Per NFL Network Insider Ian Rappoport, Rick Smith will interview with the Jacksonville Jaguars today. Smith is the former General Manager of the Houston Texans. Smith has 17 years of NFL front office experience. He also has seven years of college and NFL coaching experience.
Former #Texans GM Rick Smith is interviewing with the #Jaguars for their vacant GM job today. One of several interviews for him this cycle.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 23, 2020
Rick Smith to Interview for the Jacksonville Jaguars Open GM Position
With the NFL season winding down, Jacksonville is starting to add candidates for their open general manager position. Trent Baalke is currently the interim general manager. Louis Riddick will reportedly interview today. The newest addition to the list of candidates is Rick Smith. Smith has been away from the NFL for three years. Prior to his departure to be with his wife, Smith spent 11 years with the Houston Texans.
Smith’s last role in the NFL was as the General Manager and Executive Vice President of Football Operations for the Texans. Smith became the team’s GM in 2006, at the age of 36. After six years, the team’s owner Bob McNair named Smith the Executive Vice President of Football Operations. At the end of 2017, Smith decided to step away from his role to be with his wife due to her health issues.
Before Smith’s time with the Texans, he was with the Denver Broncos from 1996 to 2005. In that time, he was a coach and transitioned to the front office. In 1996, Smith became the Assistant Defensive Backs coach. He was in that role for three years. From 2000 to 2005, Smith was the Director of Pro Personnel for the Broncos.
Prior to Smith’s employment NFL teams, he was on staff with Purdue, his alma mater. During the years of 1992 to 1995, Smith was a graduate assistant, strength and conditioning coach, tight ends coach, and secondary coach. Smith was a strong safety at Perdue from 1988 to 1991.
With the Jaguars now in position to have the number one overall pick in the draft, their GM position became much more attractive.
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