reasons. McCloughan was an important advisor to general manager John Schneider in draft decisions.
Ireland was the Dolphins’ general manager from 2008-14. He was hired in Miami by Bill Parcells. It was not a smooth ride.
In 2010, Ireland had to apologize to now-Dallas wide receiver Dez Bryant for asking him if his mother was a prostitute during a pre-draft interview. He also had to apologize in 2012 for calling a fan a derogatory term after the fan approached him at halftime of a game and said Ireland should fire himself. The same year, a portion of Dolphins fans also paid to fly a banner above the stadium calling for Ireland’s dismissal.
Ireland was still in charge of the Dolphins when the Richie Incognito-Jonathan Martin turmoil turned into national news during last season. Miami announced in January that it and Ireland were “parting ways.”
Ireland has an extended career as an NFL scout. He began in the NFL as scout for the Kansas City Chiefs from 1997-2000. The Cowboys made him their national talent scout from 2001-05, before promoting him to vice president of college and pro scouting. In 2008, he was hired by Parcells — who said in 2013 he no longer speaks to Ireland — to be the Dolphins’ general manager.
His role with the Seahawks is, for now, a consulting one. Fox Sports reported that he will be considered for a long-term role following the May 8 NFL draft.
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