Tom Donahoe

Tom Donahoe is a former general manager and President of the Buffalo Bills of the NFL. Along with Al Davis and Matt Millen, Donahoe has a dubious distinction of being one of the most disliked and poorest performing general managers in the NFL since the turn of the millennium.

Prior to his tenure with the Bills, he was Director of Football Operations for the Pittsburgh Steelers. In what was largely seen as a power struggle between himself and head coach Bill Cowher, Donahoe left the team in 2001.

Donahoe was selected to replace John Butler as general manager 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.

The Bills experienced five non-playoff seasons after he was hired in January 2001. During the period of Donahoe's tenure, the Bills were tied for the fourth-worst record in the NFL at 31-49. He was responsible for several questionable personnel decisions. Some of these personnel decisions include hiring Gregg Williams as head coach, hiring Mike Mularkey as head coach, the decision to name Rob Johnson the franchise quarterback, gutting the entire defensive corps (which had been near the top of the league prior to Donahoe's arrival) and drafting Mike Williams with the 4th overall pick. He was also known for a general failure to address offensive line concerns during his tenure (although this can partially be attributed to his quarterback choices-- the aforementioned Johnson, the immobile Drew Bledsoe, and rookie J.P. Losman).

Prior to the 2006 NFL season, Donahoe was fired. Ralph Wilson reassumed the role of President, and the general manager position was filled by legendary Bills head coach Marv Levy. Donahoe remains out of the league to this day.