Buffalo Bills: 4 facts about new assistant GM Joe Schoen
By Paul Taylor
As the Buffalo Bills officially announce the hiring of Joe Schoen, we learn more about their new assistant General Manager.
Brandon Beane has only been in his job as Buffalo Bills‘ General Manager for a few days. However, he’s already made his first significant move.
As reported by Jay Skurski of The Buffalo News, Beane has hired Joe Schoen to come in as his assistant GM. What makes this addition significant, is the fact Schoen comes from the Bills’ divisional rivals, the Miami Dolphins.
In theory Mike Tannenbaum, Dolphins’ Executive Vince President of football operations, could have blocked the move. However, he allowed the Elkhart, Indiana native to take the job in Western New York.
Understandably, a lot of people will be unfamiliar with Schoen. As such, here are some facts and figures about the Bills’ new assistant GM:
1) Schoen spent the last three seasons as director of player personnel for the Dolphins. He first joined the organization in 2008, serving as part of the scouting staff, including two years as assistant director of college scouting.
2) Beane is familiar with his new assistant GM, from the time the two men spent together in North Carolina. After being hired as a ticket office intern in 2000, Schoen spent seven seasons as a scouting assistant for the Panthers.
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3) To get an idea of Schoen’s prowess as a scout, consider some of the players he was involved in drafting during his time with Carolina and Miami; RB DeAngelo Williams (8,000+ rushing yards and one Pro-Bowl), DE Charles Johnson (67.5 career sacks), RB Jonathan Stewart (13 Panthers team rushing records and one Pro-Bowl), C Mike Pouncey (three-time Pro-Bowler), QB Ryan Tannehill (two 4,000-yard passing seasons) and Lamar Millar (two 1,000-yard rushing seasons).
4) Schoen spent four seasons at DePauw University, mostly playing as a wide receiver and majoring in Communications. He is married and has two children.
Overall, now is not the time to judge the shrewdness of this move. However, as with McDermott previously having worked with Beane, the Bills’ new GM has similarly hired someone who he is very familiar with.
Next: 3 takeaways from Brandon Beane's first press conference
Do you have any take on Beane’s decision to hire Schoen as his assistant GM? More generally speaking, what’s you opinion on the recent moves made by the Bills to revamp the organization? Share your thoughts in the comments section.