Ryan Grigson

Ryan Grigson
Indianapolis Colts
Position: General manager
Personal information
Date of birth: (1972-02-23) February 23, 1972
Place of birth: Highland, Indiana
Height: 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
Weight: 290 lb (132 kg)
Career information
High school: Highland (IN)
College: Purdue
NFL draft: 1995 / Round: 6 / Pick: 175
Career history
As player:
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
As coach:
As executive:
As administrator:

Ryan Grigson (born February 23, 1972) is an American football executive who is the general manager of the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football as a tight end and offensive tackle for the Purdue Boilermakers. He was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in the sixth round of the 1995 NFL Draft. He was a member of the Detroit Lions from 1995–1996, and played for the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League in 1997 before he retired due to a back injury. Grigson was a pro scout for the Saskatchewan Roughriders and an assistant coach for McPherson College in 1998. In 1999 he was a player personnel coordinator and assistant coach for the Buffalo Destroyers of the Arena Football League. From 1999 to 2003, Grigson was a national and regional scout for the St. Louis Rams. He was hired by the Eagles as a western regional scout in 2004, and was promoted to director of college scouting in 2006. He was promoted to director of player personnel in 2010 before being hired by the Colts in 2012.

Playing career

College

Grigson played college football for the Purdue Boilermakers from 1991–1994.[1] On October 10, 1992 in a game against Minnesota, Grigson was hit in the stomach by a defender and developed a kidney ailment. He was hospitalized immediately after and missed the rest of the season.[2][3] Grigson returned for the 1993 season and was named one of three captains, along with Mike Alstott and Matt Kingsbury, for the 1994 season (Purdue's first winning season in a decade).[4]

Professional

Grigson was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in the sixth round (175th overall) of the 1995 NFL Draft. He was signed to a contract by the Bengals on June 10, 1995, but was waived during final cuts on August 28. He was signed by the Detroit Lions shortly thereafter and spent the 1995 season with the team. He was released by the Lions on August 14, 1996.[5] He played for the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League in 1997 before he suffered a career-ending back injury and was forced to retire.[1]

Executive and coaching career

Early career

Following his retirement from playing, Grigson became a pro scout for the Saskatchewan Roughriders in 1998. In the same year, he was an assistant coach for McPherson College's football team. In 1999, he was a player personnel coordinator and assistant coach for the Buffalo Destroyers of the Arena Football League.[1]

National Football League

Grigson was hired by the St. Louis Rams as a national scout in 1999. He was part of the Rams' Super Bowl XXXIV championship team in 1999 and the Rams' NFC Championship/Super Bowl XXXVI team in 2001 as an area scout.

On May 15, 2004, Grigson was hired by the Philadelphia Eagles as a western regional scout. He was a part of the Eagles' NFC Championship/Super Bowl XXXIX team in 2004. On June 8, 2006, he was promoted to director of college scouting,[1] and on February 3, 2010, he was promoted to director of player personnel.[6]

Grigson was hired by the Indianapolis Colts as their general manager on January 11, 2012. After the 2012 season, which put the Colts back in the NFL Playoffs with an 11-5 record, Grigson earned Executive of the Year honors from the Sporting News [7] and Pro Football Weekly.[8] He also won the 2013 Drew Brees Mental Toughness Award from the Northwest Indiana Chapter of the National Football Foundation.[9] On January 11, 2015—Grigson's third anniversary with the team—the Indianapolis Colts beat the Denver Broncos to qualify for the AFC Championship game against the New England Patriots. During the AFC championship, he asked NFL officials to check the Patriots' balls, which set in motion the "Deflategate" scandal.[10] The Colts lost the game 45-7.

The Colts, who struggled with injuries including one to quarterback Andrew Luck, stumbled in the 2015 season and finished 8-8 and out of the playoffs. On Jan. 4, 2016, the Colts announced that Grigson and head coach Chuck Pagano had both received contract extensions through the 2019 season.[11]

Personal life

Ryan Richard Grigson was born to Jeff and Juanita (Rokita) Grigson in 1972. Jeff Grigson (d.1980) had played college football at Northwest Missouri State University.

Grigson attended Our Lady of Grace Catholic School from 1978-86. He played high school football at Highland Senior High from 1986-90. As a sophomore, he was a member of the Trojan team that played in the 1987 5A State Championship game at the Colts' original stadium, the Hoosier Dome (RCA Dome).

Grigson met his wife, Cynthia, while the two were students at Purdue University. The couple married in 2001 and have six children. Grigson relies on his Catholic faith for stamina in his work and family life.[12]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Scott, Adam (June 26, 2006). "Front-Office Boilers". Purdue Boilermakers. Retrieved 2011-01-12.
  2. ↑ "Badgers: Letdown doubtful". The Telegraph-Herald. October 17, 1992. Retrieved 2011-01-12.
  3. ↑ "Purdue's Grigson out for the season". Post-Tribune. October 21, 1992. Retrieved 2011-01-12.
  4. ↑ Purdue Football Year by Year Results, retrieved 2012-01-04
  5. ↑ "Oilers coach pleased with team's preseason progress". The Free Lance-Star. August 15, 1996. Retrieved 2011-01-12.
  6. ↑ Promotions in Player Personnel Staff, retrieved 2012-01-04
  7. ↑ Colts' Ryan Grigson Voted Sporting News' Executive of the Year, retrieved 2013-03-21
  8. ↑ Grigson Voted PFW/PFWA Executive of the Year, retrieved 2013-03-21
  9. ↑ Toughness Pays Off for Grigson, retrieved 2013-06-11
  10. ↑ Kirstie Chiappelli (3 February 2015). "Troy Vincent confirms Colts' tip started Deflate-gate". The Sporting News.
  11. ↑ CBS Sports
  12. ↑ http://www.ncregister.com/daily-news/indianapolis-colts-gm-speaks-of-playoffs-parenting-and-padre-pio/

External links

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