Troy Vincent named EVP Football Operations

Replaces Ray Anderson as Goodell’s “number two”

Troy Vincent, the All-Pro cornerback who transitioned into an executive role in football after leaving the field, is the new NFL executive vice president of football operations. He will be the second highest ranked executive in the league after commissioner Roger Goodell.

Vincent played for 15 seasons which included five consecutive Pro Bowl seasons from 1999 to 2003. He served as president of the players union from 2004 to 2008, overlapping the final two years of his playing career. He is leaving his current position as senior vice president of NFL Player Engagement, a league initiative to help players with the transition the post-playing careers.

“Troy Vincent brings a uniquely well-rounded perspective to this leadership position,” said Goodell in a statement released by the league. “He knows the game inside out from the locker room to the board room. He has done an exceptional job growing services to our players and former players, and he is ready and eager to lead our football operations group. Troy’s passion for education, personal development, and innovation will bring a new vitality and vision to our football group.”

Goodell also appointed Dave Gardi to the newly minted senior vice president of football operations under Vincent. Gardi is the league’s vice president of labor relations and football administration.

Vincent takes over for Ray Anderson who was appointed to the position when it was created, shortly after Goodell was installed as commissioner in 2006. Anderson was most visible during the league’s collective bargaining with the players in 2011 and the officiating staff in 2012. Because of an impasse with the officials union, the NFL locked out the officials and hired a staff of replacements to work the first five weeks of the season until a deal was reached.

According to game officials who spoke to Football Zebras, Anderson’s umbrella of influence included the officiating department, which had been autonomous under the previous two commissioners. Those officials, whose identity was withheld so that they could discuss internal matters, said that Anderson was heavily involved in the operation of the officiating department.

Anderson left at the conclusion of the 2013 season and is now the athletic director at Arizona State University.

Vincent is also a non-voting member of the Competition Committee.

Image: NFL Player Engagement/NFL.com