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Reports: Washington hires former player Martin Mayhew — not Marty Hurney — as GM

The Washington Football Team is hiring Martin Mayhew as its new general manager, according to multiple reports.

The news arrives days after reports that Washington planned to hire former Carolina Panthers general manager Marty Hurney in the role. Washington will instead hire Hurney in a different high-level front office role, according to the reports. Hurney worked closely with head coach Ron Rivera when they both worked for the Panthers.

Mayhew’s history as player, executive

Mayhew played eight seasons in the NFL as a cornerback including four with Washington. He won a Super Bowl with the franchise after the 1991 season. Mayhew retired as a player in 1996 and has worked as an executive in the NFL since 2001, including a stint as the Detroit Lions general manager from 2008-15.

Detroit Lions Executive Vice President of Football Operations and General Manager Martin Mayhew watches the action during the game against the Arizona Cardinals on October 11, 2015 at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan. The Cardinals defeated the Lion 42-17. (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images)
Martin Mayhew returns to the franchise where he won a Super Bowl as a player. (Leon Halip/Getty Images)

He most recently worked as vice president of player personnel for the San Francisco 49ers. According to ESPN, Mayhew will report to Rivera, who sits atop the football power structure in Washington.

Mayhew is the third Black general manger hired during this cycle after the Atlanta Falcons hired Terry Fontenot and the Detroit Lions hired Brad Holmes.

Mayhew inherits a roster filled with young defensive talent but in desperate need of something that’s eluded the team for decades — a franchise quarterback.

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