Tim Ruskell
Encyclopedia
Tim Ruskell is a current assistant general manager for the Chicago Bears in the National Football League
.
Ruskell was born in Sagamiono, Japan
where his father was stationed in the United States Army
but spent his high school and college years in the Tampa Bay, Florida area and graduated with a degree in communications from the University of South Florida
in 1978.
Ruskell has spent more than 20 years in professional football. He started his career as a scout
for the CFL
's Saskatchewan Roughriders
in 1983, moving to the USFL
's Tampa Bay Bandits
in 1985 before landing in the NFL with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
in 1987. In 1992 he was promoted to Director of College Scouting, and in 2001 to Director of Player Personnel. While in Tampa Bay Ruskell was a protege of Rich McKay
. When McKay left to become the President and General Manager of the Atlanta Falcons
in 2004 Ruskell went with him as the Assistant General Manager. In 2005 Paul Allen
tapped Ruskell to replace the fired Bob Whitsitt
at the top of the organizational chart in Seattle.
In his first season in Seattle, Ruskell made a few roster changes that helped the Seahawks, bringing in free agent
s and drafting college players that played pivotal roles in the Seahawks run to Super Bowl XL
. However, the team's record gradually declined over the next four seasons. Ruskell eventually was forced to resigned from his position as the Seahawks President of Football Operations on December 2, 2009. At the time, the Seahawks were 4-7 and finished with a 4-12 record the year before.
Tim and his wife, Linda, have a daughter, Samantha, and a son, Jack. Tim has a nephew, Michael, who is currently studying at the University of Georgia and is pursuing a marketing position with the Chicago Bears.
National 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...
.
Ruskell was born in Sagamiono, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
where his father was stationed in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
but spent his high school and college years in the Tampa Bay, Florida area and graduated with a degree in communications from the University of South Florida
University of South Florida
The University of South Florida, also known as USF, is a member institution of the State University System of Florida, one of the state's three flagship universities for public research, and is located in Tampa, Florida, USA...
in 1978.
Ruskell has spent more than 20 years in professional football. He started his career as a scout
Scout (sport)
In professional sports, scouts are trained talent evaluators who travel extensively for the purposes of watching athletes play their chosen sports and determining whether their set of skills and talents represent what is needed by the scout's organization...
for the CFL
Canadian Football League
The Canadian Football League or CFL is a professional sports league located in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football, a form of gridiron football closely related to American football....
's Saskatchewan Roughriders
Saskatchewan Roughriders
The Saskatchewan Roughriders are a Canadian Football League team based in Regina, Saskatchewan. They were founded in 1910. They play their home games at 2940 10th Avenue in Regina, which has been the team's home base for its entire history, even prior to the construction of Mosaic Stadium at Taylor...
in 1983, moving to the USFL
United States Football League
The United States Football League was an American football league which was in active operation from 1983 to 1987. It played a spring/summer schedule in its first three seasons and a traditional autumn/winter schedule was set to commence before league operations ceased.The USFL was conceived in...
's Tampa Bay Bandits
Tampa Bay Bandits
The Tampa Bay Bandits were a professional American football team based in Tampa, Florida. They were members of the United States Football League . They were a charter member of the USFL and folded along with the league after the 1985 season....
in 1985 before landing in the NFL with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football franchise based in Tampa, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the Southern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League – they are the only team in the division not to come from the old NFC West...
in 1987. In 1992 he was promoted to Director of College Scouting, and in 2001 to Director of Player Personnel. While in Tampa Bay Ruskell was a protege of Rich McKay
Rich McKay
Rich McKay is the president, CEO, and former general manager of the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League. He was the general manager of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers when they won Super Bowl XXXVII.-Early years:...
. When McKay left to become the President and General Manager of the Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons are a professional American football team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are a member of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
in 2004 Ruskell went with him as the Assistant General Manager. In 2005 Paul Allen
Paul Allen
Paul Gardner Allen is an American business magnate, investor, and philanthropist. Allen co-founded Microsoft with Bill Gates...
tapped Ruskell to replace the fired Bob Whitsitt
Bob Whitsitt
Bob Whitsitt is a former sports executive in both the National Basketball Association and the National Football League. He has served as the general manager for three teams: the Seattle SuperSonics and Portland Trail Blazers of the NBA, and the Seattle Seahawks of the NFL...
at the top of the organizational chart in Seattle.
In his first season in Seattle, Ruskell made a few roster changes that helped the Seahawks, bringing in free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
s and drafting college players that played pivotal roles in the Seahawks run to Super Bowl XL
Super Bowl XL
Super Bowl XL was an American football game pitting the American Football Conference champion Pittsburgh Steelers against the National Football Conference champion Seattle Seahawks to decide the National Football League champion for the 2005 season...
. However, the team's record gradually declined over the next four seasons. Ruskell eventually was forced to resigned from his position as the Seahawks President of Football Operations on December 2, 2009. At the time, the Seahawks were 4-7 and finished with a 4-12 record the year before.
Tim and his wife, Linda, have a daughter, Samantha, and a son, Jack. Tim has a nephew, Michael, who is currently studying at the University of Georgia and is pursuing a marketing position with the Chicago Bears.