Former Bear kicker now NFL general manager

When National Football Scouting, Inc., hired Jeff Ireland, BA '92, for his first football scouting job, he soon received both a paycheck and a prediction.
Ireland's late grandfather, Jim Parmer, who worked as a scout for more than three decades, gave his grandson a glimpse into his future.
"He said if I have a passion and a good work ethic, I would be a general manager before I was 40," Ireland says. "I thought he was crazy."
He wasn't; in fact, Ireland won't turn 40 until March, a couple of months after he completes his second season as general manager of the National Football League's Miami Dolphins. Since graduating with his degree in communications, the Bears' former starting kicker has seen the sport from a variety of angles: as a player, coach, scout and general manager.
Ireland's training began early. His first exposure to the business came at age 11, when his grandfather worked as a scout for the Chicago Bears; the two frequently watched game films and talked about the sport.
"My grandfather was always happy. I lived with him for a few years. He was a strong father figure when I was growing up."
The growth process continued at Baylor, thanks to head coach Grant Teaff and his assistants.
"I drew off my successes and failures," Ireland says. "Some of the life lessons I learned, I had to grow up and be a man. Coach Teaff and his staff were tough, and I am grateful for that. They too were father figures. I probably wasn't the most mature person back then, but the coaching staff and Coach Teaff helped me take the right path."
Considering that Ireland often speaks to groups and addresses media members as a general manager, he still benefits from some basic classroom principles he gained at Baylor.
"The speech classes helped me," he says. "I found an old notebook on how to give a speech, and I still draw on some of those techniques. The time management skills you learn help, too. Your mom is not waking you up in the morning."
Before Ireland made it to Miami, he spent many mornings scouting talent for the Kansas City Chiefs and then the Dallas Cowboys. He started in Dallas as a national scout in 2001 and served as the vice president of scouting from 2005-07. Current Cowboys such as defensive lineman DeMarcus Ware and running back Marion Barber came on board during Ireland's tenure.
Of course, when Ireland scouts players today, the equipment available is far more sophisticated than the 16 mm reels that he and his grandfather would watch. Back then, the two would race to see who could feed the rolls faster. Today, the race would be a sprint to press a single button.
"Now it's a mouse click and you can pull up plays from four years ago," Ireland says. "It enables you to be more efficient."
When he took the reins of the Dolphins in January 2008, Ireland inherited a team that had just concluded the season with a 1-15 record. After overhauling the team's roster, Miami went 11-5 in Ireland's first season and claimed the AFC East championship.
Whether there is success or failure, however, Ireland's routine hardly changes. Scouting and player evaluations continue at a steady pace. In Ireland's eyes, that continual challenge is part of the culture of the NFL.
"This business doesn't allow you to accept kudos," Ireland said. "The business is, What have you done lately? What's next? You celebrate for a couple of hours on the plane with the team or at dinner with your family. The losses stay with you longer than the wins. When you have a great season, you have to start all over."