Arizona Cardinals hire longtime NFL exec Monti Ossenfort as their next new GM
The Cardinals announced on Monday they have hired longtime NFL executive Monti Ossenfort as their new general manager.
He will be formally introduced during a news conference on Tuesday.
“It was critically important for us to find the right person to lead us as general manager and there is no doubt in my mind that we have that in Monti Ossenfort,” Cardinals Owner Michael Bidwill said in a statement. “He possesses every attribute of a successful GM — passion, leadership, intelligence, work ethic — and his extensive experience has clearly prepared him for this role. We could not be more thrilled to have Monti and his family joining the Cardinals.”
Ossenfort, 44, replaces Steve Keim, who stepped down as GM and resigned from the Cardinals to focus on his health.
Ossenfort comes to Arizona with 21 years of NFL experience. That includes 15 years with the New England Patriots and the past three seasons as the director of player personnel for the Tennessee Titans.
During his time in New England, Ossenfort helped the Patriots win four Super Bowls and earn seven trips to the Super Bowl overall. The Patriots reached the postseason 16 times in his 21 years with the franchise.
Ossenfort was one of at least seven known candidates whom the Cardinals had interest in for the GM position. Bidwill interviewed two in-house candidates in Cardinals executives Quentin Harris and Adrian Wilson and reportedly also met with former Giants general manager Jerry Reese, Bears assistant general manager Ian Cunningham, Ravens director of player personnel Joel Hortiz and had requested interviews with 49ers executives Ran Carthon and Adam Peters.
One of Ossenfort’s immediate tasks will be helping Bidwill hire a new head coach to replace the fired Kliff Kingsbury. Bidwill has already requested interviews with former Saints head coach Sean Payton, 49ers defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans and former Dolphins head coach Brian Flores, presently a linebackers coach and senior defensive assistant with the Steelers.
Bidwill and Ossenfort are expected to interview Cardinals defensive coordinator Vance Joseph, who has been with the franchise for the past four seasons, this week.
Ossenfort began his NFL career as an intern with the Vikings in 2001, moved to the Texans in 2002 as a pro personnel intern and first joined the Patriots in 2003 a personal assistant to coach Bill Belichick. Ossenfort was re-hired by the Texans in 2004 as their pro and college scouting assistant and in 2005 was promoted to college scout.
The Patriots hired him as an area scout in 2006, and in 2009 promoted him to a national scout and to assistant director of college scouting. He was promoted to director of college scouting in 2014 and that season, the Patriots went on to win Super Bowl XLIX in Glendale, their fourth Super Bowl title and Ossenfort’s second with the team.
During the remainder of his tenure with New England, the Patriots would win two additional Super Bowl titles.
A native of Luverne, Minn., Ossenfort was a four-year letterman and two-year starter at quarterback for Minnesota-Morris. He graduated in 2000 with a degree in economics and management. He later earned a master’s degree in business administration and sports management from Ohio University.
Ossenfort and his wife, Shannon, have three daughters — Emery, Finley and Landry.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: The Cardinals hired ex-Patriots exec Monti Ossenfort to replace Steve Keim as GM
