Andrew Berry Hired by Browns

Andrew Berry

Jimmy Haslam is known to be very high on Berry based on his work during three seasons as Vice President of Player Personnel. Berry brings a mix of new and old school football awareness as the new General Manager/Executive Vice President of the Cleveland Browns. Andrew sports an Ivy League education, much like DePodesta and Stefanski.

Andrew combines that with his time in Indianapolis, working his way up the scouting ladder for seven seasons. This combination allows him to understand the importance that the Browns have put on analytics. Yet he can still relate to the scouting department, having come up through that department. That experience will be the key to Berry finding success, and drafting good players, as the team needs to align the entire football department. He clearly has the background to do that.

College Background

Berry is a Harvard graduate with a bachelor’s degree in economics and a master’s in computer science. He also played football for the Crimson, spending four years as a starting cornerback earning All-Ivy League honors three times over his college career.

Indianapolis Gave Berry his First Chance

Berry began his career with the Indianapolis Colts after being hired in 2009. He was initially hired by Indianapolis as a scouting assistant and was quickly promoted to pro scout in 2011. One year later, he was elevated to pro scouting coordinator serving in that role for his final four seasons in Indy. During Berry’s seven seasons, the Colts won four AFC South titles, made five postseason appearances and advanced to Super Bowl 44. 

When the Browns hired Berry in 2016 here is what former Colts President/general manager Bill Polian had to say. “Andrew Berry is one of the brightest young men we ever had the pleasure of working with. He came to us very early in his career and very soon we realized he was on a fast track. I am not surprised the Browns hired him for this very important position. I assure you he has both the capacity and the will to do an outstanding job. The Browns have made, in my humble opinion, a great hire.”

Bill Polian is one of the best general managers of all time. Part of that job is hiring talented people. This should provide some confidence that Berry can be successful in this league.

Spent Last Season With the Eagles

After three seasons with the Browns, his last under john Dorsey, as the Vice President of Player Personnel, Berry was scooped up by the Philidelphia Eagles. The Eagles brought him in as vice president of football operations, but just one year later, Jimmy and the Browns search committee are bringing him back to Cleveland. The fact that an organization like the Eagles made berry a key figure in running the football department is another sign that Browns’ fans need to give the man a chance. He is only 32 years old and organizations want him in KEY roles, which shows the talent and work ethic he brings to a team.

Back in Orange and Brown

For a lot of Browns fans, this is likely seen as a bad hire because they associate Berry with the analytics team that produced a 1-31 record under former coach Hue Jackson. What fans need to remember is that Berry had a big hand in the draft the saw Baker Mayfield taken number one, Denzel Ward at four, and Nick Chubb in the second round. He was also a driving force in the trade for Jarvis Landry during his year working with John Dorsey. Berry is also his own man and now has the authority to make the decision himself. At this point, throw all the previous records and picks out, and let’s judge him on what he does as the man in charge.

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