When news broke last week that the Kansas City Chiefs had parted ways with their general manager John Dorsey, it not only shocked Chiefs fans, but at the same time, it intrigued Green Bay Packers fans. With Packers general manager Ted Thompson getting up there in years, many have speculated about who would be tabbed as the Packers next general manager. Many possible replacements have been thrown around, but with the news that Dorsey is now a free agent, a new name has joined the group.
John Dorsey Just Might be The Green Bay Packers Next General Manager
Dorsey has a long history with the Packers, not only as an executive but also as a player. Dorsey was a linebacker for the Packers from 1984-1989. After his career concluded, he joined the Packers once again in 1991, being hired as a scout by esteemed Packers general manager Ron Wolf. Dorsey learned under one of the most successful general managers in Packers history while working for Wolf. He was a scout for the Packers from 1991-1996 until being promoted to director of college scouting. He held that position for one season and then joined former Packers head coach Mike Holmgren when he left to be the Seattle Seahawks head coach and general manager. Dorsey held the position of director of personnel while with the Seahawks, but returned to Green Bay after just one season.
Dorsey returned to Green Bay for his second stint with the Packers in 2000. He would stay with the team until 2012 and held the positions of director of scouting and director of football operations during that time. During his second go around with the Packers, he became one of Thompson’s right hand men, which included current Oakland Raiders general manager Reggie McKenzie and current Seahawks general manager John Schneider. Dorsey’s ability to find talent made him a hot commodity and a solid candidate to become a general manager. Dorsey finally got that chance when the Kansas City Chiefs came calling.
The Chiefs pegged Dorsey to team up with newly hired head coach Andy Reid to run the Chiefs organization in 2013. Both Dorsey and Reid worked with each other in Green Bay when Reid was an assistant on Holmgren’s staff and were familiar with each other’s work. Some Packers fans might be reluctant hiring a general manager who had been fired by their last team, but there isn’t much to be reluctant about when it comes to Dorsey and his success.
During his time as the Chiefs general manager, Kansas City had a regular season record of 43-21 and made the playoffs three times which included last season in which they won the AFC West. There are several theories on why Dorsey departed Kansas City so abruptly. But the most likely scenario is that Dorsey lost a power struggle with head coach Andy Reid. In the same week Dorsey was let go, it was announced that Reid had signed a contract extension, which would leave most to believe that Reid wanted and was granted more personnel power. This wasn’t the first time Reid has done this. He had the same thing occur in Philadelphia while he was coaching the Eagles and that didn’t end well for Eagles fans as well as Reid.
This isn’t the first time it’s been discussed that Dorsey might take over for Thompson once he finally steps away from the Packers general manager position. Back in January, before Dorsey’s departure from the Chiefs, longtime Packers beat writer Bob McGinn wrote a piece on this possibility. McGinn discussed how Dorsey would seem to be a logical replacement for Thompson with having a track record working for the Packers under the highly acclaimed Wolf and his success as the Chiefs general manager. But Dorsey will have competition if he chooses to pursue the Packers position once it is open. In house candidates such as Brian Gutekunst, Alonzo Highsmith, Russ Ball, and the most common name thrown around, Ron Wolf’s son Eliot Wolf, have all had their names mentioned as Thompson’s replacement. By no means is it a slam dunk that Dorsey will get the job.
But if the Packers do look towards Dorsey to fill Thompson’s shoes, they will be looking at a man who has a history with the organization and one who has a solid track record running a successful team. Dorsey has worked under both Wolf and Thompson and was a major part of the Packers long running success. The question now becomes, when will Thompson walk away. For some Thompson naysayers the time can’t come soon enough, but for a man that was in control during the Packers last Super Bowl victory, it appears it will be his choice when he finally does. When that time comes, don’t be surprised to see Dorsey’s name at the top of that list.
