Rod Graves
Encyclopedia
Rod Graves is currently the General Manager
of the Arizona Cardinals
. He had previously spent time with the organization as Vice President of Football Operations, after being promoted to that position from Assistant to the President following the 2002
season. As General Manager, he is responsible for drafting players, signing free agents, and other roster moves.
as a regional scout for the Philadelphia Stars of the United States Football League. It was then he first crossed paths with former Cardinals’ Head Coach Vince Tobin
, the Stars’ defensive coordinator. In 1983, Graves was promoted to assistant director of player personnel.
in 1984 as a regional scout for the Chicago Bears, a position he held until promoted to director of college scouting in 1993, then director of player personnel in 1994.
During his tenure with the Bears, he worked for Bill Tobin
, the team’s director of player personnel and older brother of former Cardinal head coach Vince Tobin, along with another former Cardinal head coach, Dave McGinnis
, and running backs coach Johnny Roland
.
. He was promoted to assume responsibility for administration of the Cardinals’ scouting department in May 1998.
In his current position, Graves is responsible for all facets of the Cardinals’ football operations. He serves as the team’s primary contract negotiator in addition to overseeing college and professional scouting efforts, assisting salary-cap management, and consulting on other business aspects of the football operation.
In the last year he has been selected by Sports Illustrated
as one of the “101 Most Influential Minorities in Sports” as well as one of the “50 Most Powerful Blacks in Sports” by Black Enterprise Magazine. He currently serves on the NFL’s C.E.C. Working Group Committee and the NFL College Advisory Committee.
, is the son of the late Jackie Graves, the former assistant director of player personnel for the Philadelphia Eagles
. He resides in Phoenix
with his wife, Dreama, and their three children—daughters Britne and Taylor, and son Joshua.
General Manager (American football)
In the National Football League, the general manager or GM of a team typically controls player transactions and bears the primary responsibility on behalf of the team during contract discussions with players....
of the Arizona Cardinals
Arizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in Glendale, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
. He had previously spent time with the organization as Vice President of Football Operations, after being promoted to that position from Assistant to the President following the 2002
2002 Arizona Cardinals season
-Roster:-Schedule:-References:**...
season. As General Manager, he is responsible for drafting players, signing free agents, and other roster moves.
Biography
A native of Houston, Graves began his career in professional football personnel work in 19821982 NFL season
The 1982 NFL season was the 63rd regular season of the National Football League. A 57-day long players' strike reduced the 1982 season from a 16-game schedule per team to an abbreviated nine game schedule...
as a regional scout for the Philadelphia Stars of the United States Football League. It was then he first crossed paths with former Cardinals’ Head Coach Vince Tobin
Vince Tobin
Vincent Michael Tobin is a longtime American football coach and former head coach of the Arizona Cardinals. He is currently a special assistant to the Green Bay Packers.-College coaching career:...
, the Stars’ defensive coordinator. In 1983, Graves was promoted to assistant director of player personnel.
Chicago Bears
He joined the National Football LeagueNational Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
in 1984 as a regional scout for the Chicago Bears, a position he held until promoted to director of college scouting in 1993, then director of player personnel in 1994.
During his tenure with the Bears, he worked for Bill Tobin
Bill Tobin (American football)
Bill Tobin is a former professional American football player who played Running back for one season for the Houston Oilers. He would later become the general manager of the Chicago Bears and Indianapolis Colts...
, the team’s director of player personnel and older brother of former Cardinal head coach Vince Tobin, along with another former Cardinal head coach, Dave McGinnis
Dave McGinnis
Dave McGinnis is the linebackers coach of the Tennessee Titans. He formerly was the head coach of the Arizona Cardinals from 2000 through 2003.-Biography:...
, and running backs coach Johnny Roland
Johnny Roland
Johnny Earl Roland is a former American football running back in the National Football League for the St...
.
Arizona Cardinals
Graves joined the Cardinals in June 1997 after 13 years in various personnel capacities with the Chicago BearsChicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
. He was promoted to assume responsibility for administration of the Cardinals’ scouting department in May 1998.
In his current position, Graves is responsible for all facets of the Cardinals’ football operations. He serves as the team’s primary contract negotiator in addition to overseeing college and professional scouting efforts, assisting salary-cap management, and consulting on other business aspects of the football operation.
In the last year he has been selected by Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated is an American sports media company owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. Its self titled magazine has over 3.5 million subscribers and is read by 23 million adults each week, including over 18 million men. It was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the...
as one of the “101 Most Influential Minorities in Sports” as well as one of the “50 Most Powerful Blacks in Sports” by Black Enterprise Magazine. He currently serves on the NFL’s C.E.C. Working Group Committee and the NFL College Advisory Committee.
Personal life
Graves, who graduated from Strake Jesuit College Prepatory and holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from Texas TechTexas Tech University
Texas Tech University, often referred to as Texas Tech or TTU, is a public research university in Lubbock, Texas, United States. Established on February 10, 1923, and originally known as Texas Technological College, it is the leading institution of the Texas Tech University System and has the...
, is the son of the late Jackie Graves, the former assistant director of player personnel for the Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
. He resides in Phoenix
Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix is the capital, and largest city, of the U.S. state of Arizona, as well as the sixth most populated city in the United States. Phoenix is home to 1,445,632 people according to the official 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data...
with his wife, Dreama, and their three children—daughters Britne and Taylor, and son Joshua.