Tom Donahoe
Encyclopedia
Tom Donahoe is a former general manager
and president
of the Buffalo Bills
of the NFL.
from 1991-1999. In what was largely seen as a power struggle between himself and head coach Bill Cowher
, Donahoe left the team following the 1999 season.
Donahoe then took on a job at ESPN.com for the following year.
Donahoe was selected to replace John Butler as general manager of the Buffalo Bills
, as well as take over the position of team president from a retiring Ralph Wilson. Wilson, while still maintaining ownership of the team, wanted to step aside from the day-to-day operations of the franchise, and chose Donahoe to take his place.
Prior to the 2006 NFL season, Donahoe was fired. Ralph Wilson re-assumed the role of president, and the general manager position was filled by former Bills head coach Marv Levy
.
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....
and president
President
A president is a leader of an organization, company, trade union, university, or country.Etymologically, a president is one who presides, who sits in leadership...
of the Buffalo Bills
Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills are a professional football team based in Buffalo, New York. They are currently members of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
of the NFL.
Biography
Prior to his tenure with the Bills, he was director of football operations (GM) for the Pittsburgh SteelersPittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
from 1991-1999. In what was largely seen as a power struggle between himself and head coach Bill Cowher
Bill Cowher
William Laird "Bill" Cowher is a former American football coach and player. Cowher resigned after 15 seasons as the Steelers' coach on January 5, 2007, 11 months to the day after winning 2005–06's Super Bowl XL...
, Donahoe left the team following the 1999 season.
Donahoe then took on a job at ESPN.com for the following year.
Donahoe was selected to replace John Butler as general manager of the Buffalo Bills
Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills are a professional football team based in Buffalo, New York. They are currently members of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, as well as take over the position of team president from a retiring Ralph Wilson. Wilson, while still maintaining ownership of the team, wanted to step aside from the day-to-day operations of the franchise, and chose Donahoe to take his place.
Prior to the 2006 NFL season, Donahoe was fired. Ralph Wilson re-assumed the role of president, and the general manager position was filled by former Bills head coach Marv Levy
Marv Levy
Marvin Daniel Levy is a former American and Canadian football coach, front office executive and author.He is a former professional football coach, in the CFL as head coach of the Montreal Alouettes , and in the NFL as head coach of the Kansas City Chiefs and the Buffalo Bills , coaching the Bills...
.