Jeff Ireland GM

Lore & Background

Ireland was a wide receiver and placekicker and soccer forward for Cooper High School in the 1980s, and then a placekicker for the Baylor Bears from 1988 to 1991. He became the starter at placekicker as a sophomore. At Baylor, Ireland was known for making difficult kicks but missing the easy ones. Against Rice University in 1991, he made a 58-yard field goal, then missed field goals of 43, 45, and 27 yards. Baylor, a 20.5 point favorite, lost the game by three points. Baylor was ranked 8th in the Associated Press poll at that time. Ireland finished his college career third on the school's all-time scoring list with 213 points. His 45 career field goals, including a 58-yard effort against Rice in 1991, were school records. He is a member of the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity.

Reader's Guide

Ireland began his professional career as the special teams coach at the University of North Texas from 1992 to 1993. He became a scout for the NFL Scouting Combine from 1994 to 1996. He later was hired to be an area scout for the Kansas City Chiefs from 1997 to 2000. He was a national talent-scout for the Dallas Cowboys from 2001 to 2005.

In 2005, Ireland was promoted to Vice President of College and Pro Scouting. In what would be Ireland's final season with the Cowboys (in 2007), the Cowboys went 13-3 and won the NFC East Division Championship. On January 2, 2008, Ireland was officially hired by then-executive vice president of football operations Bill Parcells as general manager of the Miami Dolphins. On December 28, 2008, the Miami Dolphins defeated the New York Jets 24–17, securing the AFC East title.

In April 2010, Ireland asked NFL prospect Dez Bryant during a formal interview whether Bryant's mother was a prostitute. On September 7, 2010, Ireland assumed full command of operations on a day-to-day basis. Bill Parcells became a daily consultant for the Miami Dolphins. On January 7, 2014, the Dolphins announced that they had mutually parted ways with Ireland.

On April 26, 2014, the Seattle Seahawks announced they had hired Jeff Ireland to work as a consultant for the 2014 NFL draft. Ireland's tenure with the Seattle Seahawks was short-lived as the team decided to move on without him after only one month. On January 20, 2015, Adam Schefter tweeted that Ireland was being hired to do college scouting for the Saints. He was hired to be the Saints' assistant general manager & college scouting director.

Did You Know?

• Ireland was a childhood ball boy for the Chicago Bears.
• Ireland is the stepson of E. J. Holub, who played center and linebacker for the Kansas City Chiefs and Dallas Texans.
• Ireland is the grandson of Jim Parmer, who played for the Philadelphia Eagles and was a personnel executive for the Chicago Bears.
• Jeff and his wife, Rachel, have four children.