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Reggie McKenzie has come close to landing a few jobs while being a pillar on the Green Bay Packers’ front-office staff.
The Tennessee Titans showed great interest in McKenzie, before settling on Rick Smith. The Texans also interviewed McKenzie and in 2006, he stated to Houston’s owner, “I’m the man for the job and I can lead this team.”
McKenzie stated about his learning experience, “I can work with all the powers that be and try to put a championship team together. When Ron Wolf hired me back in 1994, it took us three years to win the Super Bowl, and I saw how it was done first-hand.
“I saw how the draft was put together; I saw what kind of acquisitions you need to make during the off-season, how you keep your players when to let go of the players that need to be released. I feel that I am more than qualified to be the general manager of the Houston Texans.”
He’s a hands on staffer who has always enjoyed scouting and evaluating players with his keen sense of football.
“I love watching the guys work,” he said during his interview process with the Texans. “That’s how you get a feel for your team. It was important for me to be out there to see how the coaches coach: see how the players transition from station to station – see how they work.”
In 2008, he interviewed for a position with the Atlanta Falcons.
Back in 2006, he gave some insight on his philosophy and working with others, saying, “What type of receiver do you want? What type of quarterback do you need to fit your system? We want everything to fit the right way. Now, it is my philosophy that you can never go wrong with bigger, faster and stronger. Now, when you’re talking about you want this type of running back, I’m going to take the bigger, faster and stronger one and I’m going to try and sell that. When you’re talking about equal or like ability, you want to go with the bigger, faster and stronger guy. It may be simply put, but that’s the way you look at it. So, yes, I think I can sell my viewpoint, but I also can and will listen and be very receptive to any other viewpoint, because when it’s all said and done, you want to get the best player. Whether it’s the starter, backup, or practice squad, you want to get the best player and build your team for the future.”
Also, on being ‘bogged down’ by the little stuff: “I’m not the type of guy who lets the little things bother me. When you talk about, for instance a certain player who may not fit—in my mind—a certain scheme, but maybe the coaches may think another way, it’s my job to try to reason with that coach and say, ‘This is why’ and give him like scenarios and why I think the way I think. I don’t get bogged down into a whole bunch of arguments. I’m not that type of guy.”
The Packers general manager Ted Thompson said this on Friday:
“I would like to thank Reggie McKenzie for all that he has done for the Green Bay Packers over the last 18 years. Reggie is a tremendous talent, but more importantly, he is a good friend and great family man. His contributions to our organization are numerous and he is ready for the opportunity to be a general manager in the National Football League. It’s been a privilege to work with Reggie, he is a good man.”
