The Joker and the Thief

This post has absolutely nothing to do with Jokers or Thieves. I just thought that it sounded better than what would probably be the real title. Plus, I like the song by Wolfmother. This post is really titled the GM and the Coach, and in no way am I making assumptions about either with the preferred title.

In my football knowledge infancy, I was always confused by what it was exactly that a General Manager did. I simply assumed that the coach made all decisions regarding the football team. The coach installed the offensive and defensive schemes. It should just follow that the coach would be the one to determine the players to execute those schemes. I still believe that. Over the years, I have come to the conclusion that it is an awful lot to expect from one person. Some coaches want, even demand, that dual responsibility. Mike Holmgren enjoyed great success as the Green Bay Packers head coach in the '90s. He went to two Super Bowls, winning one. A terrific GM, Ron Wolf, was in charge of providing Holmgren with the players that made for that success. Holmgren certainly had input. It would be foolish to ignore the coach, but Wolf made the call. Holmgren may have left Green Bay for many reasons, but one of them was to call all of the shots in Seattle. He showed his skill in building a team by taking the Seahawks to their only Super Bowl. Some coaches are excellent talent evaluators. Bill Belichick, Jimmy Johnson, Holmgren, Jimmy Johnson and Bill Walsh are a few. Former Vikings coach Dennis Green was an excellent evaluator of offensive talent, but failed miserably when taking a stab at the defensive side of the ball.

The key is the relationship between the GM and the coach. They must be able to see the same big picture. There will always be differences of opinion, but egos have to be kept in check. The good of the team must be the only concern. The GM usually has final say. Someone has to. If there is an agree to disagree situation, it must be done with respect. It is often the GM that hires the coach. So, it is often the GM that fires the coach. It is a delicate dynamic. The team that best handles this relationship is often the one holding the shiny silver trophy in February.