- Jeff Ireland
Infobox NFL PlayerCoach
|Color=#005E6A
fontcolor=#FFFFFF
DateOfBirth=
Birthplace=Abilene, Texas
College=Baylor
Position=General Manager
player=yes
years=1988-1991
teams=Baylor
coach=yes
coachingyears=
1992-93
1994-1996
1997-2000
2001-2004
2005-2007
2008-present
coachingteams=North Texas
(Special Teams)NFL Scouting Combine
ScoutKansas City Chiefs
ScoutDallas Cowboys
National Scout
V.P. of College & Pro ScoutingMiami Dolphins
General ManagerJeff Ireland (born in
Abilene, Texas ) is thegeneral manager for theMiami Dolphins of theNational Football League . He has previously served as an executive for theDallas Cowboys , a scout for theKansas City Chiefs and an assistant coach for the North Texas Mean Green. He playedcollege football for the Baylor Bears. As a child he was aball boy for theChicago Bears .High School and College career
Ireland was a
placekicker for Cooper High School in the 1980s, and then for the Baylor Bears from 1988 to 1991. Upon the conclusion of his playing career, he served asspecial teams coach for the North Texas Mean Green from 1992 to 1993.Against Rice in 1991, a 20.5 point underdog, he made a 58-yard field goal, then missed field goals of 43, 45, and 27 yards. Baylor lost the game by three points. Baylor was ranked 8th in the
Associated Press poll at that time, and has never been ranked that high since. [cite web | url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D0CE6DD103CF930A25753C1A967958260|title=THE TOP 25; Baylor Is Surprised by Rice |date=1991-10-13]Professional career
Early years
Ireland began his professional career as a scout for the
NFL Scouting Combine - a job he served from 1994 to 1996. He then became a scout for theKansas City Chiefs , holding the position from 1997 to 2000.Dallas Cowboys
In 2001, Ireland became a national scout for the
Dallas Cowboys . During Ireland's time as a college scout, the team drafted four futurePro Bowl selections - safety Roy Williams, offensive linemanAndre Gurode , cornerbackTerence Newman and tight endJason Witten . Ireland served in that capacity until 2005, when he was promoted to the position of Vice President of College and Pro Scouting.In what would be Ireland's final season with Dallas in 2007, the Cowboys went 13-3 and won the
NFC East title. At the time of his departure in January 2008, 38 of the team's 53 players were acquired over the past three years, including 12 of 22 starters.Miami Dolphins
On January 2, 2008 Ireland was officially hired as general manager of the
Miami Dolphins . He was hired by new Executive Vice President of Football Operations,Bill Parcells . Ireland and Parcells had worked together previously, as the latter served as head coach of the Dallas Cowboys from 2003 to 2006.Although Ireland will officially have final say over player personnel in Miami, it has been speculated that Bill Parcells will make such decisions. [ [http://dolphinsindepth.blogspot.com/2007/12/tuna-helper-on-menu-for-afternoon.html Dolphins In Depth: Tuna helper on the menu for afternoon introduction ] ] The Dolphins were able to hire Ireland away from the Cowboys because he did not have final say in Dallas.
Personal
Ireland is the stepson of
College Football Hall of Fame rE. J. Holub , who played center and linebacker for theKansas City Chiefs and Dallas Texans. Ireland is also the grandson ofJim Parmer , who played for thePhiladelphia Eagles and was a personnel executive for theChicago Bears . Jeff and his wife, Rachel, have four children.References
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